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Stephen Hawking: 'There Is No Heaven; It's A Fairy Story'
Guardian (UK) ^ | May 16, 2011

Posted on 05/15/2011 7:58:19 PM PDT by Steelfish

Stephen Hawking: 'There Is No Heaven; It's A Fairy Story' In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, the cosmologist shares his thoughts on death, M-theory, human purpose and our chance existence

Sunday 15 May 2011

A belief that heaven or an afterlife awaits us is a "fairy story" for people afraid of death, Stephen Hawking has said. In a dismissal that underlines his firm rejection of religious comforts, Britain's most eminent scientist said there was nothing beyond the moment when the brain flickers for the final time.

Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21, shares his thoughts on death, human purpose and our chance existence in an exclusive interview with the Guardian today.

The incurable illness was expected to kill Hawking within a few years of its symptoms arising, an outlook that turned the young scientist to Wagner, but ultimately led him to enjoy life more, he has said, despite the cloud hanging over his future.

"I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first," he said.

"I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark," he added.

Hawking's latest comments go beyond those laid out in his 2010 book, The Grand Design, in which he asserted that there is no need for a creator to explain the existence of the universe. The book provoked a backlash from some religious leaders, including the chief rabbi, Lord Sacks, who accused Hawking of committing an "elementary fallacy" of logic.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Religion & Science
KEYWORDS: atheism; atheists; gagdadbib; onecosmosblog; scientism
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To: Steelfish

What’s a cosmopologist know about it anyway?


61 posted on 05/15/2011 9:09:57 PM PDT by MNnice
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To: Steelfish

What’s a cosmopologist know about it anyway?


62 posted on 05/15/2011 9:10:30 PM PDT by MNnice
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To: Steelfish

ah. Steven Hawking knows there’s no heaven. I guess he peeked. Is he bitter?


63 posted on 05/15/2011 9:13:01 PM PDT by redhead (Get the GOVERNMENT out of our BUSINESS!!)
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To: tlb
Actually, as a philosopher, his opinions are worth considerably less than many others, because he has no real training in philosophy, and, as the recent embarrassment of his book on the subject makes clear, he hasn't bothered to really try and learn any. Most of his criticisms of religion and philosophy were demolished hundreds of years ago; in some cases, literally thousands.

It was once said: "Physicists seem to be the only scientists who aren't embarrassed to speak about God." As a former physicist, current apostate and agnostic, I take no pleasure in this reply: "considering what most physicists have actually had to say about God, they should have been."

Hawking is as qualified to talk about theology as most theologians are to talk about physics. Which is to say, not qualified at all.

64 posted on 05/15/2011 9:15:49 PM PDT by FredZarguna (It looks just like a Telefunken U-47. In leather.)
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To: Jonty30

I can’t comprehend living life as he does. There but for the grace of God go I, and I might very well reject God like Hawking does if I did.

That said, we know a young man in Hawking’s same shoes who, now in his 30s, is not a genius like Hawking, but possesses normal intelligence inside a completely uncooperative body. He has for life been confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak or feed himself or dress himself or do anything without the 24 hr care of his parents or others. He “speaks” (computer audio) via slight hand signals for single letters as his mother types. As a teenager, this man was taken to a Billy Graham crusade, became a believer, and managed to go home and lead his parents to faith as well.

Can you imagine? His parents, upon whom he relies for everything, can say that their physically helpless son led them to the most important thing of all, in spite of his limitations.

Hawking should meet this fine man.


65 posted on 05/15/2011 9:15:58 PM PDT by agrace
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To: Steelfish

I don’t think Steve has to concern himself about heaven but someone better tell him there is a hell. Unless little prideful stevie can’t be told anything - he knows it all. He’ll be another one to learn the hard way.


66 posted on 05/15/2011 9:16:09 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: Steelfish
Oxford Study Shows Belief in God is Part of Human Nature

Bitter much, Stephen?

67 posted on 05/15/2011 9:16:55 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: LeGrande

Yes there is a God. Like I said before your house did not appear one day with all the rooms, electricity, ac, etc... Someone built it. Your computer with Windows, the Internet and email did not just appear one day. Someone built it.

I think it’s funny when you can’t argue facts you attack the person. LOL! Now how old are you?

Wrong on Einstein too (what a surprise!)... He was trying to figure out how God thinks....

Like I said earlier I would not bet against Planck and Einstein.


68 posted on 05/15/2011 9:17:26 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: Sprite518

Excellent quote from Max Planck. Thanks


69 posted on 05/15/2011 9:19:28 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: All

Father God,

We praise and thank you for your powerful long arm and ask that you would show your glory by changing this mans heart, that you would soften his heart; that he would repent his sin and ask you to save him in Jesus Christ’s name.

Again, for your Glory LORD.

Amen


70 posted on 05/15/2011 9:20:19 PM PDT by right way right
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To: Steelfish

Another unworthy recipient of civilization’s guilt feelings toward the cripples and the disadvantaged.


71 posted on 05/15/2011 9:20:39 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Jonty30

The poor bastard is trapped in his own body. I am reminded of Donavan’s Brain, a B-movie of long ago, in which a wealthy tycoon’sbrain was taken from his body and kept alive in a jar. He became a creature of pure will, and malice. In short, deprived of human sensibility went mad. Then to hell. Utter separation.


72 posted on 05/15/2011 9:20:39 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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There is no Stephen Hawking;he is a fairy.....


73 posted on 05/15/2011 9:20:43 PM PDT by razbinn (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,and to the republic for which it ...)
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To: Jonty30

The poor bastard is trapped in his own body. I am reminded of Donavan’s Brain, a B-movie of long ago, in which a wealthy tycoon’sbrain was taken from his body and kept alive in a jar. He became a creature of pure will, and malice. In short, deprived of human sensibility went mad. Then to hell. Utter separation.


74 posted on 05/15/2011 9:20:54 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: Steelfish

Thanks


75 posted on 05/15/2011 9:21:12 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: agrace

One of the really great things about the life to come is that we will have no infirmities. We should always keep in mind that our trial in this life is so very short.

That’s tough to remember.


76 posted on 05/15/2011 9:21:21 PM PDT by Jonty30
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To: fish hawk
Trouble is wont be able to tell us he was wrong.

This is when we have more knowledge than him - about something MORE important. His pea brain, no matter how much it is developed, can never understand the supernatural. If he cannot understand, he doesn't accept it. That's pride.
77 posted on 05/15/2011 9:21:59 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: FredZarguna
As a former physicist, current apostate and agnostic, I take no pleasure in this reply: "considering what most physicists have actually had to say about God, they should have been."

You possess an intellectual humility rare among skeptics.

Please accept my sincere congratulations on that.

The only thing standing between Rand and Buckley was God. As a believer, but a skeptic, I have no problem with a homepage that embraces them both

Is this remark from your homepage now outdated in the light of your remarks above?

Cheers!

78 posted on 05/15/2011 9:22:16 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Steelfish
"You see," said Aslan. "They will not let us help them. They have chosen cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out."

C.S. Lewis

The Last Battle

79 posted on 05/15/2011 9:25:55 PM PDT by this_ol_patriot (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner)
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To: Steelfish
"I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark," he added.

It is funny that atheists almost UNIVERSALLY attribute religious motivations to fear -- either of death, or Hell, or punishment.

They're projecting. 1 John 4:18.

Cheers!

80 posted on 05/15/2011 9:26:44 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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