Did God create the universe?

[naomi24]

Mibn2cweus (Mibs) posted a really interesting video that I think a lot of people may have missed - Stephen Hawking asking 'Did God create the Universe'. It's not mind-blowing - well at least its language isn't - so if you're interested in his answer, it's here.

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1049542.html

[Elderman]

So,there’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” This slogan has been displayed on 200 buses in London, England; on another 600 countrywide; and on two giant screens in London’s Oxford Street, reports The Guardian newspaper. The originators say that their campaign is in response to religious advertising that condemns nonbelievers to hellfire. The word “probably” is used in order to meet the rules of Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority, since it is impossible to prove that God does not exist. One objective of the campaign is to encourage more atheists to “come out,” to reveal their views.

Before and after other political leaders have similarly promoted themselves as savior figures and demanded exclusive devotion. Those who succumbed made gods of these men, no matter what formal religion the “worshipers” belonged to or even if they claimed to be atheists.

[jake-the-peg]

Really Elderman?

So which political leaders recently have demanded their elevation to God-like status and demanded exclusive worship?

(Excluding Margaret Thatcher of course)

[notasyoungasiwas]

(Excluding Margaret Thatcher of course) he he he
Did God Create the Universe? No - it evolved imo

[naomi24]

Elderman, that's nonsense. People can indeed be devoted to a leader - but if they believe him to be a god, they cannot be considered atheists. Atheism doesn't just mean a lack of belief in your god - it means a lack of belief in any god.

I'm at a loss to understand what role the atheist bus plays in this discussion.

[Elderman]

Yes, your loss to understand what role the atheist plays
Suppose that Jesus Christ were personally on earth today and were saying to a certain religious group: “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know.” Would he be including us with himself in saying: “We worship what we know”? Or would he be including us with the religious group that did not know what it was worshiping? . (John 4:22)

A person can fool himself by saying in stubborn pride and reliance upon himself: “I worship no one or nothing! I fear neither God nor man.” But in course of time telltale facts will come to light to show whom or what a person is worshiping.

It is a state of mind in which we give our paramount political loyalty to one section of the human race, to the particular tribe to which we happen to be tribesmen. Insofar as we are captured by this ideology, we hold that the highest political good for us is our own nation’s sovereign independence; that our nation has a moral right to exercise its sovereignty according to what it believes to be its own national interests, whatever consequences this may entail for the foreign majority of the human race; and that our duty, as citizens of our country, is to support your country, right or wrong.

[naomi24]

Elderman, if Jesus, apparently a devout Jew who is reputed to have told his followers to keep the law, were on earth today, you wouldn't recognise him - and he certainly wouldn't recognise you. Neither would he recognise the myriad of religions that have sprung up in his name - nor Islam that claims him as its prophet. The man, if he ever existed, has been shamefully abused - and I actually feel very sorry for him. But then, I'm an atheist, and as such, hold no delusions.

[LogicA]

Don't neglect the answer to Hawking :

God and Stephen Hawking: Whose Design Is It Anyway? [Paperback]
John C. Lennox

"John Lennox, Oxford mathematician and author of 'God's Undertaker', exposes the flaws in Hawking's logic. In lively, layman's terms, Lennox guides us through the key points in Hawking's arguments - with clear explanations of the latest scientific and philosophical methods and theories - and demonstrates that far from disproving a Creator God, they make his existence seem all the more probable. "

[Old_Geezer]

Having tried to read his God book and found it plain irritating and insulting, and not worth buying, I don't think I'm interested in what he as to say on matters spiritual or religious any more. He's blown his chance.

I'm inclined to believe in the reality of cause and effect, and suspect that probably means there is a first cause for the universe. Not knowing what that is I name it God, so by definition God exists and created the universe. The details I may find out one day, but I suspect not.

[naomi24]

OG, Why did you find it insulting?