It may be argued that Stephen Hawking is the smartest man in the world. The Cambridge University professor, cosmologist, theoretical physicist and best-selling author recently wrote in his book “The Grand Design,” that the laws of physics can create the universe out of nothingness and that “God” is not necessary.
“Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing,” — Stephen Hawking
I am a mental midget compared to Professor Hawking, but even such as I can see a very serious flaw in this assertion. I’ll try to make myself sound more intelligent than I really am by saying it in Latin:
Ex nihilo nihil fit.
Out of nothing, nothing comes.
This very basic concept may have first been expressed by Greek philosopher Parmenides 500 years before the birth of Christ. It has endured for two millennia alongside the conflicting theory of spontaneous generation.
[Spontaneous generation (aka abiogenesis) is the erroneous theory that life arises from non-living things. For example, 16th Century Flemish scientist Jan Baptist van Helmont theorized that mice would spontaneously generate when a piece of soiled cloth was combined with wheat for three weeks and that scorpions would be created from a sprig of basil placed between two bricks and left in sunlight.]
This theory was ultimately disproven in the 19th Century by Louis Pasteur. Much more on this can be found here on Wikipedia.
Hawking’s claim is different from that of the ‘scientists’ of old only in that it is infinitely more absurd. At least the proponents of abiogenesis started with something! Hawking claims that nothing, combined with more nothing in the middle of nowhere after being acted upon by nobody for no amount of time resulted in everything.
A mathematical equation for such a theory would be 0+0=∞.
Utter nonsense.
Here’s what I think the Bible has to say on the matter:
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.” — 1 Corinthians 3:19
“The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath.” — Psalm 94:11
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. — Genesis 1:1
Not even the smartest man in the world can think his way out of these truths:
Ex nihilo nihil fit
and
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? — 1 Cor 1:20
and
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. — 1 Cor 1:25
Please join me in praying that if it is the will of God and if it will bring Him more glory, that the scales of worldly blindness would fall from Hawking’s eyes and perhaps he will turn to Christ in trust and repentance.
excellent dave. saw this earlier in the week and it really bothered me. your intellect is spot-on!!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Miller, David Miller. David Miller said: Does zero plus zero equal infinity? The world's smartest man may be a fool. http://tando.org/archives/812 [...]
Stephen Hawking is recently in the news for saying (if I properly understand him) that the universe could have originated without the assistance of God. Given his own lamentable condition, I can’t help wondering if he feels he could similarly get by without the assistance of God himself…
Hawking is a smart man. In fact, he has mastered the basics of marketing. 1. Pick a niche and provide a product. 2. Make big bold statements to catch your potential customers attention. Hawking has been a favorite of Atheist for years.
I have not read his new book nor do I plan on it. I am sure that it is filled with deep scientific theory but common sense seems to trump his claim. If his basis is the law of gravity than it either existed prior to the “big bang” or after. If before how did it originate and if after what created it? I am also wondering if the laws of inertia would not contradict his hypothesis.
The more important question is “what is goal or motive in making this claim?” There is no debate that, like a number of others, Hawking has been dealt a crappy hand in life. People with extreme handicaps are forced to contemplate their mortality and ask why I am I like this. There are two common paths that tribulations will guide us too. 1. That Gods plan is beautiful and a grand mystery to us. We are made in his image and whatever our short comings or challenges we are part of his plan. Or 2. No loving God could have made me like this. Therefore, either God does not exist or he hates me. Either way proving that God does not exists helps to justify their personal situation.
At the risk of sounding cold blooded, God makes us as we are with a specific purpose. All of us at one time or another look for evidence that Gods hand is not guiding our lives. We often act out in self-destructive sin as a shield. Almost to say, look God I am bad do not ask more of me. If we ever truly understood God’s plan for us I wonder if we would readily accept it or reject it in fear. Did not Jonah run away when God told him to go to Nineveh. Jonah knew God’s plan yet chose to ignore it. I pray for Stephen Hawking not because he is handicapped but because he has chosen to ignore the talents that God has blessed him with.
[...] and he describes himself as a CalviDispieBaptoGelical; a label that would doubtless confuse the world’s smartest man. In the past year or so, Dan has become my favorite blogger on the Pyromaniacs team and I often [...]