Before his death, Stephen Hawking expressed his thoughts on the afterlife.
He was a pioneering theoretical physicist whose ideas about God and the afterlife captivated others due to his brilliance. He expressed his views on the presence of a higher power and the idea of ​​an afterlife in a number of interviews and writings.
A question of faith
Hawking’s answer to the question of whether he believed in God was unequivocal. He thought that the universe could be explained by the principles of science and that there was no evidence of a higher power.
“Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe,” he said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. However, science now provides a stronger justification.” Hawking’s religious beliefs were not specific to any one faith. He held that all faiths lack empirical support and are based on the same theological precepts. For all practical purposes, he is an atheist.
The big plan
Hawking elaborated on his theories regarding the origin of the universe in his book “The Grand Design”, which he co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow. He argued that the universe was created according to the laws of physics, not by a supernatural creator.
“The universe can and will form out of nothing because of laws like gravity,” he wrote. The universe and ourselves exist by spontaneous creation, and therefore there is something instead of nothing.2.
No afterlife
Hawking also had a scientific basis for his belief in an afterlife. The idea of ​​an afterlife was just wishful thinking in his opinion. In his latest book, Short Answers to Big Questions, he wrote:
“No one controls our destiny and no one created the universe. This makes me realize something very important: there is most likely no heaven and no afterlife. Believing in an afterlife is my wishful thinking. It goes against everything.” we know about science and it is not supported by any credible data.3.
However, Hawking does not reject other people’s beliefs in order to assert his own.
“We are all free to believe what we want, and in my opinion, the simplest explanation is that there is no God,” he said.
In conclusion
Stephen Hawking’s views on God and the afterlife have been shaped by his deep understanding of science and his commitment to rational inquiry.
As a theoretical physicist, he believed that the universe could be explained using the laws of physics without the need for a supernatural creator. His position as an atheist stemmed from a lack of empirical evidence for the existence of God or an afterlife. For Hawking, the idea of ​​an afterlife was mere wishful thinking, unsupported by science.
While he openly shared his beliefs, he also respected the freedom of others to hold different opinions. His openness about his atheism was not intended to undermine or question the faith of others, but rather to present a perspective based on scientific reasoning. Despite his stance on religion, Hawking’s legacy in science remains undeniable as his work continues to inspire future generations to explore the mysteries of the universe.
Ultimately, Hawking’s approach to life, science and the universe was characterized by deep curiosity and an unrelenting pursuit of knowledge. Whether people agree with his conclusions or not, his contributions to our understanding of the universe will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.