Religious leaders slams Hawking’s theory

Posted on 04. Sep, 2010 by Anna Zimmerman in Headlines, World

London, England– “God did not create the universe” were the words of British physicist Stephen Hawking in his new book “The Grand Design.” Leaders of different religious background joined forces and lambasted his work.

In his recent book, Britain’s most famous scientist claimed that God had no role in the creation of the universe. “Given the existence of gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing,” explains the 68 year old paraplegic physicist.  “Spontaneous creation is the reason why there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist,” according to an excerpt printed in the Times of London.

Hawking also wrote “It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper [fuse] and set the universe going.”

The published excerpt immediately drawn lots of attention particularly people from the religious sectors. Religious leaders were quick to hit back at Hawking’s statement . Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Church of England told reporters that “physics on its own will not settle the question of why there is something rather than nothing.”

“Belief in God is not about just plugging a gap in explaining how one thing relates to another within the Universe. It is the belief that there is an intelligent, living agent on whose activity everything ultimately depends for its existence.” added Williams.

Hawking’s writings also raised Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks eyebrows. He wrote to the Times saying “Science is about explanation. Religion is about interpretation…The Bible simply isn’t interested in how the Universe came into being.”

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols also criticized Hawking’s viewpoint and supported Sacks idea : “I totally endorse what the Chief Rabbi said so eloquently about the relationship between religion and science.”

Leaders from across the religious spectrum were one in debunking Hawking’s theory. Ibrahim Mogra, committee chairman at the Muslim Council of Britain and an imam, told the Times ” If we look at the Universe and all that has been created, it indicates that somebody has been here to bring it into existence. That somebody is the almighty conqueror.”

Meanwhile, even the physicist’s colleagues at the University of Cambridge in England seemed to disagree. They accused him of “missing the point”.  ”The ‘god’ that he is trying to debunk is not the creator God of the Abrahamic faiths who really is the ultimate explanation for why there is something rather than nothing,” explains the director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion Denis Alexander.

“Hawking’s god is a god-of-the-gaps used to plug present gaps in our scientific knowledge. Science provides us with a wonderful narrative as to how (existence may happen, but theology addresses the meaning of the narrative,” adds Alexander.

The Times mainly published an excerpt from the book. It did not help that the excerpt used too technical quantum physics terms such as vibrating string, two-dimensional membranes, blobs, etc… He doesn’t really elaborate his theory in the excerpt, which is the introduction to the book.

Hawkings, however, said that he understands the sentiment of fellow English scientist Sir Isaac Newton when he said God did “create” and “conserve” order in the universe.

Tags: Stephen Hawking, The Grand Design