He was no stranger to tackling big questions and ideas. His take on the question as to whether or not God exists is logical and scientific, as you might expect, and fairly straightforward.

He was also one of the most recognizable scientists in the world. Appearances in television shows like “The Simpsons” and “Star Trek” helped cement Hawking as not only one of the greatest minds of his time but a pop-culture touchstone.

In another of his famous books “The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe,” Hawking reflects on topics like religion and the possible existence of some higher power.

All matter, energy, and empty space emerged from this tiny speck, and this raw material has evolved into the cosmos that we know today by following a strict set of scientific laws.

However, not everyone believes in this, as many believe that God is the creator of the universe. This is one reason why Hawking has been asked for years if he believes that God exists.

Diagnosed at 21 years of age and initially given only two years to live, Hawking had a full life and career, eventually passing away at 76. His achievements and dignity in the face of his health issues made him a role model for disabled people. He was a strong advocate for the protection of the rights of disabled people.

Hawking wrote that for centuries it was believed that people living with a disability, as he had, were living under some curse inflicted by God.

Science teaches that there are certain laws for the way things work in the natural world that are always obeyed. Some might like to say these rules are the work of God, but Hawking took this thinking more as a definition of God than proof of his existence.

While he believes that the universe is governed by the laws of science, he believes that these laws could have been ordered by God.

Occam’s razor states that if you have two or more ideas or theories to explain the same phenomena, you should prefer whichever is simpler. The simplest explanation is often the correct one.

However, before he died, Hawking wrote a book entitled “Brief Answers to the Big Questions,” where he did just that. One of the questions he answered within this book was if he believes that there is a God.

In his view, the simplest explanation was that there is no God. There are laws of nature, but not by design. No one created the universe, and there is no higher power directing our fate.

While some will likely praise Hawking for sharing this, others will not be happy to know that one of the greatest scientists ever doesn’t believe in God.

Fr. Robert Spitzer has said that Hawking’s comments show that there is much confusion about the Christian concept of God as the creator of everything that exists.

Br Consolmagno claims God isn’t another force in the universe alongside gravity and electricity. He further explained that God is the reason why space, time, and the laws of nature are present for the forces that Hawking has dedicated his life to investigating.

Benedict XVI has referred to Hawking and other scientists as not creating the world, but they have learned from it and attempted to imitate it.

Hawking revealed that he believes that aliens exist, that artificial intelligence could outsmart humans, and that time travel can’t be ruled out.

However, the laws of nature are different. These laws cannot be broken, but they are incredibly powerful and can also be controversial at times.

Professor Hawking didn’t despair at the idea of there being no Heaven but rather found comfort in it, saying, “We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful.” 

However, Hawking believes that this is just wishful thinking. He has said that there is no reliable evidence that the afterlife exists, so therefore, it cannot exist.

His work leaves an impact on how we understand the universe, and his discoveries served to unify concepts from various scientific fields.

In an interview with the BBC, he stated that the development of full artificial intelligence could mark the end of the human race. Back in 2014, when it was still in its earliest stages, he strongly cautioned us on the risks and abilities associated with AI, emphasizing the consequences should it exceed human intelligence.

One of these predictions involves the solar system. Hawking has predicted that in a few hundred years’ time, we will be able to travel to anywhere in the solar system.

But subscribing to his own theories, this isn’t something he would experience after his passing. But he has achieved an afterlife of a kind, as he will be spoken of and thought about for many years to come, and his words and his wisdom are still a source of guidance for humanity.