“God is the name people give to the reason we are here. But I think that reason is the laws of physics rather than someone with whom one can have a personal relationship. An impersonal God.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“God is the name people give to the reason we are here. But I think that reason is the laws of physics rather than someone with whom one can have a personal relationship. An impersonal God.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking offers a rationalist perspective on the nature of existence and the concept of God. He suggests that while many people attribute the reason for our existence to a personal deity—a being with whom one can have a relationship—he believes the true explanation lies in the laws of physics. For Hawking, the universe operates according to these laws, which govern everything from the movement of galaxies to the behavior of subatomic particles. In his view, the universe is not a creation of a personal God with intentions or desires, but rather the result of impersonal, natural forces, which can be described and understood through scientific inquiry.
Hawking’s idea of an impersonal God aligns with the philosophical concept of deism, which proposes that the universe was created by a higher power but operates according to natural laws, without ongoing divine intervention. This stance is in contrast to religious views that see God as actively engaged in the world and in the lives of individuals. Hawking, influenced by his background in physics, found the idea of a personal God unnecessary to explain the workings of the universe. Instead, he emphasized that understanding the laws of physics could provide answers to profound existential questions, such as the origin of the universe and the nature of life itself.
In modern times, this perspective reflects the ongoing tension between science and religion. Many scientists, like Hawking, embrace a naturalistic view of the universe, where the existence of life and the cosmos can be explained through empirical evidence and scientific laws. This view has gained prominence in the scientific community, where the pursuit of knowledge and understanding through observation and experimentation is central. Hawking’s thoughts challenge the traditional religious conception of God while providing a framework for understanding the universe that does not rely on supernatural explanations but on the fundamental laws of nature.
