We all know Hawking celebrates the death of the philosophy the denies the existence of God. Yet I am afraid he is in one way or another aksing philosophical questions for defending the power of "the Universe" that may be attributed as God.

This book is incredibly accessible given the depth of scientific information that is in it. Wilkinson provides engaging photos and graphs that break down the different thoughts that are presented on the topic of the origin of the universe. While the large portion of this piece focuses on the work of Dr. Stephen Hawking, it does present other views of origin. The book truly attacks the question of why there is a universe while not forgetting that science gives us a window as to how the universe came into being. I would encourage this book to anyone who thinks the Big Bang or other origin theories disproves the God of the Bible.

David Wilkinson was an astrophysicist and is now a theologian. In God, Time and Stephen Hawking, he explores the relationship between recent cosmological theories and Christian beliefs. He gives a short overview of some of the latest discoveries (when the book was written!), including the Cosmic Microwave Background Explorer (COBE) results, and describes some of Stephen Hawking’s theoretical work on the origins of the Universe. He even delves into topics such as the end of the universe and extra-terrestrial intelligence, while looking at how these issues affect our faith. Dr. Wilkinson argues against the designer approach to God, maintaining that science cannot prove nor disprove the existence of God. He ends the book with a chapter on how we can know God and respond to Him, from a Christian perspective. This was one of the first books that I read on science and faith that went beyond Creationism and Intelligent Design. I was still wallowing in those ideas then, and had no idea how profound this book was. Looking back at it now, I am surprised at how up to date this book is (it even includes dark energy!). It’s also written at a level suitable for laypersons.

A cogent contribution to my interest in Genesis and science. The book is adept at exposing complex science accessibly, and while not broaching my original sin bugbear offers both a sturdy demolition both of insecure designer theories and the fashionable nature of belief that Hawking’s work on origins leaves no room for a creator. There is also new material on the right way to approach texts figuratively ; the logic of order rather than creation account is attractive ; I still need my deepest Adam and Eve questions satisfactorily answered to buy into any completely figurative reading notwithstanding the ability of relativity to tie up the time frames . Nonetheless good stuff here.