Heaven is a fairy tale, says physicist Hawking

[Free Thinker]

Quote from bone:

If the intention of the OP and the atheistic "anti-deity" crowd is to make a value statement that atheism implies superior intellect, then Hawking's viewpoint offers no proof - he's been wrong before on a scientific basis and he could very well be wrong about the existence of God or some sort of universal deity.

every scientist has been wrong many times. that is why scientific observation must be backed up by testing. any real scientist can change his mind based on any new piece of evidence.
religious dogma,on the other hand, resists any challenge to its traditional beliefs.
as far as superior intellect. every study shows an inverse realtionship between religious belief and intellect.

 

[stu]

Quote from bone:

The fact of the matter is that no person, including Mr. Hawking, will know the final scientific proof until it's too late for him to once again say he was wrong in this mortal lifetime.

You're guessing that death is going to prove something.
That's nothing but a mugs game pal.

 

[RCG Trader]

Hawking is the smartest man on earth. But he deals with the physical. He does not deal with the metaphysical. I find it amazing that atheist do not regard a simple physical fact. We cannot see UV. Our sense of smell is much less than that of a dog, as well as our sense of hearing. Saying that there is no extra-normal force because we have not measured it yet is simplistic, to say the least.

 

[Ricter]

Quote from stu:

Things boil down to whatever might be wrong...

Define "wrong" in this context.

Muahahahahaha...

; )

 

[stu]

Quote from RCG Trader:

Hawking is the smartest man on earth. But he deals with the physical. He does not deal with the metaphysical. I find it amazing that atheist do not regard a simple physical fact. We cannot see UV. Our sense of smell is much less than that of a dog, as well as our sense of hearing. Saying that there is no extra-normal force because we have not measured it yet is simplistic, to say the least.

If you're dealing with the metaphysical, simple physical facts wouldn't be your concern.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from stu:

Stephen Hawking is obviously right ....

Just like the last time he thought he was right, but was later proven wrong? The only individuals who know for an absolute certain fact as to whether there is a heaven or not are all dead. And they're not talking. Me personally, I assume I'm going to hell while quietly hoping the atheists are right. A kind of prepare for the worst and hope for the best kinda thingy.

On a positive note, this is one mystery we will ALL find out the answer to some day.

The downside unfortunately is that we're going to find out - the hard way.

 

[stu]

Quote from Lucrum:



Just like the last time he thought he was right, but was later proven wrong? The only individuals who know for an absolute certain fact as to whether there is a heaven or not are all dead. And they're not talking. Me personally, I assume I'm going to hell while quietly hoping the atheists are right. A kind of prepare for the worst and hope for the best kinda thingy.

On a positive note, this is one mystery we will ALL find out the answer to some day.

The downside unfortunately is that we're going to find out - the hard way.

So how was he proven wrong?

I see you're another playing the rather unedifying game of "let's die and see" .

 

[pescador]

One should emphasize though that everything mentioned in this thread as "religion" refers exclusively to the religions originating from Judaism.
In all kinds of these religions, including Christianity and Islam, the existence of a creator god and of creation is a dogma, an unchangeable, undiscutable tenet.

This is why they are fundamentally incompatible with science in general, and the scientific approach in particular.

Buddhism for example on the other hand is perfectly compatible with science, with the theory of evolution, and has no need at all neither for a dogma of creation, nor for a creator, not even for a god at all.

Buddhism has taught for thousands of years that all phenomena, the whole universe appear spontaneously from emptyness.

Quite similar actually to what Hawkings says.

So not all religions are the same.

 

[RCG Trader]

Quote from stu:

If you're dealing with the metaphysical, simple physical facts wouldn't be your concern.

Simple physical facts are based on our ability to perceive, and interpret, that information. It is hubris to believe we have explored all available options.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from stu:
So how was he proven wrong?

Quote from bone:
Hawking, like all humans, has made some mistakes in his profession - most notably the long standing paradox regarding information getting lost versus getting mangled within black holes. He was vehemently opposed to many other physicists about the nature of Black Holes, undertook a famous bet with an American physicist, and ultimately after many years Hawking finally conceded that he was wrong and completely reversed his position.
So, like the rest of humanity, Hawking is fallible.

Quote from stu:
I see you're another playing the rather unedifying game of "let's die and see".

More spin? I said we're going to find out when we die, NOT let's die and see.