Vicar rejects Stephen Hawking's God theory
The vicar of one of London's most famous churches has criticised Professor Stephen Hawking for failing to answer "the big questions" about God.
Professor Hawking claims in his latest book that God could not exist as modern physics left no space in the universe for such a deity.
But the Rev Nicholas Holtam, vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields near Trafalgar Square, said increasingly Londoners are turning to religion as they search for the answers to their existence.
In his latest book, Eureka, Professor Hawking argues that the Big Bang which created the universe was an inevitable consequence caused by the laws of physics.
He writes: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself from nothing.
"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe."
Mr Holtam said: "I feel relieved that God doesn't feel the same way about Stephen Hawking as he feels about God. I don't think Professor Hawking answers those big and ultimate questions that religion deals with."
