Stephen Hawking on ‘God’
Was the world’s greatest cosmologist an atheist?
Stephen Hawking was a renowned physicist and cosmologist who made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe and the laws that govern it. One of the key ideas that Hawking explored in his work was the concept of singularity. A singularity is a point in space-time where the laws of physics as we know them to break down. It is a point where the density and gravity become infinite, and it is believed that singularities exist at the center of black holes. Hawking proposed that the universe began with a singularity and that this singularity was not caused by any force or being. This idea is consistent with the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe began as a singularity and has been expanding ever since.
He was also known for his thoughts on the topic of God and religion. In this context, it’s important to say that Hawking was an atheist, meaning that he did not believe in the existence of a god or gods.
Hawking’s ideas about the origins of the universe and the laws of physics that govern it led him to conclude that there is no need for a god or gods to explain the natural world. He believed that the laws of physics, specifically the laws of thermodynamics, suggest that the universe began with a singularity that was not caused by any force or being. This naturalistic explanation for the origin of the universe is also consistent with the idea of a multiverse, which states that our universe is just one of many universes that exist.
In addition to his ideas about the origins of the universe, he also explored the concept of time. He proposed that time is not absolute but relative to the observer. This idea is consistent with Einstein’s theory of relativity, which states that “the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to one another.”
Hawking’s ideas about time and the origins of the universe led him to conclude that there is no need for a god or gods to explain the natural world. However, he also acknowledged that some people find comfort and meaning in religion and that it can be a positive force in people’s lives. He stated:
“For then we should know the mind of God”.
Hawking believed that science and religion were not mutually exclusive, and that science could provide explanations for the natural world without the need for a deity. In his book “A Brief History of Time” he mentions
“It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.”
Thank you so much for reading. If you liked this story don’t forget to press that clap icon. If you like my works and want to support me then you can become a medium member by using this link or buy me a coffee ☕️. Keep following for more such stories.
