Quote from 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.
Good point. I am not familiar with Buddhism is any way. What are their views on the afterlife?