Sometimes the old tricks are the best tricks

So Stephen Hawking has caught up to Nietzsche and basically proclaimed that God is dead....well, not dead exactly, but something that is not required for the universe to exist or be what it is. In his new book, which I haven't had a chance to read yet, The Grand Design, apparently he argues that the universe most likely came about through spontaneous creation.

“Our conclusion: This (the universe) can all be explained through science and we don’t need God to explain how the universe came into existence or why the laws of nature are what they are,” said Mlodinow. (Mlodinow wrote the book with Hawking).

From a PR perspective you have to give it to Hawking, he knows how to generate interest. I'm not really sure why God factors in to the discussion if it is purely a scientific overview of the universe. Once you toss God in there you are now mixing science with sociological, anthropology, philosophy and mythological variables and belief systems.

But that's why you have to give it to Hawking, nothing sells books like taking a good old-fashion jab at people's religious belief systems and stoking the fires of the old religion versus science debate.

I'll read the book, but I suspect I'll probably end up having a good chuckle as a variety of scientific 'theories' attempt to dethrone theological 'theories'. I'm a fan of science, as well as philosophy and theology, and as far as I can tell no one has been able to explain how any of this came to be. Last time I checked no one knows what came before the big bang. Everything is theoretical in that sense.

So attempting to replace a theological theory (God) with a scientific theory (spontaneous creation) seems to be asking people to take the same 'leap of faith' that they are asked to take when it comes to religion.

Kind of reminds me of the scene from the movie Contact

At the end of the day I suspect Hawking will sell a ton of books, religious organizations will also probably garner tons of media coverage as they dispute Hawking's 'theories', and in the end we'll end up right back where we started with most people believing in God but at the same time acknowledging that we don't have all the answers as to how the universe works or why it exists in the first place.

But sometimes the old tricks are the best tricks, and Hawking has pulled out the oldest trick of them all by using someone else's popularity (God) to elevate interest in what he (Hawkings) has to say.

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