Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous scientists of our time, left behind not only a scientific legacy but also bold philosophical reflections on faith, God, and the nature of existence. In his latest book, "Brief Answers to the Big Questions," he expressed a thought that has made many think: "The simplest explanation is that there is no God."
The scientist made this conclusion, not based on a denial of faith as such, but on a scientific understanding of the laws of nature, which, according to him, do not require a supernatural explanation. He believed that the universe works according to certain rules, and it is these laws that provide answers to questions about its origin and development.
"For centuries, it has been believed that disabled people like me live under a curse imposed by God. I disagree with this. Everything can be explained by the laws of nature," wrote Hawking, who has struggled with a neurodegenerative disease his entire life.
Hawking did not believe in an afterlife and compared the human brain to a computer that stops functioning when its components fail: "There is no heaven or afterlife for broken computers; it is a fairy tale for people who are afraid of the dark.".
Despite his seemingly pessimistic stance on life after death, Hawking was a great optimist about the value of life itself:
"We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that I am immensely grateful."
Realizing the inevitability of death, he urged humanity not to waste time, to be curious and not to forget to look at the sky:
"Try to understand what you see, and think about what makes the universe exist. And no matter how difficult life seems, there is always something you can do and succeed in."
Stephen Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76. His contributions to cosmology, including his studies of black holes and the nature of time, made him a scientific legend. His book The Theory of Everything and public speaking made complex ideas accessible to millions of people around the world.
