Stephen Hawking was on the BBC Today programme to make his usual assertion that God is an un-necessary redundant idea in understanding the creation of the universe, and likewise philosophy, proclaiming that science and the intellect have all the answers to the kind of questions we have about reality. He believes philosophy as much as religion hasn't caught up with the extraordinary advances in science this past quarter century. He is effectively proclaiming a new paradigm shift in our knowledge and understanding of everything.
Religious folk may not be too bothered by this for the moment. Philosophers may be quietly thinking: 'Who does Hawking reckon he is?' In wrestling with theory of knowledge (how we know what we think we know), talk of a paradigm shift refers to a change in how bewilderingly complex things become clear, simple and understandable in a relatively short space of time. Are we really there yet? All the complexities of modern scientific findings are couched in arcane mathematical theory, and only a few experts can understand, let alone make any connections. Albert Einstein once said "Mathematics deals exclusively with the relations of concepts to each other without consideration of their relation to experience." Getting an all embracing mathematical theory that is scientifically testable may be the precondition for a paradigm shift in how we understand the universe, rather than a manifestation of one. It's no use to anyone if it can't be related to experience, however.
Tonight is Jewish New Year's Eve. Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks was on Thought for the Day, not long before Hawking. His contribution was a beautifully, positively crafted affirmation of faith. He knows how to communicate the good news of faith, with intelligellectual vigour. You can read his words here. It's well worth a look. In five days of aired debate, he's the first person to mention Aristotle's ideas about the material universe always having existed, as opposed to coming into existence from nothing. I mentioned Fred Hoyle's discredited continuous creation theory four days ago, but forgot about Aristotle and others who first had these debates. How familiar these would have been to Jewish saints and sages, contemplating and praising God's creation, as they too in their way tried to probe its secrets.
How many are thy works O Lord.
In wisdom thou hast made them all:
the earth is full of thy riches!
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