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Religious Leaders Slam 'Godless' Hawking

Battle erupts over 'spontaneous creation'

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 3, 2010 4:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – Angry religious leaders are slamming "Godless" physicist Stephen Hawking for saying the universe likely created itself without any divine intervention. “Belief in God is not about plugging a gap in explaining how one thing relates to another within the universe," the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams tells the Times of London."It is the belief that there is an intelligent, living agent on whose activity everything ultimately depends for its existence."

Catholics, Jews and Muslims also piled on Hawking, who says in his latest book, The Grand Design, that "spontaneous creation" without divine intervention is possible because of the laws of physics. "Science is about explanation. Religion is about interpretation. The Bible simply isn’t interested in how the universe came into being,” said Britain's Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks. For those having a difficult time wrapping their head around "spontaneous creation," Hawking has this tip: "If you like, you can call the laws of science 'God.'"

British physicist Stephen Hawking.
British physicist Stephen Hawking.   (Getty Images)
Let there be light.
Let there be light.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 88 comments
plain_speaking
Mar 17, 2012 3:45 PM CDT
This is my question to believers...If god created the world, does he: A) exert no control over it..(an abandon experiment) in which case there is no point praying to him because he's not going to do anything.   B) Have complete control...in which case there is no point in praying to him because he has it all figured out and won't be swayed by you   or C) god just "dabbles" in humanity...in which case he "just not that into us" Case in point: 9/11   It killed many types of people...religious, non-religious...good...bad    .Do you think your god(A)  had no control over this or(B) wanted this to happen so you aren't angry at the terrorist for carrying out "god's will" or (C) he was busy that day?????? Science is real.....
MrBrownstone1475
Sep 6, 2010 5:47 AM CDT
1. Cause and effect need time to exist. 2. Before the Big Bang, time did not exist. 3. Cause and effect did not exist before the Big Bang. 4. The Big Bang has no cause. 5. Spontaneous creation is possible.
George-Jetson
Sep 4, 2010 12:40 PM CDT
I find it interesting that he doesn't have a British accent.
 

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