Asking the Clergy: What would you say to Stephen Hawking?

Physicist Stephen Hawking, in his new book, "The Grand Design," writes that God had no role in the creation of the universe. What would you say to him?

Gary L. Scott, senior pastor, New Hyde Park Baptist Church:

An open letter to Professor Stephen Hawking:

I commend you for the courage and strength you have shown in combating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and for thinking deeply and passionately about the world you inhabit. Even though I may not be able to speak to you as an equal in the area of your expertise, I can speak to you as another human being who shares the same passion for the world we inhabit together.

When I look at the sky at night, I find myself more moved by the Psalmist's eruption of worship to [God] than by an "M-Theory" that suggests spontaneous creation. Your view is driven by ideology; mine is driven by theology. "Scientific Positivism" expresses your faith in naturalism; through faith, I understand that the worlds were framed by God.

Professor Hawking, your life is neither insignificant nor accidental. Mathematic equations and scientific postulates account for only some of reality; there is another dimension to life that can only be understood through the supernatural connecting to the natural - His name is Jesus Christ. He alone can enable you to see into His world. I think it is worth taking a look.

Brother Gary Cregan, O.S.F., principal, St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington:

If I were to speak to Stephen Hawking now, I would suggest to him that he may want to consider rereading some of his thoughts in "A Brief History of Time" (Bantam, 1994, $18), where he does suggest a First Cause, which is the term he uses for God. It is ultimately a matter of faith. So, for believers, a man of Stephen Hawking's caliber is worthy to discuss and to read.

My conviction that God exists and that he is the First Cause emanates from that precious gift of faith. I have a lot of respect for Stephen Hawking. He asks deep and probing questions that every intelligent person asks. He certainly probed the universe and found the mind of God. Now, unfortunately, he has again probed the universe and has not found the mind of God.

Rabbi Isaac Bakhshi, North Shore Sephardic Synagogue, Great Neck:

God is the source of kindness. In order to stay kind, he wanted to practice his kindness. He practiced his kindness by creating the world and the universe. Whatever we have is all from God.

You need a master plan to make such a beautiful creation. Everyone knows that oxygen is a source of life, but you can't see oxygen. Seeing is not necessarily the only way of believing. As long as what Stephen Hawking says doesn't affect people's beliefs, their fear of God and sense of humanity, there is no consequence to what he says.

We should be like God and practice his kindness. He gave us life and has asked us to give it back to him through our faith.

Archpriest Eric George Tosi, secretary, Orthodox Church in America Headquarters, Syosset:

Back in the time of the militant atheism of the former Soviet Union, there was a famous poster that showed a cosmonaut floating in space. In large letters it stated, in Russian, "Gde Bog" or "Where is God?" The point being that we had made great scientific leaps and even went into space and still did not see God. But what were they looking for? What Professor Hawking wrote is nothing new.

People will see what they want to see. If we want to look for God, then we will see Him in His creation. If we do not want to look for God in His creation, we will not see Him. The poster failed to understand this and instead relied on a perspective that was not open to the possibility of seeing God. It was looking for something else. The question I would like to ask Stephen Hawking, truly a brilliant man, is do you think you are looking for something that you may not see? Perhaps by looking for something else, you might see something else.