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Heaven is a 'fairy story', says Stephen Hawking
Breitbart ^ | 5/16/2011

Posted on 05/16/2011 12:41:52 PM PDT by Former Fetus

British scientist Stephen Hawking has branded heaven a "fairy story" for people afraid of the dark, in his latest dismissal of the concepts underpinning the world's religions.

The author of 1988 international best-seller "A Brief History of Time" said in an interview with The Guardian published on Monday that his views were partly influenced by his battle with motor neurone disease.

"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 told the newspaper.

"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."

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Religion; Science
KEYWORDS: atheism; atheists; delusion; hawking; heaven; scientism
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To: bigjoesaddle
A Good Book

Saw him speak at a Iron Sharpens Iron Conference.

41 posted on 05/16/2011 1:06:07 PM PDT by bigjoesaddle ("Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged". - Reagan)
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To: stuartcr

You believe first, then the proof follows. God does not reveal Himself to the idly curious.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.” Hebrews 10.


42 posted on 05/16/2011 1:06:13 PM PDT by bopdowah ("Unlike King Midas, whatever the Gubmint touches sure don't turn to Gold!')
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To: Former Fetus

Mr. Hawking is unquestionably brilliant, but not as brilliant as he thinks he is. Contemplation of the nature of the universe and everything in it seems quite impressive ... until it is matched against an infinitely longer contemplation, with an infinitely larger perspective.

Rage against one’s Creator is not a philosophy of life, but of death. Best wishes, Mr. Hawking, but consider rebooting your “computer” before it is completely broken down.


43 posted on 05/16/2011 1:06:24 PM PDT by Belteshazzar (We are not justified by our works but by faith - De Jacob et vita beata 2 +Ambrose of Milan)
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To: Former Fetus

He must have a very sad life, if all his experience (and he is a brilliant thinker) leads him to the conclusion that all he is, all his mind and spirit is no more than a computer that will break someday.


44 posted on 05/16/2011 1:08:01 PM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: stuartcr
How can someone just decide to believe in something where there is no real proof, at least proof that doesn’t require belief in something else?

Many look at the world around them as tangible proof.

Remote cultures with no exposure to Christianity tend to develop a religion as pure chance for all creation seems a greater leap in faith.

45 posted on 05/16/2011 1:09:05 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Former Fetus
Ah! The scientific method. Observable, empirical and measurable. Theory. Hypothesis. Predictions. Theorems. Professor Hawking has complex theories about the nature of the universe that he would fiercely assert as NOT absolute or final. Yet he's 100% sure Heaven is a 'fairy story'.

Note to self. Reread Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to understand Hawking's thinking on the subject of fairy stories.
46 posted on 05/16/2011 1:10:10 PM PDT by NamVet71MP
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To: Former Fetus

Suddenly a guy I once thought a real smart guy i find to be a simpleton/
Glory be to GOD and his son Jesus Christ.


47 posted on 05/16/2011 1:10:13 PM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO))
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To: NamVet71MP

“What about the Babelfish?”
“and God vanished in a poof of logic.”


48 posted on 05/16/2011 1:11:37 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: stuartcr
Why would it be too late for him?
Once he dies, his fate will be cast. He, like everybody else in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth (i.e. hell) will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:11). He'll have to confess, but it won't do him any good!

God knew exactly what Hawkings was going to live to be and think, didn’t He?
Yes, God is omniscient and He knew what Hawkings was going to do. But God gave him, like He gives everybody, a chance to make a decision for or against Him. It was up to Hawkings to make that choice.

49 posted on 05/16/2011 1:11:53 PM PDT by Former Fetus
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To: Former Fetus
Who ya gonna believe, Steven Hawking or Jesus the Christ? It's not too late Steven.
50 posted on 05/16/2011 1:12:38 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: NamVet71MP

“What about the Babelfish?”
“and God vanished in a poof of logic.”


51 posted on 05/16/2011 1:13:16 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: bigjoesaddle

Woe to him whose intellect stands in the way of making peace with his maker and claiming his eternal inheritance and destiny!

Having listened to my fair share of liberal colleges professors, I believe that the utterings of the more vocal atheists, drip with the rebellion that abides in their hearts and their darkened understanding.

How could you peer into galaxies and not come to the conclusion that God is the Eternal One?


52 posted on 05/16/2011 1:14:18 PM PDT by hope_dies_last
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To: stuartcr

Most of the people I know don’t spend much time trying to prove something we already believe in. And for many of us, we have absolutely no doubts of His existence.


53 posted on 05/16/2011 1:18:17 PM PDT by MsLady (Be the kind of woman that when you get up in the morning, the devil says, "Oh crap, she's UP !!")
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To: Former Fetus

And the story is Stephen Hawking is a fairy.


54 posted on 05/16/2011 1:19:46 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
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To: Former Fetus
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...

Do you die when your computer fails, or do you just get another computer? In the same way, you don't die when your brain (or body) fails - you just get another one, from the same Source that you got this one.

55 posted on 05/16/2011 1:20:19 PM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on its own.)
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To: Former Fetus

Mr. Hawking may not be as good ascientist as he pretends to be. He certainly hasn’t read Blaise Pascals Wager.


56 posted on 05/16/2011 1:20:53 PM PDT by tom paine 2
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To: raygunfan
He has a right to believe what he wants. Having said that, sometimes people try to apply a scientific standard to religion. It is called ‘religion’ for a reason since you cannot reason belief you must have faith. Faith, not empirical proof, is the bases of religion.
57 posted on 05/16/2011 1:21:21 PM PDT by Perdogg (0bama got 0sama?? Really, was 0sama on the golf course?)
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To: wolfcreek

“He’s just pissed because he’s paralyzed”.

If he thinks it’s hell being paralyzed, he ain’t seen anything yet!


58 posted on 05/16/2011 1:22:16 PM PDT by getarope (Paddle faster, I hear banjo music!)
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To: wolfcreek
He’s just pissed because he’s paralyzed.

Yea, quadriplegia can make you grouchy! WHen he's burning in hell, will he scream in his robotic computer voice?

59 posted on 05/16/2011 1:25:31 PM PDT by bigjoesaddle ("Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged". - Reagan)
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To: bigjoesaddle
WHen he's burning in hell, will he scream in his robotic computer voice?

Such a kind and caring person you are!
What gives you the certitude that Mr. Hawking will "burn in hell"??
Judge, jury, and executioner...all rolled into one, you are!

Religious zealotry has and continues to cause wars.

60 posted on 05/16/2011 1:30:39 PM PDT by Logic n' Reason
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