David Hutchings - God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse

David Hutchings

When I was still a teenager, somebody (I cant remember who) bought me God, the Big Bang and Stephen Hawking by an astrophysicist-theologian named David Wilkinson. This is important for two reasons: first, it makes it clear how much younger I am than David; second, it shows that the God-and-science conversation is one that I have been interested in for a long time. Having the chance to write about it now and with David, no less is the realization of a dream that I didnt really dare to have in the first place.

The topics of quantum mechanics, general relativity, cosmological origins and the existence of God are Big. So Big, in fact, that no one can realistically attempt to write about them without a huge amount of help. Many experts have been patient and kind enough to contribute to this project, including Luke Barnes, Geoffrey Cantor, William Lane Craig, Reed Guy, Richard Keesing, Tom Lancaster, Tom McLeish, Matt Probert and Aron Wall. All of these folk are deep thinkers who really know their stuff. Their advice has been invaluable.

Special thanks must also go to our guinea-pig readers: Angie Edwards and Martin Steel. They have pored over every word and set us straight many times on how to go about making some pretty inaccessible ideas a little more accessible. Also qualifying for special thanks is my sixth-form student Magnus Swann. He drew all the figures for this book while simultaneously working for his Physics AS Level. My apologies if this has detracted at all from his result. Tony Collins, our publishing powerhouse, deserves thanks for bringing this book into existence by the sheer force of his personality he has kept us focused and on task like a proficient classroom teacher. I am also indebted to Michelle Clark and her seemingly infinite capacity to put up with and then sort out other peoples mistakes.

Finally, to my family Emma, Bethany and Chloe I love you. Thank you for putting up with me working on the book. You are the best. Im not going to say that I couldnt do it (write books) without you, because I could. Its just that I would be miserable and lonely and probably a horrible person.

David Wilkinson

Compared to Davids youthful mind, I am so old that Ive probably forgotten all those who have contributed to the ideas and arguments of this book! But I am grateful to Sir Robert Boyd who, long ago, helped me to see the importance of a Christian doctrine of creation in the light of Hawkings work. In addition to the names above, I am personally thankful for study leave from St Johns College and, as always, the encouragement and understanding of Alison, Adam and Hannah.