“What did God do before he created the universe?”

— Stephen Hawking, book A Brief History of Time

Source: A Brief History of Time

Last update Oct. 1, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "What did God do before he created the universe?" by Stephen Hawking?

Stephen Hawking photo

Stephen Hawking122

British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author 1942–2018

Related quotes

“Why did god create a dual universe?
So he might say
‘Be not like me. I am alone.'
And it might be heard.”

Mark Z. Danielewski book House of Leaves

Source: House of Leaves

“The Law teaches that the universe was invented and created by God, and that it did not come into being by chance or by itself.”

Averroes book On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy

Part 1: The Creation of the Universe; Opening sentence
On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy

“Before forgiving someone, remember that he was aware of doing what he did. And he chose to do it.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Prima di perdonare qualcuno, ricorda che era consapevole di fare ciò che ha fatto. Ed ha scelto di farlo.
Source: prevale.net

“To ask what God did before the Creation assumes that God is locked in time like we are. If God is limited by time, He is not God! Time is God.”

Kent Hovind (1953) American young Earth creationist

Source: What On Earth Is About To Happen… For Heaven’s Sake? (2013), p. 26

“Because the god who created this universe, if it was created by a god, is quite clearly a maniac, an utter maniac, totally selfish. We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of god would do that?”

Stephen Fry (1957) English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and activist

2010s, On what he would say to God were he to meet him, February 2015

“What do we find God 'doing about' this business of sin and evil?…God did not abolish the fact of evil; He transformed it. He did not stop the Crucifixion; He rose from the dead.”

Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) English crime writer, playwright, essayist and Christian writer

Essays, The Triumph of Easter (1938)
Source: The Whimsical Christian: 18 Essays

“I know the God hypothesis has its partisans, but, oh, what a boring idea. Where did the universe come from? He did it. How do we account for rivers and rocks and ring-tailed lemurs? He made them. Ho-hum.”

James K. Morrow (1947) (1947-) science fiction author

Source: The Philosopher's Apprentice (2008), Chapter 5 (p. 108)

“There is, therefore, no difficulty in answering such questions as these. What cause was there why the Universe was placed in such a part of Space? and, Why was the Universe created at such a Time? for, if there be no Space beyond the Universe, it was impossible that it should be created in another place; and if there was no Time before, it was impossible it should be created at another time.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) Christian preacher, philosopher, and theologian

The Mind (begun in September 1723; not completed).

“He had always loved God. In his darkest hours he cried out, "God did not create us to abandon us.”

Irving Stone book The Agony and the Ecstasy

Source: The Agony and the Ecstasy

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… Then he said, “Let there be light.” Which means he made the entire universe in the dark!”

Ricky Gervais (1961) English comedian, actor, director, producer, musician, writer, and former radio presenter

Related topics