Stephen no longer comforting theists

[The Magic Pudding]

In his new book, an extract of which appears in the Times,  Britain's most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton's belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of chaos.

 Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, he said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions - the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass - far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."

He adds: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.

"Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist.

"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11161493

I didn't think he seriously believed in a creator, but it is good to see him clarify his position.

[Tank]

He didn't believe in a creator AFAIK he said he could not dismiss the possibility that there could be one.

[The Magic Pudding]

He has been a bit loose with the G word.
All that dice business and talk of knowing the mind of god.
Any little thing can be distorted by theists.

[Tank]

He has been a bit loose with the G word.
All that dice business and talk of knowing the mind of god.
Any little thing can be distorted by theists.

Yes, Hawking was a bit of a lose cannon when it came to giving comfort to theists. I'm glad he has put the record straight as he can't be too long for this world now, poor sod.

[chrisbellekom]

Merged topics.


Hello all,

Read a good article today that really did wonders for my mood...

Here is the link to the original message: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11161493

Message reads:

God did not create Universe The Universe can create itself from nothing, there is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe, Professor Stephen Hawking has said.

He had previously argued belief in a creator was not incompatible with science but in a new book, he concludes the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics. The Grand Design, part serialised in the Times, says there is no need to invoke God to set the Universe going.

"Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something," he concluded.

In his new book, an extract of which appears in the Times, Britain's most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton's belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of chaos.

Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, he said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions - the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass - far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."

He adds: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

The book was co-written by US physicist Leonard Mlodinow and is published on 9 September. In his 1988 bestseller, A Brief History of Time, Prof Hawking appeared to accept the role of God in the creation of the Universe. "If we discover a complete theory, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we should know the mind of God," he said.

[Martin TK]

I agree with Hawking's use of the "g" word, but I am impressed that at the end of his remarkable life he isn't taking the "safe" route by folding to the possibility of the existence of a god.

I will forever be thankful that I met the man, I was in awe of his ability to continue on in spite of all that he has endured.  I can't wait to read the book.

[Kylyssa]

I get people asserting that I believe in God because I write fiction with characters that believe in God.

[McQ]

Merged this topic.

Hello all,

Read a good article today that really did wonders for my mood...

Here is the link to the original message: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11161493

Message reads:

God did not create Universe The Universe can create itself from nothing, there is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe, Professor Stephen Hawking has said.

He had previously argued belief in a creator was not incompatible with science but in a new book, he concludes the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics. The Grand Design, part serialised in the Times, says there is no need to invoke God to set the Universe going.

"Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something," he concluded.

In his new book, an extract of which appears in the Times, Britain's most famous physicist sets out to contest Sir Isaac Newton's belief that the universe must have been designed by God as it could not have sprung out of chaos.

Citing the 1992 discovery of a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun, he said: "That makes the coincidences of our planetary conditions - the single Sun, the lucky combination of Earth-Sun distance and solar mass - far less remarkable, and far less compelling as evidence that the Earth was carefully designed just to please us human beings."

He adds: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

The book was co-written by US physicist Leonard Mlodinow and is published on 9 September. In his 1988 bestseller, A Brief History of Time, Prof Hawking appeared to accept the role of God in the creation of the Universe. "If we discover a complete theory, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we should know the mind of God," he said.

[Ultima22689]

I hope he has another 10-15 years left in his tank, he's a brilliant mind, I hope he can take advantage of some sort of technology that will extend his life beyond what it is now.

[Ultima22689]

I hope he has another 10-15 years left in his tank, he's a brilliant mind, I hope he can take advantage of some sort of technology that will extend his life beyond what it is now.

[epepke]

Yes, Hawking was a bit of a lose cannon when it came to giving comfort to theists. I'm glad he has put the record straight as he can't be too long for this world now, poor sod.

People have been saying he can't be long for this world for about four decades now.  The bugger is probably going to live to be 90.

[Tank]

Yes, Hawking was a bit of a lose cannon when it came to giving comfort to theists. I'm glad he has put the record straight as he can't be too long for this world now, poor sod.

People have been saying he can't be long for this world for about four decades now.  The bugger is probably going to live to be 90.

 Yes, you're quite right and I also hope he makes it to 90 if he still has an adequate quality of life from his point of view.

[The Magic Pudding]

This topic is getting prominent attention on radio news.
Though I only listen to the national broadcaster, commercial stations are rubbish.
It is being covered in mainstream print media.
Alas, there will be no Templeton Prize for Stephen now.

[Dretlin]

He didn't believe in a creator AFAIK he said he could not dismiss the possibility that there could be one.

I assumed in a Brief History of Time, god was a metaphor. So your explanation is most likely the most accurate, in the context of a Brief History of Time. This new book seems rather less subtle!

[chrisbellekom]

This topic is getting prominent attention on radio news.
Though I only listen to the national broadcaster, commercial stations are rubbish.
It is being covered in mainstream print media.
Alas, there will be no Templeton Prize for Stephen now.

I got a distinctive feeling he doesn't give a rat's ... about the Templeton Prize.
He scored a lot of points with me today by effectively saying: "The Universe, now with no god required..."