A diagnostic quiz on Beliefnet promises to determine what "Kind" of Christian a person is based on their answers to 20 questions. The questions deal with basic beliefs about Jesus such as the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, his death on the cross, and resurrection. The website says, "One's approach to the Bible reveals a great deal about one's approach to religion generally. One's attitude about who Jesus was and what the Bible is, can define an individual's spiritual type."

A computer uses answers to various questions to rank a person on a scale of 0 to 400. Those with a lower score are typed as a "Jesse Ventura Christian." The rankings move up through a Bishop Spong Christian (Biblical Revisionist), a "Hillary Rodham Clinton" Christian Left Leaning Traditionalist), a "George Bush Sr. Christian (Right Leaning Traditionalist), or a "Jerry Falwell Christian"(An Historicist).

Each category contains a brief description of the types and some suggested reading to fit the individual's spiritual perspective. This survey recognizes that every person has some kind of spiritual understanding, and need. Yet, spirituality and a relationship with Jesus is not the same thing.

Spirituality may mean a person knows something about Jesus, while a relationship with Jesus is based on knowing Him personally. Can a person be a "Christian” and believe anything other than the entire truth about who He is?

—www.beleifnet.com, The Jesus Quiz, May 29, 2002, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 16:13-16. NIV "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." But what about you?" he asked,"Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

A documentary scheduled for broadcast December 1 on the British Broadcasting Company claims fresh evidence shows that the Biblical plagues outline in the book Exodus were natural events rather than myths or miracles. The program entitled, “Moses” will suggest that much of the Biblical story can be explained by a single natural disaster, a volcanic eruption on the Greek Island of Santorini in the 16^th century BC.

The program uses computer-generated imagery, which explains that Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt after a series of plagues devastated the country. The program uses new research to argue that many of the events surrounding the exodus could have been triggered by an eruption a thousand times more powerful than a nuclear weapon.

Computer simulations show a cloud released by the volcano reduced rainfall over the area, turned the Nile red, and subsequently produced the remaining plagues ranging from frogs and lice, to the death of cattle, and boils, and even the parting of the Red Sea.

Researchers say such an event would have been remembered for generations, and may have been the source of the Biblical story. Jean-Claude Bragard, the director of the program said, “Sifting through the latest historical research and utilizing new archaeological tools, we have been able to find a surprising amount of circumstantial evidence for the Biblical tales.”

—http://news.telegraph.co.uk, Biblical plagues and parting of the Red Sea ‘caused’ by a volcano’, November 11, 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The Bible never says what methods God used to bring His plagues and free the Hebrew nation from bondage. In using these computer models, researchers have actually provided more evidence for believing the Biblical account, by demonstrating that the miraculous deliverance is true.

Romans 1:20. NIV “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

A new study has found that more Americans believe in God than in angels, miracles, or heaven. Even though half of Americans attend worship services on a regular basis, the majority feels religion plays too small a role in people's lives today.

Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national poll for Fox News Channel. The research shows that 92 percent of Americans claimed to believe in God, while 85 percent claimed to believe in heaven, and 82 percent in miracles.. The study found that belief in God has remained the about the same, belief in the devil has increased slightly in the past few years, from 63 percent in 1997 to 71 percent today.

The poll also discovered interesting differences in gender and age groups. Women were more likely than men to believe in almost all the topics addressed in the poll. Young people are much more likely than older Americans to believe in both hell and the devil. 86 percent of adults between 18 and 34 believe in hell, but the number drops to 68 percent for adults over 70 years of age.

The poll found that slightly over a third of Americans say they attend a place of worship at least once a week. Three percent of Americans attend worship on holidays, while 15 percent said they never attend.

—www.foxnews.com, More Believe In God Than Heaven, October 12, 2003, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Timothy 1:12 NIV "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

Authorities in Sweden will soon lift the protected status of Sweden's Great Lake Monster.

This will make the mythical beast fair game for hunters, and the curious.

The legend of the Great lake monster dates back to at least the 1600s and tells of a huge black serpent with a cat-like head. A snake-like beast is also depicted on a Viking rune- stone dating back centuries that was found on an island in the middle of the lake.

Authorities passed a law in 1986 protecting the beast as an endangered species despite the fact that there is no evidence it even exists. A request from a local man to collect the creature's eggs forced their hand because authorities had to admit they lacked scientific evidence that the creature is a valid species.

Peter Lif, head of legal affairs for the region said, "We do not question the Great Lake Monster's existence—of course we believe it exists. But we find ourselves forced to lift its protection." Lif encouraged believers in the beast to take advantage of the change to prove that it really exists. He added, "We encourage everyone to come here and search for the monster so that we can establish valid protection."

—Reuters, Monster is Now Fair Game, September 9, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

There is a difference between "make-believe" and belief. I suppose there is nothing wrong with childish make-believe and propagating legends but it isn't the same as believing in unseen realities.

John 20:29 (NIV) "Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

When English bus driver Ron Heather went to work, he responded with “shock” and “horror” to the new advertisement posted on his bus. The large banner reading, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” is part of ad campaign funded by the British Humanist Association and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins. Heather is a Christian and said he would not drive a vehicle displaying that message.

Heather told a BBC radio reporter “I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror.” He added, “I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven’t got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did.” The following Monday, Heather met with officials of the First Bus company, and they agreed that Heather would only have to drive buses with the ads if no others were available. Later in the day, the bus company released a statement saying, “As a company we understand Mr. Heather’s views regarding the atheist’s bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned.” They noted that the Advertising Standards Agency approved the content and that they could post it anywhere. The company went on to say, “As an organisation we don’t endorse any of the products or sentiments advertised on our buses.”

Man refuses to drive ‘No God’ bus; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7832647.stm; January 15, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wlson and Jim Sandell

The three perspectives here are interesting. One says there is ‘No God.’ Another knows the truth and stands for it, while the third says we don’t endorse the sentiments we proclaim. Where do you stand?

Psalm 14:1-2 (CEV) (A psalm by David for the music leader.) Only a fool would say, "There is no God!" People like that are worthless; they are heartless and cruel and never do right. From heaven the Lord looks down to see if anyone is wise enough to search for him.

At the 2009 Oscar telecast Bill Maher was chosen to present the award in the documentary category. While presenting the award Maher commented, “Someday, we all have to confront the notion that our silly gods cost the world too greatly.”

--World Magazine, March 14, 2009 p. 10 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

He may be correct, if by silly gods he means the gods of communism, fascism, and atheism. Those three “silly gods” cost the world over 140,000,000 deaths in the twentieth century alone. (According to University of Hawaii political scientist Rudolph J. Rummel; see http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NOTE1.HTM )

Romans 1:20-22 (NASB) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

--Moon-landing debunkers won’t fade away;http://www. floridatoday. com/article/20090707/BREAKINGNEWS/90706039/1006/NEWS01/Moon-landing+debunkers+won+t+fade+away; July 7, 2009,Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

A lot of people still deny the greatest event in human history, that God sent His Son into the world to die for the sins of all mankind.
John 3:16 CEV “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.”

New research has revealed a growing skepticism among younger generations in America. The leading indicator of this shift is an increasing number of people answering “None” when asked if they prefer one religion over another. In surveys taken in 1990, 8.1 percent of respondents indicated their choice to be “None.” In 2008 that number had jumped to 15 percent. Researchers Barry Kosmin and Ariela Keysar say the statistics indicate the numbers are even higher among younger people. They have labeled this growing group of people Nones, and begun to look at their beliefs more carefully.

The researchers describe Nones as skeptics. Twenty-seven percent of Nones believe in a personal God. Agnostics make up roughly 35 percent of the None population, and 7 percent claim to atheists. Researcher indicates the Nones are not particularly superstitious or partial to New Age Beliefs. They tend to be more accepting of human evolution than the population in general. Overall this group of people leans toward philosophical and theological beliefs that reflect a skeptical view of religion as opposed to an antagonistic toward religion. The Nones tend to be younger males who have held their beliefs sense their early teens, and many claim to be former members of a particular religious grouping, but have since moved away from those core beliefs.

Kosmin and Keysar believe that if the younger generation remains nonreligious, the percentage of the US population made of Nones will continue to rise. Kosmin says, “Will a day come when the Nones are on top? We can’t predict for sure.”

The Lord does not expect belief in a religious system. He wants everyone to believe in His Son, Jesus.

--American ‘Nones’: More Skeptical than Anti-Religious, http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090922/american-nones-more-skeptical-than-anti-religious/index.html ; September 22, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

John 6:28-29 (NLT) They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” (29) Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

The Big Apple Coalition of Reason (http://newyorkcity.unitedcor.org/)is sponsoring an awareness campaign in New York City, posting advertisements in subway stations that say, “A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?” One spokesperson says the campaign is to promote awareness of atheists in the city and to encourage “talking and thinking about religion and morality.”

--World, November 7, 2009, p. 12. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The Bible calls those who trust in themselves instead of God, fools. (See Psalm 14:1; 53:1; Proverbs 28:26) The Christian would answer the poster’s question, “No, I am not good without God.” The day is coming for every person when they will not be good without God either.

Hebrews 9:27 (NRSV) “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment,”

Most believers expect the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to occur during their lifetime.

Many others believe that a key event in those happenings will be the Rapture, or snatching away of the church. Now a retired retail executive from New Hampshire, who is also an atheist, says, when the rapture occurs, he has believer’s pets covered. 61 year-old Bart Centre has started Eternal Earth Bound pets and promises to rescue and care for animas left behind by the church, for a fee. Centre bills his service as “the next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture world.”

The service has already attracted more than 100 clients, who pay $110 for a ten year contract, plus an additional $15 for each additional pet. Centre says he came up with the idea while working on a book. In his writings, Centre says many unkind things about the devout and confesses he wanted to cash in on the hysteria to supplement his income. He admits he doesn’t think he will ever have to follow through on the service he offers, but still directs $200 a month from his proceeds to fund food banks in Minnesota and New Hampshire. Centre says he feels he has already delivered something of great value to pet owners, peace of mind. He adds, “If we thought the Rapture was really going to happen, obviously our rate structure would be much higher.”

--Caring for Pets Left Behind by the Rapture, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_08/b4167070046047.htm; February 11, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

James 2:19 (CEV) You surely believe there is only one God. That's fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear.

BELIEF

A new study written by a Cambridge professor suggests that people who are more religious tend to have more children, and suggested there is a “believers gene.” Professor Robert Rowthorn wrote that people who attended religious services more than once a week had an average of 2.5 children, compared with adults attending only one service a week with an average of 2 children, and those who never attended with 1.67 children on average. Rowthorn said he believed that the more devout a person was, the more children they were likely to have.

Two pastors responded to Rowthorn’s theory about the gene and how it might work to spread religion. Adam Stadtmiller, associate pastor at a church in Carlsbad California, said he thinks the Apostle Paul refers to a “believer’s gene” when he speaks of the law and nature of God being written on people’s hearts in the book of Romans. Pastor Joel Hunter from Florida there may be a genetic predisposition towards faith. He says it does not eliminate the need for people to choose to believe in God. Hunter added, “The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but there’s a difference between a genetic predisposition and predetermination. I think you actually have to decide to believe in order to believe.”

--‘Believer’s Gene’ May Help Spread Religion, pastors Agree, http://www.christianpost.com/article/20110119/believers-gene-may-help-spread-religion-pastors-agree January 19, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Romans 10:9 (HCSB) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

BELIEF

A new Gallup poll suggests more than 9 in 10 Americans say they believe in God, even though unbelief has risen slightly over the past sixty years. The survey found the percentage of Americans who affirm their belief in God decreased from 96 to 92 percent since 1944. The results indicate younger people between the ages of 18 and 19 are less likely to believe in God, with 84 percent affirming their belief in God, while 94 percent of older people affirm a belief in the Supreme Being. Though a majority of people said they believed in God, people who classified themselves as liberals, those living in the Eastern United States, and people with a postgraduate education were less likely to affirm belief.

The report from Gallup said that while belief in God has been consistent over the last 60 years, when Americans have other options or the ability to express doubt, the percentage falls off. Earlier results found that some people would opt for belief in a universal spirit or higher power if given those options in a survey, and when given more options fewer respondents would say they were certain about the existence of God. Despite the small degree of uncertainty, Americas remain unique in terms of their belief in God. Another poll conducted globally found that only 51 percent of people worldwide expressed a belief in God.

--Most Americans Still Believe in God, http://www.christianpost.com/news/most-americans-still-believe-in-god-nonbelief-rises-50791; June, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

James 2:18-19 (CEV) (18) Suppose someone disagrees and says, "It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds." I would answer, "Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them." (19) You surely believe there is only one God. That's fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear.

George Gallup has been polling Americans for a long time. In 1944 he asked, “Do you believe in God?” 96% said yes. After over 60 years of attacks on the divine and His institutions, Gallup asked again. This time 92% said yes.

While the loss of 4% may or may not seem significant, the vast majority of Americans still believe there is a God.

Romans 1:20 (NASB) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

A new study by Psychologists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Oregon shows that people do not trust atheists. “The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?”

The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The study is an attempt to find why there is an anti-atheism prejudice in our culture. The finding shows that “anti-atheist prejudice stems from moral distrust, not dislike, of nonbelievers.” Azim Shariff, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Oregon and a co-author of the study said "People find atheists very suspect.” People believe since atheists don't fear God that we should distrust them. “They do not have the same moral obligations of others.”

The idea that there must be something wrong with the person who does not believe in God goes all the way back to the Old Testament where David describes those who don’t believe in God as fools who are corrupt and commit abominable deeds.

Psalm 14:1 (HCSB) The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

Though the football team may struggle through the first part of their games, the Denver Broncos may have found a new way to win games. In the second half of the 2011 season, the team promoted Tim Tebow, dubbed the “Mile High Miracle” to starting quarterback. The team won seven out of eight games, even though they trailed in the second half of six of those victories. The Broncos’ wins included dramatic overtime comebacks against the Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, and the Chicago Bears.

After the latest win, Coach John Fox the team remained positive under Tebow’s leadership on the field. Fans and sports reporters have begun calling the last minute turnarounds, “Tebow Time.” When asked about the term, the Broncos quarterback retorted, “It’s not Tebow Time. It’s Broncos Time.” After twin win against the Bears, a reporter asked Tebow about the rally. He responded, “If you believe, then unbelievable things can sometimes be possible.”

--Tebow, Bronocs Beat Bears 13-10 in overtime, http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/12/11/tebow-broncos-beat-bears-13-10-overtime; December 11, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Matthew 21:21 (CEV) But Jesus said to them, "If you have faith and don't doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will.

A new poll by the Gallup organization found that 78 percent, of American Christians identify with Christianity. Overall, the survey found 82 percent of Americans claimed a religious identity with 52 percent claiming to be Protestant or other Christian, almost 24 percent claimed to be Catholic, with other groups picking up the remainder. Fifteen percent said they did not have a religious identity or were agnostic.

The latest findings fit an emerging trend, which shows a growing percentage of Americans not embracing a formal religious identity. In 1951, a similar poll found only 1 percent of Americans did not claim a religious identity, compared with 24 percent identifying themselves as Catholic, and 68 percent as a non-Catholic faith. Earlier in 2011, a Gallup poll found that 92 percent of Americans say they believe in God, which suggests a person’s lack of religious identity does not necessarily mean they are atheist.

--Poll: Nearly 80- percent of Americans say they are Christian, http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Poll-Nearly-80-percent-of-Americans-say-they-are-2444092.php; January 5, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Romans 1:16 (CEV) I am proud of the good news! It is God's powerful way of saving all people who have faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

According to recent surveys, most Americans believe angels are more than a seasonal phenomenon. Poll results found 77 percent of adults believe angels, or messengers from God actually do exist in the real world. Large numbers of Christians said they believed in angles, but researchers were amazed that there is widespread belief in angels even among less religious people. A majority of people, who classify themselves as non-Christians, think angels are real, and more than 4 in 10 of people who never attend religious services say they think angels exist.
The current poll mirrors earlier findings, which indicated 81 percent of respondents believed in angels. Previous polls have also found 92 percent of adults said they believed in God, while only 34 percent indicated they believed in other spiritual manifestations such as ghosts or UFOs.

--Hark! Three in four Americans adults believe that angels are real, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078022/Hark-Three-American-adults-believe-angels-REAL.html ; December 23, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Hebrews 13:2 (CEV) Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.

According to Janie B. Cheaney, writing in World Magazine, atheism is more than rejecting God, it usually means despising people. The late Christopher Hitchens for example said, “My own view is that this planet is used as a penal colony, lunatic asylum and dumping ground by a superior civilization, to get rid of the undesirable and unfit. I can’t prove it, but you can’t disprove it either.”

--World, January 14, 2012, p. 18 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

According to Cheaney, The Atheist blog states, “most of humanity denies atheism. Are they stupid, venal, or simply ignorant?” Those are not the most complimentary choices.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. If a person rejects the God of creation, it is reasonable that the creatures created in God’s image would be next.

Genesis 1:27 (ESV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The National Opinion Research Center in Chicago recently compiled data from surveys performed over the past twenty years in thirty different countries and found that belief in God is highest among older people, and the likelihood that a person will believe in God increase with age. Researchers said they thought the realization that death is coming close may play a role in the statistics. The studies found that 43 percent of people aged 68 and older said they were certain God exists. That compares to only 23 per cent of people aged 27 and younger who said they were firm believers in God.

Researcher Tom Smith said belief was strongest in countries that had a strong basis in Catholicism. In the United States, 81 percent of people of any age reported they believed in God, and 68 percent of respondents supported the idea that God is concerned with people in a personal way. Smith noted that over the past twenty years belief in God has declined slightly in most countries, but those numbers were not very large. He added,” Looking at differences among age groups, the largest increases in belief in God most often occur among those 58 years of age and older. This suggests that belief in God is especially likely to increase among the oldest groups, perhaps in response to the increasing anticipation of mortality.”

--Belief in God grows as mortality nears, survey says, April 18, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Romans 10:9-10 CEV So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.

A new Pew Research poll suggests the percentage of Americans 30 and younger who have doubts about the existence of God is growing. Overall, 68 percent of young Americans told researchers they never doubt God’s existence. That number is down 15 percent from surveys taken five years ago. The survey indicated that more people under the age of 30 are expressing doubts about God than at any time since the surveys started ten years ago. Thirty-one percent of respondents disagreed with a statement saying they never doubted the existence of God.

The other interesting result of the survey was the percentage of millenials who claimed some sort of identification with some religious group. Most generations see the amount of religious identification increase as the group ages, but the under thirty group has remained the same. The report also found people younger than 30 are less likely to say prayer is important to them. Researchers think the results are merely an effect of lifestyle, but indicate that this generation is far less inclined to religious activity than preceding generations. The findings indicate a growing gap in belief in America, but confirm that this country is still a very religious country compared with the rest of the world.

--Survey: Doubt of God growing among millennials, http://www.religiontoday.com/blog/survey-
doubt-god-growing-quickly-millennials.html , June 18, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Hebrews 11:6 CEV “But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.”

Psalm 14:1 (ESV) The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

Beliefs

Researchers often find that Americans do not like to say what influences their behavior, especially when it comes to politics. A survey conducted by the Barna Group suggests that religious beliefs do have a strong effect on voting habits. Approximately one-third of respondents said religious beliefs exerted a lot of influence on their decisions. Barna said the research supports the widely-held idea that beliefs strongly influence most evangelicals. He said, “Evangelicals take a lot of criticism for their blending of faith and politics, but they believe that their faith is meant to be integrated into every dimension of their life. The research shows that they are following through on that belief.”-By Jim Sandell

Religious beliefs have the greatest influence on voting decisions, October 27, 2016. https://www.barna.com/research/religious-beliefs-have-greatest-influence-on-voting-decisions,, Accessed October 27, 2016.

Romans 13:1 (HCSB)“Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.”

The final book of world renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking was published in 2018. The book recorded the last thoughts of this influential atheist.

Never afraid of the big questions, he spoke on topics like alien life, time travel, and space exploration. He also reflected on a number of very personal subjects related to his life and life on Earth.

In regard to his own disability he said, "that everything can be explained another way, by the laws of nature." His ultimate conclusion was, "there is no God. No one directs the universe"

-"'There is no God,' says Stephen Hawking in final book", Rob Picheta, CNN, October 17, 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/16/health/stephen-hawking-final-book-intl/index.html

Stephen was an accomplished scientist who understood the intricacies of causes and effect in the universe better than most. The irony of this seminal thinker was the connection he missed between his greatest concern and his view of God. By admission of his own atheism, he rejected the greatest expert in all creation. His life was a "revolt against" the most brilliant scientist, engineer, and thinker. This rejection is the very cause of the strife that plagued his soul. —Jim L. Wilson and Eric Laudenslager