Cosmology… a religion for atheists?

In the film The Theory of Everything, Stephen Hawking (portrayed by Eddie Redmayne) claims that cosmology is ‘a religion for intelligent atheists’. The idea haunts the film as it haunts Stephen Hawking’s books.

In a video lecture just released on YouTube, William Lane Craig, philosopher and theologian, examines this claim, critiquing both dialogue from the film and Stephen Hawking’s own writings. Does a beginning to the universe entail a creator? Does Hawking’s latest ‘no boundary’ Big Bang model eliminate the need for God? What hope is there in a godless universe? And is philosophy dead, as Stephen Hawking claims?

All these issues are explored in the video lecture, which can be viewed below.

William Lane Craig’s Kalam Cosmological Argument is the most widely discussed argument for the existence of God in contemporary western philosophy. He is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Houston Baptist University. He is the author of over 40 books, including Reasonable Faith, which argues for Christian faith in the wider context of astrophysics, philosophy, and arguments for the existence of God.

He is best known online for his lectures and debates with leading atheists and skeptics, many of which are available on his YouTube channel. Visit his website: Reasonable Faith.