Have we finally transcended theology?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ravine
Please, if you will, indulge me by showing just where it is that the Hawking "quote" appears.
"In The Grand Design we explain why, according to quantum theory, the cosmos does not have just a single existence, or history, but rather that every possible history of the universe exists simultaneously. We question the conventional concept of reality, posing instead a “model-dependent” theory of reality. We discuss how the laws of our particular universe are extraordinarily finely tuned so as to allow for our existence, and show why quantum theory predicts the multiverse–the idea that ours is just one of many universes that appeared spontaneously out of nothing, each with different laws of nature. And we assess M-Theory, an explanation of the laws governing the multiverse, and the only viable candidate for a complete “theory of everything.” As we promise in our opening chapter, unlike the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life given in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the answer we provide in The Grand Design is not, simply, “42.”
“Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing, It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.”
Stephen Hawking, The Grand Design
A crash course in cosmology and the absence of need for a god...
The link below is to a lecture by cosmologist Lawrence Krauss which will give the lay person an understandable summary of what we now know about the origin and nature of the universe and how we know it. Krauss is the best communicator I've heard on the subject, and he's funny to boot. IMHO, this is the best investment of 54 minutes of your time you will ever make.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Imvl...rom=PL&index=2
I thought it was obvious...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ravine
Why did you quote my post when your post does not address the request in my post?
The Hawking quote that you asked for appears in his latest book "The Grand Design" which I quoted since everyone here doesn't have a copy.
Confusing beliefs with knowledge
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Meddle
give the lay person an understandable summary of what we now know about the origin and nature of the universe and how we know it.
what we now believe
why we believe it.
We don't KNOW anything. We only think we do.
Meddle, you may know nothing and think that belief is an adequate substitute, but I'm not confused by the distinction. Knowledge is supported by substantial evidence. Beliefs, especially religious beliefs, require none.