Stephen Hawking lays out case for Big Bang without God

NBC News ^ | 04/19/2013 | Rod Pyle

[SeekAndFind]

PASADENA, Calif. — Our universe didn't need any divine help to burst into being, famed cosmologist Stephen Hawking told a packed house here at the California Institute of Technology Tuesday night.

Many people had begun queuing up for free tickets to Hawking's 8:00 p.m lecture, titled "The Origin of the Universe," 12 hours earlier. By 6:00 p.m. local time, the line was about a quarter-mile long.

A second auditorium and a Jumbotron-equipped lawn, which itself was jammed with an estimated 1,000 viewers, were needed to handle the crowd. At least one person was observed offering $1,000 for a ticket, with no success.

Stephen Hawking began the event by reciting an African creation myth, and rapidly moved on to big questions such as, Why are we here?

He noted that many people still seek a divine solution to counter the theories of curious physicists, and at one point, he quipped, “What was God doing before the divine creation? Was he preparing hell for people who asked such questions?”

After outlining the historical theological debate about how the universe was created, Hawking gave a quick review of more scientific cosmological explanations, including Fred Hoyle and Thomas Gold’s steady-state theory. This idea hypothesizes that there is no beginning and no end and that galaxies continue to form from spontaneously created matter.

Hawking said this theory and several other ideas don't hold up, citing recent observations by space telescopes and other instruments.

After giving a brief historical background on relativistic physics and cosmology, Hawking discussed the idea of a repeating Big Bang. He noted that in the 1980s, he and physicist Roger Penrose proved the universe could not “bounce” when it contracted, as had been theorized.

[norwaypinesavage]

"I was just quoting Dr. Hawking."

I understand, but my point is that Dr. Hawking's belief that the universe was created by a "singularity" at the time of the "Big Bang" is just as much a religious belief as is believing that God created it.

[YHAOS]

In the Beginning, there was . . . . . something
(wasn’t there?)

[painter]

Almighty God, who created all the universe with the power of His creating Word: “Let there be.....”

That is why if I'm asked,"do you believe in the "Big Bang" theory?

Actually I do. Think about it. One moment there is nothing to a VAST expanding universe. That would be quite a "Bang".

[ShasheMac]

I wasn’t demeaning your comment at all, I agree with you. I was just pointing out the contrast between how one man turns to God while another turns away.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: In the Beginning, there was . . . . . something
(wasn’t there?)

The Good Book starts with :

In the Beginning,God created . . . .

[dfwgator]

Trey Parker, put it best:

“Basically ... out of all the ridiculous religion stories which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous — the silliest one I’ve ever heard is, ‘Yeah ... there’s this big giant universe and it’s expanding, it’s all gonna collapse on itself and we’re all just here just ‘cause ... just ‘cause’. That, to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever.”

[antceecee]

RE: Hawking closed the event with a familiar plea for continued exploration of the cosmos: “We must continue to go into space for the future of humanity,” he said, adding, “I don’t think we will survive another thousand years without escaping our fragile planet.”

I find this fervent plea quite interesting in light of Mr. Hawking's infirmity... his view of our planet could be colored by his view of his fragile self.

[xzins]

M-theory posits that multiple universes are created out of nothing, Hawking explained, with many possible histories and many possible states of existence. In only a few of these states would life be possible, and in fewer still could something like humanity exist. Hawking mentioned that he felt fortunate to be living in this state of existence.

It's acceptable to say, "multiple universes are created out of nothing..."

But, it's unacceptable to say, "In the Beginning, God..."

The first says that everything comes from nothing. The second says that everything comes from something.

[marron]

“What was God doing before the divine creation? Was he preparing hell for people who asked such questions?”

He was preparing a world of people made in his image who ask such questions, including one gifted physicist named Hawking.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Smart people who refuse to believe in God work very hard to justify to themselves their beliefs.

[CommerceComet]

Dr. Hawking once again proves that a person can be highly intelligent but not wise.

[Do the math]

Hawking has done some good work, but in my opinion he is nowhere near to somebody like Penrose. In several debates they had, Penrose always seemed, at least to me, to have had the more convincing arguments. Hardly anybody has ever even heard of Roger Penrose.

[CottShop]

[[Stephen Hawking lays out case for Big Bang without God]]

Let him lay that same hypothesis out to God when he sees Him

[CottShop]

[[Why, exactly, are we supposed to take what these people say as, ahem, the gospel?]]

Because Al Gopre has very large charts

[CommerceComet]

All of the ultimate truths about time and space are simply beyond a human beings ability to comprehend. Science is slowly catching up to the Bible, with discoveries in science bringing more and more scripture into perspective. I don't really understand time, space ,or the Trinity - but I fear the ONE who DOES.

I agree.

God's Word doesn't change but science does, continually. That's why my faith isn't affected in the least by some recent scientific finding which God-haters flaunt as disproving the existence of God or the reliability of His Word. Who knows how long this "finding" will be accepted by science before it gets overturned by a new finding? Personally, I think that given enough time and no corruption in its methodology, science with ultimately converge with God's revealed , unchangeable Word.

[CottShop]

[[M-theory posits that multiple universes are created out of nothing, Hawking explained, with many possible histories and many possible states of existence.]]

He beleives ‘alternate universes’ exist- meanign that we also exist in otheruniverses as well, only at different ‘times in space’ (one wonders if he came up with htis hypothesis based o nthe idea of deja vu?)

[Rocky]

So, why is there order in the way all of the particles in the universe behave? Why are there only certain kinds of subatomic particles? Why is everything so neatly balanced, to enable stars and planets, and the creation of the 90+ types of atoms that we need for life on earth?

What was there before the singularity? What is timelessness like, and who lives there?

Science cannot explore what existed before the singularity. Science cannot explore another world which is timeless outside of our space and time. But this doesn’t stop brilliant scientists from making arrogant statements about things that are beyond their ability to ever know or explore.

In a short time, Hawking will meet his creator. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” won’t hardly cover the damage he has done.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

What a nitwit.

I agree with Einstein who said:

“Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.”

[A Navy Vet]

"... but my point is that Dr. Hawking's belief that the universe was created by a "singularity" at the time of the "Big Bang" is just as much a religious belief as is believing that God created it."

Although I tend to agree with scientific proof that the universe is expanding, as we can now see with the Hubble, I will never agree what caused the "singularity". The physicists can do all their calculations that I will never understand, but they simply don't have the answers. Einstein was the end all until "quantum mechanics" and now "string theory". What's next?

As an agnostic, I don't believe we will ever know simply because our cognitive awareness is so limited. That's why I like early science fiction (Arthur C. Clarke with "Childhood's End" and "2001:). Those early authors thought past what our scientists thought of the universe, with much coming true.

Here are some of the best minds before science caught up with their thinking in no certain order:
Arthur C. Clarke, Issac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut, Mary Shelley, Larry Niven, Philip Jose Farmer, Ursala K. Le Guin, Frederick Pohl, Harlan Ellison, Jack Willianson for his countless contributions to the pulp mag, "Amazing Stories" - read every chance as a child. Notice I didn't include "fantasy" authors.

What I don't get about Hollywood with their sci-fy movies is that they have such an abundance of written sources. While Philip K. Dick has had a few of his novels produced, there are countless opportunities. I would love to see "Childhoods' End" by Clarke produced. Sorry to get off topic.

[YHAOS]

I think it is more than a little interesting that Hawking concedes everything the Bible says about "the Beginning," and that most anything is possible, except he is emphatically certain that God "dint do it."

Go figure.