The universe may have formed by itself without the intervention of a Creator. Currently, physicists have proposed several hypotheses to explain the emergence of the universe without divine intervention. This is the view of Stephen Hawking, the renowned astronomer and one of the top ten geniuses of modern times.
Hawking’s lecture at the California Institute of Technology on April 16 attracted a large audience, filling the auditorium with 10,000 seats to capacity.
Despite being in the age of “senility” and having long been confined to a wheelchair, Hawking continues to engage actively in scientific research. He began his lecture at the California Institute of Technology with a brief overview of scientific theories regarding the emergence of the universe. Specifically, he recalled that in the 1980s, along with the renowned British mathematician Roger Penrose (born 1931), he proved that the universe could not have “exploded” forth when it was contracting, as was previously speculated.
It was during that period that Hawking dedicated himself to exploring the issue of the universe’s emergence and received the first “wake-up call” from the head of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) expressed his opposition to research on the origins of the universe if the results contradicted what theologians had propagated. Recalling this incident, Hawking joked: “I was very glad not to be summoned before the church court.”
Stephen Hawking is assisted onto the stage to present “The Origin of the Universe.” (Photo: livescience.com)
After summarizing the results of scientific research, the genius Hawking posed a series of questions for those who adhere to theories of a divine origin of the universe. He emphasized: “What did God do before creating the world? Set up hell to imprison those who ask such questions?”
Previously, Hawking rarely spoke directly about his religious views. However, he always believed that humanity is the pinnacle of evolution and must be perfected with the support of scientific and technical means (such as automation, gene therapy, etc.). In his books, Hawking often used the term “God” to clarify the points he was making.
His former wife, Jan Wilde, during their divorce proceedings, asserted that Hawking was a consistent atheist. In 2010, when comparing religion to science, Hawking stated: “There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on dogma, and science, which is based on observation and logical reasoning. Science will win because it works.” In his work “The Grand Design,” Hawking argued that to have a universe, there is no need for a Creator: “Once gravity exists, the universe can and has created itself out of nothing. A spontaneous creation—that is why there is a universe and why we exist. There is no need for a God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.”
In an interview in 2011, Hawking stated: “I see the brain as a computer; it will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for a broken computer; that is just a fairy tale for those afraid of the dark.”
In 2011, in the science documentary “Curiosity” produced for the Discovery Channel, Hawking posed the question: “Did God create the universe?” He asserted that to create the universe, God “had no time,” as time did not exist before the Big Bang occurred…
At the 2011 Google Zeitgeist Conference, Hawking also stated that “philosophy is dead.” He believed that philosophy “has not kept up with the modern developments in science,” and scientists have become the torchbearers leading the mission to explore knowledge. Hawking believed that philosophical questions could be answered through science, particularly that new scientific theories would lead us to a very different picture of the universe and our place within it…
At the end of his lecture at the California Institute of Technology, the brilliant cosmologist expressed his views on saving humanity: “We need to continue exploring space for the future of mankind. I do not think we will survive another thousand years without escaping from this fragile planet.”
Hawking’s lecture in California garnered significant public attention. Although the topic was purely scientific, many people wanted to attend, leading to a line that stretched for a mile and a half. Those wishing to obtain a free ticket had to queue up 12 hours in advance. In the auditorium, with 1,000 seats filled, many stood to listen due to a lack of available seating. Among those who were unfortunate enough to miss entering the lecture hall were enthusiasts willing to pay thousands of dollars for an entry pass. However, no one was willing to sell their invitation, no matter the price.
