IN SEARCH OF HEAVEN

A Scientific Stand

RENOWNED English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, in an interview with The Guardian in 2011 said, “There is no heaven or afterlife…; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” It is unfortunate that Mr Hawking, a scientist, chose to make such an unscientific statement.

A person who does not believe in Heaven can only say that according to known physical laws, Heaven does not exist. But the matter cannot be said to end here. The currently accepted theory of the composition of the universe states that only 4% of the universe consists of matter as we know it. The remaining 96% of the universe is thought to consist of dark matter and dark energy, which are poorly understood, if at all. Only the 4% of the universe that we do understand—the observable universe—is subject to scientific study. Science is defined as the systematic study of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Matter, either microscopic or macroscopic, which can be observed directly or indirectly and then put through scientific study is the object of investigation. Since the greater part of the universe cannot be observed, it clearly cannot be studied.

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A statement is considered valid only if it has been made via the established scientific method. This method has to be adopted by scientists and nonscientists alike.

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In earlier times, there was no scientific method. In the present day, a statement is considered valid only if it has been made via the established scientific method. This method has to be adopted by scientists and nonscientists alike. The only scientifically valid statement on this subject that Mr Hawking could have made was that—according to known physical laws, in the 4% of the universe subject to scientific study, there is probably no Heaven.