Stephen Hawking, the groundbreaking theoretical physicist, shared his views on God and the afterlife before he died. He believed there was no proof of a higher power and that the universe could be explained through science. In an interview with El Mundo, he stated, “Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation.” Hawking considered all religions based on faith without factual evidence, making him an atheist.

In “The Grand Design,” co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow, Hawking argued that the laws of physics, not a divine creator, were responsible for the universe’s creation. He wrote, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.”

In “Brief Answers to the Big Questions,” he stated, “No one created the universe and no one directs our fate… I think belief in an afterlife is just wishful thinking… it flies in the face of everything we know in science.” Despite his views, he respected others’ beliefs.

Hawking’s scientific contributions remain influential and celebrated.