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 ...
Science fiction MUST be very logical, else whats the point..
Reality however need not be logical to humans at all..
Has Mr. Big Brain successfully explained the way a human cell just developed in the murk? With all the little motors and electrical actions taking place? How about the human eye — all just happened by chance - sure it did.
Only mediocre ‘scientists’ ignore multiple reports of the same phenomenon.
That’s his opinion - he didn’t believe in time travel for a long time either... I tend to trust him within his field - out of that hand he’s just another man...
Sorry Stephan. I’ve seen and lived through enough crazy crap to know that there’s God, Satan, spiritual warfare and an afterlife.
He would probably like us to believe that he is a conscious being, that within his body there is a point conscious self-awareness, that there is an I there, but I'd like to see him prove it.
I want him to prove, scientifically, that there's a tiny spaghetti monster somewhere within him that's "driving the bus" so to speak.
*Cough*Global Warming*Cough*
i hope the Lord will see fit to heal mr hawking of his affliction so that this poor soul can be saved.
Stephen Hawking died and returned?? Wow, he is really something else. Good to know. How long was he dead?
Imagine If he were to come out and take a faithful stand for God the Creator. Would he would be banished from the worldwide church of science and government cheese?
I you weren't able to have sex since your early twenties wouldn't you be a little bit bitter?
Global Warming isn’t adequately verified, whereas the Holy Spirit is veritably demonstrative amongst those of faith.
Jesus taught that non-believers won't be convinced by signs, magic tricks or miracles. The desire to believe has to start within the person. As Abraham put it so well in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the people on earth have Scripture, let them read it.
He’s a physicist and a mathematician. Metaphysical issues are unrelated to his professional expertise, and he manifestly does not grasp what metaphysics is about.
Sad.
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Probably bitter but not crazy. This guy is a fraud as far as I’m concerned. He has picked the wrong road to follow in this case. Hope he has no issue.
“Has Mr. Big Brain successfully explained the way a human cell just developed in the murk?”
That’s the real issue. No one has been able to explain how self-replicating organisms arose from inorganic chemicals. How does RNA, bacteria, “pond scum” arise from the sterile environment that was the Earth pre-life?
Of course he is. What is your point? That there is a GOD?
When Max Plank accepted the Nobel price for Physics these were his words,
Who is Max Plank? Do you mean Planck? Ahh, the guy who hated his own creation? That one?
Do you know what Einstein was trying to figure out when he passed away? Look it up if you do not know.
Yes, The GUT and that is important how?
VERY GOOD POINT! LOL
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