God did not create the universe, says Hawking

Reuters ^ | Thu Sep 2, | Michael Holden

[WhatNot]

LONDON (Reuters) – God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics, the eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book.

In "The Grand Design," co-authored with U.S. physicist Leonard Mlodinow, Hawking says a new series of theories made a creator of the universe redundant, according to the Times newspaper which published extracts on Thursday.

[Republican Extremist]

Good grief! Everyone with a brain knows that God is the Universe.

But if God created the Universe, and God is the Universe, then who created God?

Did he create himself out of nothing?

[Republican Extremist]

I don't know, but I have listened to some of his lectures, and he seems to argue that there could be a Creator, or at least does not rule it out, but that may have changed in his mind.

[armydoc]

Nobody. They have always existed.

The laws of physics existed before there was any space, time or energy to be subject to them? Ah, yes, you mean that they existed in God's mind, of course. I agree completely.

[sodpoodle]

***Did he create himself out of nothing?***

Well yes He did...............because He is God.

[WhatNot]

I would hope that a 2002 article from Discover magazine, wouldn’t have such an impact on him, that he would change his mind on whether or not there’s a living God of the universe, who created all that there is or ever will be. But I guess stranger things have happened.

[cerberus]

Inevitable consequence of physics? So who created the original matter/energy of the big bang?

And, of course, one might equally ask, "Who created God?".

Neither the theists here nor the (apparent) atheist Hawking or, for that matter, anyone anywhere can prove whether there is or is not a God.

Therefore, whether I agree with him or not, I am not offended by his opinion.

[flintsilver7]

My first thought as well.

[Talisker]

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

Uh, begging yer pardon, Mr. Genius, I mean no disrespect an all, but I was jes wondering, uh, who made the law of gravity?

[Hoodat]

I'm not offended by his opinion, but instead I am saddened by it. It pains me to see an intellectual giant such as Hawking be so utterly blind. And on top of that, he places his faith in the laws of physics, except of course the Second Law of Thermodynamics which the Big Bang Theory clearly violates.

Call me the skeptic here, because it takes far more faith to believe in a universe without God than it does to believe in one with God.

[WhatNot]

Awesome!

[flintsilver7]

God exists outside the laws of our universe. Too many people think God must adhere to our very human concept of time. That’s a classic atheist strawman argument.

[rahbert]

I said nothing about G*d’s mind.

You put words in my mouth.

[irishtenor]

He’s dead, Jim. You get his Tricorder, I’ll get his wallet.

[Talisker]

But if God created the Universe, and God is the Universe, then who created God? Did he create himself out of nothing?

You're creating an unnecessary time paradox. The universe is created out of God, but God is not created out of the universe. Likewise, the universe is structured by time, but God isn't.

God is outside of time - there never was a "time" when God was not. Otherwise time would be superior to God, which is a relationship that cannot exist, by definition.

[irishtenor]

The answer is in the name he gave for himself: I AM.

[Boxsford]

What an excellent post! Thank you.

[Republican Extremist]

***Did he create himself out of nothing?*** Well yes He did...............because He is God.

That is not very compelling logic.

[rahbert]

also, there is no way to prove G*d has or had a mind
or even whether one exists or ever existed.

the question is totally in the realm of faith.

[Republican Extremist]

*********I would hope that a 2002 article from Discover magazine, wouldn’t have such an impact on him, that he would change his mind on whether or not there’s a living God of the universe, who created all that there is or ever will be. But I guess stranger things have happened.******

Alan Guth is the man who had an impact on Hawking, not that specific article. I merely linked to that article because it explains Guth in the simplest possible way. Guth is widely know as a brilliant cosmologist rivaling Hawking himself. Hawking hasn't had any new ideas since his work on Black Holes, which dates back to the 60s and 70s. Guth is far more cutting edge these days, which is why Hawking has changed his mind as more facts come to light.

[Yardstick]

So the particles moving around in Hawkins’ head told him this, and he believes it?