Cosmology; Hawking's theory of a beginning (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, March 05, 2018, 14:57 (2456 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID’s comment: If time began at the Big Bang (that is the time of our reality) it looks like a creation to us. Of course, scientists can't bring in God as creator, but it is a piece of the evidence for God.

dhw: Time is whatever you define it to be. I define it as a sequence of before-now-after. The fact that we can't observe the consequences of events before the BB (if it happened) does not mean there was no before, i.e. no cause, cause of the cause etc. You and I would agree on that, I think. Presumably, since he is an atheist, Hawking is convinced there is no point in considering any theory that cannot be verified by observation, because the universe consists only of its materials. That should be anathema to you, so I don't quite know why you're quoting him with such boldness. As for evidence, however, the Big Bang (if it happened) is no more evidence for a God than it is for chance, though no doubt you and Hawking would disagree - you one way and he the other.

DAVID: I am quoting him because the 'no boundaries' proposal specifically says there is no 'before' before the Big Bang. It specifically implies a creation of some sort. Naturally I choose God.

dhw: If there is no ‘before’, there is no God. If there is a ‘before’, it can just as easily have been mindless energy and matter as a conscious mind. I really don’t think for one moment that the atheist Hawking thinks his theory specifically implies a “creation” that would allow for your God.

Of course he won't. And 'before' only God existed outside of time.