Stephen Hawking's Exploration of God and the Universe in A Brief History of Time

Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge 

During my tenure at Chilaw Hospital, I received a copy of Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes from the eye surgeon, Dr. Kovarthana Raja, which I read with great enthusiasm. In this insightful work, Hawking explores various pieces of evidence and theories concerning the universe's origins, including the Big Bang model and cosmic inflation, ultimately enhancing our understanding of humanity's place within the cosmos.

In this book, Stephen Hawking challenges the existence of God, positing that the laws of physics are sufficient to account for the universe's origin and existence, thereby eliminating the necessity for a divine creator.

Christianity asserts that the universe was intentionally created by an eternal and omnipotent God. While the Bible conveys profound spiritual truths, it does not delve into the specifics of celestial bodies or galaxies using contemporary astronomical terminology.

A core tenet of Islam is the belief that Allah (God) is the creator of the entire universe. The Qur'an frequently references celestial bodies such as the Sun and the Moon; however, it does not specifically mention galaxies or their existence.

Ancient India acquired some understanding of astronomy from the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations during the era of the Buddha. Consequently, the Buddha likely possessed a degree of astronomical knowledge. The Buddha's cosmology was based on the ancient Indian understanding. The Buddha rejected the notion of a created world, suggesting that he might have approached the study of astronomy with an independent perspective. Buddhist texts describe a cosmos of immense scale. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the Buddha referenced the solar system or the nearby Andromeda galaxy.

Religious traditions across the globe often fall short of providing a detailed and accurate depiction of the universe. Instead of relying on precise empirical evidence, their sacred texts tend to employ metaphorical and descriptive language. Through the lenses of faith and revelation, these religions seek to convey the meaning, purpose, and origin of the universe.