Stephen Hawking says afterlife is a fairytale...

Not sure if it was posted yet, but this is what Hawkings have to say about the afterlife:

"I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first. I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark."

"What could define God [is a conception of divinity] as the embodiment of the laws of nature. However, this is not what most people would think of that God," Hawking told Sawyer. "They made a human-like being with whom one can have a personal relationship. When you look at the vast size of the universe and how insignificant an accidental human life is in it, that seems most impossible."

Source

Thoughts?

I feel almost exactly the same way when it comes to this discussion, though I wouldn't label it as "Fairy story for people afraid of the dark"...

Don't care, really.

Well that doesn't really surprise me.

Yes, this has been known. It's not new at all.

Obviously, he hasn't been introduced to the concept of the "soul".

Stephen Hawking is the most brilliant mind of our generation, but I don't see what makes his thoughts on the afterlife bear any more weight than anyone else's. This kind of reminds me of this comic strip.

Well everybody has their opinion.

I imagine if he did believe in God though, many would try to discredit him.

He's been getting quite cranky in his later years.

♫In the afterlife Will dark be bright? Will cold be warm? Will the day have no night? In the afterlife? Will the blind have sight? In the afterlife ♫

I believe an afterlife exists, and that there is a higher being.

As for Stephen Hawking... I think the man is overrated. I've never once thought of him as the genius people make him out to be.

♫In the afterlife Will dark be bright? Will cold be warm? Will the day have no night? In the afterlife? Will the blind have sight? In the afterlife ♫

I believe an afterlife exists, and that there is a higher being.

As for Stephen Hawking... I think the man is overrated. I've never once thought of him as the genius people make him out to be.

TommyWieseau81

He kind of just restates things people have known for a while.

I respect Hawking, he has a truly remarkable intellect. But it seems so wasteful for life to be so intricate, not just humans but all life, how it learns, grows, develops and more from conception to death and than it just disappears when we die. That seems very flawed when you consider life in it's many concepts.

It's already known that the brain uses a form of energy to transmit commands around the body, what if that energy is what we define as a soul? Maybe that energy is released upon death, but where does it go to? For all of the individual personalities, all that we learn, it can't just be totallygone when that life comes to an end. Surely it must go somewhere, the question is where?

It seems so wasteful otherwise for all that knowledge, all that we live to just disappear and leave behind an empty shell.

Pretty sure most people already knew this. Thanks though Stephen.

Pretty sure most people already knew this. Thanks though Stephen.

Alter_Echo

I believe this is suiting for the situation...

Why must a thread be made every time this guy says something?

Why must a thread be made every time this guy says something?

KH-mixerX

Why must a thread be made every time this guy says something?

KH-mixerX

He's, like, only the most amazing mind eveeeer.

But seriously, he has a knack for stating the obvious, that's why.

Why must a thread be made every time this guy says something?

KH-mixerX

He's just stating his own opinion after many years of pondering. I respect his mind and what he's contributed to science. I don't think that he's any more 'right' than anyone else, but I find his opinion interesting and it matches how I feel. I'm not sure why you're getting so riled up over opinions.

t3hrubikscube

I don't like the way he said it. The brain controls all thoughts, what a ground-breaking discovery :roll:. He doesn't have to be an ass about it, though.

I feel almost exactly the same way when it comes to this discussion, though I wouldn't label it as "Fairy story for people afraid of the dark"...

tocool340

Funny, thats the best description i can think of.

How sweet would it be to find out I'm in an actual fairytale after I die.

[QUOTE="t3hrubikscube"]He's just stating his own opinion after many years of pondering. I respect his mind and what he's contributed to science. I don't think that he's any more 'right' than anyone else, but I find his opinion interesting and it matches how I feel. I'm not sure why you're getting so riled up over opinions.Necrifer

The only reason I can see why some of you people are getting so grumpy is that you're feeling threatened about your own existence/ideas of the afterlife/religion/whatever. It's his opinion, you have your own, calm down.

[QUOTE="t3hrubikscube"]

He's just stating his own opinion after many years of pondering. I respect his mind and what he's contributed to science. I don't think that he's any more 'right' than anyone else, but I find his opinion interesting and it matches how I feel. I'm not sure why you're getting so riled up over opinions.

Necrifer

I don't like the way he said it. The brain controls all thoughts, what a ground-breaking discovery :roll:. He doesn't have to be an ass about it, though.

[QUOTE="Necrifer"]

[QUOTE="t3hrubikscube"]He's just stating his own opinion after many years of pondering. I respect his mind and what he's contributed to science. I don't think that he's any more 'right' than anyone else, but I find his opinion interesting and it matches how I feel. I'm not sure why you're getting so riled up over opinions.t3hrubikscube

The only reason I can see why some of you people are getting so grumpy is that you're feeling threatened about your own existence/ideas of the afterlife/religion/whatever. It's his opinion, you have your own, calm down.

indeed, he was just giving his opinion, but when he contradicts religious people, its cause hes an ass. and then religious people ask why every day more and more people abandon their nonsense.

I don't see how he's being an ass? He's just sharing his opinion. I don't think he's trying to state anything revolutionary, but rather he's just sharing his thoughts.

The only reason I can see why some of you people are getting so grumpy is that you're feeling threatened about your own existence/ideas of the afterlife/religion/whatever. It's his opinion, you have your own, calm down.

t3hrubikscube

that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.

Stephen Hawking

Hm, yes. He could at least try to be a little more respectful of others' beliefs. That's the only problem I have with what he said.

[QUOTE="t3hrubikscube"]

I don't see how he's being an ass? He's just sharing his opinion. I don't think he's trying to state anything revolutionary, but rather he's just sharing his thoughts.

The only reason I can see why some of you people are getting so grumpy is that you're feeling threatened about your own existence/ideas of the afterlife/religion/whatever. It's his opinion, you have your own, calm down.

Necrifer

that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.

Stephen Hawking

Hm, yes. He could at least try to be a little more respectful of others' beliefs. That's the only problem I have with what he said.

Why?

Why?

t3hrubikscube

Why not?. I was just saying it makes him look like a jerk when he says things like that. There's nothing absolutely wrong about acting like that...I just don't like it. It's my opinion.

[QUOTE="t3hrubikscube"]

Why?

Necrifer

Why not?. I was just saying it makes him look like a jerk when he says things like that. There's nothing absolutely wrong about acting like that...I just don't like it. It's my opinion.

I just think that perhaps you're being a bit too sensitive.

[QUOTE="tocool340"]

I feel almost exactly the same way when it comes to this discussion, though I wouldn't label it as "Fairy story for people afraid of the dark"...

DoomZaW

Funny, thats the best description i can think of.

I just think that perhaps you're being a bit too sensitive.

t3hrubikscube

Maybe...:|

Same.

People fear death and the unknown, so they've created an all powerful all seeing dude who will protect them.
I've always thought of god as "A superhero for those afraid of the monsters under the bed"

Nibroc420

So the afterlife just has to involve a god?

[QUOTE="DoomZaW"]

[QUOTE="tocool340"]

I feel almost exactly the same way when it comes to this discussion, though I wouldn't label it as "Fairy story for people afraid of the dark"...

Nibroc420

Funny, thats the best description i can think of.

[QUOTE="DoomZaW"]

[QUOTE="tocool340"]

I feel almost exactly the same way when it comes to this discussion, though I wouldn't label it as "Fairy story for people afraid of the dark"...

Nibroc420

Funny, thats the best description i can think of.

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"]

Same.

People fear death and the unknown, so they've created an all powerful all seeing dude who will protect them.
I've always thought of god as "A superhero for those afraid of the monsters under the bed"

Necrifer

So the afterlife just has to involve a god?

Myself, I don't really believe in an afterlife, but I am sure it is quite possible that there is some sort of hallucination state that occurs for some time after you die until your brain runs out of energy/chemicals.

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"][QUOTE="DoomZaW"]

Funny, thats the best description i can think of.

brandontwb

However IMO God is not real, and neither is the afterlife. However if the imaginary superhero makes you feel braver around things that you have no reason to fear, i see no issue.Although i will laugh if someone trys to convince me their imaginary superhero is real, especially at my doorstep.

If you believing in god makes you feel better, go nuts. But dont try to convince me he is ;)

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"]

Same.

People fear death and the unknown, so they've created an all powerful all seeing dude who will protect them.
I've always thought of god as "A superhero for those afraid of the monsters under the bed"

Necrifer

So the afterlife just has to involve a god?

I can't wait until my opinion is viewed with the utmost respect.

You don't need to be genius to know that afterlife is a fairy tale