Stephen Hawking bashes Pope John Paul II

Stephen Hawking is in the news of late as he visits the Cal Tech campus for a lecture on the Big Bang theory. His over all statement was to say that God was not needed for the creation of the universe.

He had time to outline his M-Theory, which "posits that multiple universes are created out of nothing, Hawking explained, with many possible histories and many possible states of existence. In only a few of these states would life be possible, and in fewer still could something like humanity exist. Hawking mentioned that he felt fortunate to be living in this state of existence."

I was in Barnes and Noble this past weekend and came across a book entitled "I Don't Have Enough Faith To be an Atheist" which is how I understand this M-Theory.

Let's see, multiple universes created out of nothing.We can't explain just one universe made by itself from nothing so we have a theory that says multiple universes created out of nothing "makes more sense" according to Hawking.

And this more acceptable than a creator, God that created the universe, the unmoved mover.

Okay, I'm not smart enough to go through the mathematical equations that suggest this but I'm listening. I find it interesting.

I guess I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.

Then, Hawking takes a swipe at Pope John Paul II, accusing the Holy Father of criticizing the scientist establishment.

In another observation of modern religion, Hawking noted that in the 1980s, around the time he released a paper discussing the moment the universe was born, Pope John Paul II admonished the scientific establishment against studying the moment of creation, as it was holy. 

Now he doesn't specify where or when the Holy Father leveled this criticism, naturally. Maybe we can call it a theory since he offers no solid evidence.

I did a little investigation and all I came up with JPII, FIDES ET RATIO (Faith and Reason), paragraph 106:

106...Finally, I cannot fail to address a word to scientists, whose research offers an ever greater knowledge of the universe as a whole and of the incredibly rich array of its component parts, animate and inanimate, with their complex atomic and molecular structures. So far has science come, especially in this century, that its achievements never cease to amaze us. In expressing my admiration and in offering encouragement to these brave pioneers of scientific research, to whom humanity owes so much of its current development, I would urge them to continue their efforts without ever abandoning the sapiential horizon within which scientific and technological achievements are wedded to the philosophical and ethical values which are the distinctive and indelible mark of the human person. Scientists are well aware that "the search for truth, even when it concerns a finite reality of the world or of man, is never-ending, but always points beyond to something higher than the immediate object of study, to the questions which give access to Mystery". 

It sure doesn't sound like a put down to me. In fact it shows admiration and offers encouragement "to these brave pioneers of scientific research..." 

 And certainly no mention of any "Inquisition". How disappointing from a scientist who people stood in 1/2 mile long line to hear his thoughts. Now I don't know if this is the instance that Hawking had in mind but I does show JPII and the Catholic Church's high regard to the scientific community.


Oh and by the way it was a Catholic Priest who first came up with the theory of the Big Bang, Father Georges Lemaître and I don't think he was invited to any inquisition either.

Faith and Reason, the receipt for Truth. Hope one day Stephen Hawking will utilize the two to get what he is hopefully after...the Truth.

Oh and I almost agree with his most resent thought that “I don’t think we will survive another thousand years without escaping our fragile planet.”...I agree....I call it Heaven.