Keep in mind when you look at the poll numbers in this article that the survey is not based on a random sample. Or they will shut you down by telling you not to ask such questions. (Example: God exists because I feel in my heart that God exists.) The argument that religion shouldnt have to logically defend its claims. Even stars die. Design? Question: Why do people not recognize that scientists are the ones responsible for atheism? God will not force you to believe in Him. Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.. To go through this life with success and confidence, we must be connected to him, relying on him. It is only necessary to know that Hawking was satisfied that our universe could be created without God. He has done more with my life than I would have done on my own. Here are eight common factors that lead atheists to change their minds about God: 1. Please refresh the page and try again. Satan does not want you to accept God's gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. At the time of diagnosis, Hawking was given only two years to live. Did you not read the above article? This causes the brain to be unable to initiate and control muscle movement. But mainly he reveals that we shouldn't trust the truth of anything he says. Scientists today can surely have the right materials, particles, atoms, etc. They should never allow value judgments to affect their work. At least in public, most persons who define themselves as an atheistregardless of how they define the term atheist, itself, are not willing to seriously and objectively consider facts which might change their mind. Religious belief appears to be nearly universal in humans. . Please don't confuse my input with criticism. They are deeply entrenched in their belief system and are almost alwaysunwilling to seek a change from those positions. He just said there was no need of a "Prime Mover.". It wouldnt make sense for us to get that desire from an evolutionary process that requires death and suffering. Nobody can explain what is the purpose of life? There are claims, but no proof. Only those who have continually seared their conscience, over a very long period of timeby ignoring their guilt; can achieve some resemblance of freedom from that guilt. Being unable to live a normal physical life meant he could devote himself to the inner life of the mind. Scientists have no idea about life in other galaxies either, due to the vast distance or if they do know from crashed UFOs, they not allowed to disclose anything to public about ETs Aliens and their technologies. An open mind is a very good quality in a scientist. (There is a bulge around the equator.) One person named Christy came to mind. Question: Has Stephen Hawking written any books about the existence of God? 2.Francis Collins, American Physician who helped map the entire Human Genome Actually, it is not important to understand the details. I do agree with Hawkins. Before his death at the age of 76 on March 14, 2018, Stephen Hawking was generally considered one of the smartest people on Earth. "The Grand Design," the book discussed in the article, was his last book prior to the posthumous publication of "Brief Answers to the Big Questions." In his mind, the hard facts of science at his disposal told him otherwise. C.) The circumstances which will amount to this degree of proof can never be previously defined; the only legal test to which they can be subjected is their sufficiency to satisfy the mind and conscience of a man of common prudence and discretion, and so to convince him, that he could venture to act upon that conviction in matters of the highest concern and importance to his own interest.. Explanations about life--why we're here, what the purpose is, what is important in life, what to value or strive for--God has better answers than anything I've ever read anywhere. Because He reminds men that they are sinners, in need of a Savior. Mo: Hawking was not trying to prove the existence or non-existence of God. Indeed, atheists are just as susceptible as the next person to group-think and other non-rational forms of cognition. But the Bible suggests that knowledge will destroy us, and while I am wholly supportive of academics, and science, it is passing strange that here we are, with half a dozen technologies that are far more likely to wipe out the world than human generated global warming (not that it can be ignored). I was floored because I had only told one friend, in Ohio. But this difference doesnt neatly map onto whether you are religious or not. If its silly to believe in Thor and Osiris, its just as silly to believe in Allah or Jehovah. Just like atheist question the existence of god and religion, science must also be questioned as to being the answer to everything. does he exist? And certainly nothing I felt guilty about. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Atheists hold a variety of odd ideas that they think might enable humans to beat mortality. How can God be all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving if he permits massive suffering throughout the entire universe (and not just suffering caused by mans free will)? He loves you, just as if you were his own child, which is why you must never question your faith or you will burn for all eternity. Gods love is deeper than intimacy with any human being. They oppose us in the public square, attempt to convert our children to unbelief, and they say some unpleasant things about Christians. Yes by a million miles it is. If scientists created a Big Bang, it would destroy the entire universe. It is extremely black-and-white and people are able to have all 3 beliefs, except they cannot be represented because it is select one, strictly. Thank you for your writings. Anyone who loses belief in their religion most likely faces a wrenching process. I don't have to understand how to build a house to trust that my architect does; I don't have to understand aviation mechanics to ride in an airplane; I don't have to understand medicine to trust my doctor to safely remove my appendix. Maybe he was just being polite. Hawking is one of these people. Hawkings statement denying the existence of God should not have come as a surprise to anyone. Let's take a look at the life, work, and worldview of Stephen Hawking, who was widely acclaimed as one of the most brilliant minds in the world. In other words, they are seeking to live without guilt, and regret which they view as being placed upon them by God or religion. If science has an answer to everything, can it explain why we die? (, I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. (In, There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. The substantiating reasons for God's existence mattered to me. What God shows me in the Bible is always perfectly suited to my question, and a better, more satisfying answer than I expected. In nearly 40 years, not once has any atheists ever stipulated that any single piece of evidence was compelling. But even uneducated people can be atheists. Then you dig deeper and you realize that even the good parts have problems: xenophobia, sexism, slavery, exhortations to kill people who offend your faith or to go to war against them. Jesus said that the world will know that we are His followers, by the love that we have for one another. When you invent a superhero, you can give him any super powers you want. jerry a: Hawking did a lot of good for the world in his scientific work and as a role model for how to live with a debilitating illness. That was a surprise. I find it quite alarming that in the 21st Century, 22% of the readers of this article believe that the bible is the blueprint for the universe. And this is encouraging for Christians who want to share the good news with them. So, the service will be both inclusive and traditional, reflecting the breadth and diversity of his life. And I would methodically review five objective reasons why I believed God existed. 5. And we know that there is no objective evidence at all to support the notion of a god, or a heaven, or an afterlife. For reasons of personal financial gain or to achieve a position of authority or power, many individuals will label themselves a follower of Christ, without this fact being true. The existence of God (or gods) was taken for granted in the ancient and medieval world. I believe that God created Everything, but where do they think we come from? Some of the ideas about God and the misconceptions that people have, are due to a lack of knowledge. Time not existing means that the 2 rocks that *supposingly* collided into each other are frozen without time, and the big bang has never or could have happened and never will. Some people are taught to believe, but later reject these beliefs because they don't seem true or they don't make sense. Would you not also require a total and full commitment from your husband or wife, forsaking all others, remaining faithful and committed to you, no matter what? He is not a belief or doctrine. It is clear they were never on the same page about religious matters, and this was perhaps one of the reasons why the two decided to go their separate ways. It has often been seen that religion claims to provide answers to the unsolved mysteries of life, such as the origin of the universe and the meaning of life. The common quip that "there were no atheists in antiquity" is more or less true. "How do you know that God exists?" Maybe they wondered about my motives. Humanity has existed, as a distinct species, for 100200 thousand years. He wrote "The God Delusion." But now science offers a more convincing explanation. Look around and be amazed. Well I don't have much to say in this. That is what science is! Pro-life atheist to convert to Catholicism: 'There is a God-shaped hole The facts/reasons support my faith. We now understand the workings of so many things that were previously attributed to gods. Stephen Hawking never wrote any books that were solely about God. One evening, I was alone and thinking through a long list of friends. I would bet a ship load of money that he tossed religion aside drawing conclusions before examining it thoroughly. Answer: You are correct--science does not believe in miracles. "Science will win because it works. Which at a certain level is true, i'm typing on a computer. Stephan Hawking : Time did not exist before the big bang so there is no God. He did not feel that it was his mission to convince anyone else about the existence or non-existence of God. I'm speaking in terms of accomplishments that far exceeded what I ever had in mind. For example ghosts, the paranormal, chance, and our self-consciousness as compared to animals ect.. On that note: Please check out my Sci-Fi book -^_^-. Im an atheist.. And spontaneous generation, the idea that living things can emerge from non-living things, once widely believed, is now known to be impossible. "most") to unique. I guarantee neither you nor anybody else has an argument that hasnt been tried before. (While a lack of affiliation and a lack of belief may seem to go hand in hand, that is not always the case. Only 5% of people with ALS survive for more than 20 years after diagnosis, so Hawking's long life is remarkable. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep - Genesis 1. Religion is about interpretation. Why don't atheists believe in any gods? - Quora Evidently, this type of belief was much higher not too long ago. It cant ever be proven or measured or created in an experiment or lab. If you think that, you have no understanding of his work. They simply choose not to believe. You have done a good job of explaining why we can trust the truth of science. Some parents take the view that their children should choose their beliefs for themselves, but what they then do is pass on certain ways of thinking about religion, like the idea that religion is a matter of choice rather than divine truth. God, who created us, provides this as nothing else could. they have no answer who created these laws and who brought us on this planet with million perhaps billions of other small form of life. By Daisy Grewal on May 1, 2012 Why are some people more religious than others? These critics probably didn't read Hawkings book, because he explains these points. Stephen Hawking was widely considered to be a genius. It is understandable that some Christians see atheists as our enemies.