<p>God did not create the universe and the “Big Bang” was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics, the eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book.</p>
<p>Yeah, God did not create the universe. It really was created by some other deity who goes by the same name. </p>
<p>Reminds me of those scholarly arguments among Classicists that Homer didn’t really write the Iliad. Instead it was written by some other guy also named Homer.</p>
<p>Funny, coureur!</p>
<p>Sorghum–then, who passed the laws? (tongue-in-cheek, kinda).</p>
<p>But I already knew that. Why should Hawking get the credit?</p>
<p>Maybe gravity is God.</p>
<p>If there is a God, I don’t think it is anything like most deists believe. I’m sure God isn’t an old white man with a beard.</p>
<p>Maybe Hawking is God and he’s being self deprecating.</p>
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<p>Do “most deists” believe God is an old white man with a beard?</p>
<p>"If there is a God, I don’t think it is anything like most deists believe. I’m sure God isn’t an old white man with a beard. "</p>
<p>I think you mean theists. I doubt many DEISTs believe G-d is an old man with a beard.</p>
<p>Hawking is, IIUC, dealing with questions of what was before the big bang, if any other laws of physics are possible, etc. </p>
<p>As usual, people on both sides who don’t really understand the physics, will make arguments based on half (or less) understood physics. And if you don’t understand the physics, can you really understand if the theological derivations Hawkins makes from the physics are philosophically justified? </p>
<p>And of course physics (being a progressive science) has changed over time (Not a bad thing, thats a good thing) But I would have a hard time basing my life commitments, either way, on science that A. Will likely change again and B. I don’t really understand</p>
<p>But then I am more of a religious existentialist, after Rosenzweig and Buber. My religion is based on MY affirmative commitment. Those who look for ‘proofs’ may find that approach less than satisfying. It certainly doesn’t make for such entertaining debates on the interwebs.</p>
<p>Nobody knows anything for sure and nobody ever will. I am determined to live with this notion which does not bother me at all. Eventually Earth will cease to exist, just a fact. Our existence is a fact, I do not need any explanation beyond that. This is if the purpose of this thread is to collect opinions. If not, then disregard, I am not arguing about anything with anybody, it will make no difference in this case as in most other cases in life.</p>
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I wonder why anybody would think that the idea that God created the universe is inconsistent with the idea that the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics?</p>
<p>The whole idea of God is the result of a simple misunderstanding long, long ago. In truth, the universe was created by Dog, who is in an eternal battle for supremacy with the duplicitous fallen angel, Cat.</p>
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<p>I agree, although I’m pretty sure that if we ever do know for sure, it will turn out to be what I just said.</p>
<p>Do not leave out the important characters - the parents of Dog - Dogma and Dogpa. Dogma is a control freak so not much is known about Dogpa.</p>
<p>The fallen angel, Cat is engaged in a fierce battle with the new Dog, little puppy. No harmony in my home at the moment. Dogma has no control and Dogpa is off golfing.</p>
<p>Maybe God is gravity.</p>
<p>If physics created the universe, who created physics?</p>
<p>My high school physics teachers said it was him, and I have never seen a single thing that contradicts that assertion.</p>
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<p>In my mental conception of God, created when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old and was going to Catholic school (loooong story, don’t ask), God is a short elderly man who wears big round glasses. He looks kind of like an older version of Wally Cox from What’s My Line, if anyone remembers him (and I’m really dating myself - I’m only 45!). Now why God would need glasses to see didn’t figure into my theology as well.</p>
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<p>Are you sure about that? :D</p>
<p>I am not a deist, but if I were the one certainty I would have is that God is a mathematician.</p>