Pope Advised Hawking Not to Study Origin of Universe

BlueCup submits a link to an Associated Press article running in the Northwest Florida Daily News which begins "Famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said Thursday that the late Pope John Paul II once told scientists they should not study the beginning of the universe because it was the work of God. The British author, who wrote the best-seller 'A Brief History of Time,' said that the pope made the comments at a cosmology conference at the Vatican." According to the article, "The scientist then joked during a lecture in Hong Kong, 'I was glad he didn't realize I had presented a paper at the conference suggesting how the universe began. I didn't fancy the thought of being handed over to the Inquisition like Galileo.'"

Comments

Re:Flawed Logic

[RsG]

Because then the people who make a living telling people what God(TM) is will be out of a job?

Re:Flawed Logic

[operagost]

Scientists have known that the earth is not the center of the universe for 500 years and that humans evolved from other animals for about 150 years, yet the fundamentalists still insist on living their lives racked with guilt and fear of a vengeful God.

Another poor, ignorant soul confusing Roman Catholicism with fundamentalist Christianity. The bible teaches that Jesus' sacrifice allows him to stand in our stead. With faith, we have no fear.

"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say,'You will be made free?' " Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Re:It's just propaganda

[OwnedByTwoCats]

So what exactly explains the people who insist on creationism, denying every shred of evidence and fact that supports evolution?

Some people crave certainty, and latch onto words of leaders who claim to speak simple, absolute truth.

Are they just pulling their 6 day creation story out of thin air?

They have chosen to follow leaders who are themselves either ignorant fools, spouting what they do not understand, or liars.

Not at all dissimilar to the Republican War on Science. They have chosen to embrace those who make their livlihood causing global warming, so they naturally believe the energy industry think-tanks who say that global warming has nothing to do with the CO2 that we're putting into the atmosphere. It's all a coincidence. You can't believe those scientists; here, believe our scientists instead. Because we make campaign contributions.

Re:I seriously doubt he said it

[gad_zuki!]

>made up the quote

Wow, the faithful truly are delusional. Why proof do you have this is true other than you wanting it to be true? A prominent physicist puts in a quote from the pope in book for laymen and you think he just decided to lie? Yeah, whatever gets you through the day.