World-Renowned and Beloved Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking Dies

British Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking

Photo courtesy: www.hawking.org.uk/

British astrophysicist, author, and professor of Mathematics at the Cambridge University died on March 14 at home (Cambridge, England) at the age of 76.

In spite of suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- a type of motor neuron disease and its related difficulties from the age of 21, he has been active in teaching, writing, and moving with the help of a motorized wheelchair and electronic machines and computers.

His contributions are in the fields of singularities in gravitational collapse, black hole mechanics, vanishing of blackholes, rise of galaxies, and wave function of the universe.

Because of his profound contributions, he has received 13 honorary degrees, CBE award (1982), Companion of Honour (1989), and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009). 

To know more on him, please read the following:

Stephen Hawking's Death, Biography, and Appreciation of His Work:

• Stephen Hawking Dead at 76
• Stephen Hawking, Science's brightest star, dies aged 76 (March 14, 2018)
• 'Mind over matter': Obituary by Roger Penrose (March 14, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking: Messenger from the Universe (March 16, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking
• Stephen Hawking Biography
• Stephen Hawking (Official Website) [Biography, Lectures, Publications, Books, Images, Films, TV Series, and Videos)
• Stephen Hawking -- Home (Facebook)
• What has Stephen Hawking done for science? (Jan. 8, 2012)
• 10 Major Accomplishments of Stephen Hawking (Dec. 22, 2015)
• These are the discoveries that made Stephen Hawking famous (Jan. 7, 2016)
• Sense of Humor 'as vast as the universe': Tributes flood in as world remembers Stephen Hawking (March 14, 2018)
• Church leaders praise Hawking for contribution of science, dialogue (March 14, 2018)
• The legacy of Stephen Hawking -- a Catholic scientist reflects (March 15, 2018)

His Membership with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences :

• Pope sees physicist Hawking at evolution gathering [Pope Benedict XVI] (Oct. 31, 2008)
• Why famed atheist Stephen Hawking is on a pontifical academy (Dec. 2, 2016)
• Stephen Hawking was a longtime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (March 14, 2018)
• British Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Dies at 76 (March 15, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking and the Vatican (March 17, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking speaks on the origin of the universe at the Vatican (Nov. 15, 2016)
• Stephen Hawking and other experts weigh in on limits of artificial intelligence at the Vatican (Dec. 4, 2016)

His Comments on Religion and God:

• Stephen Hawking touches on God and science (June 15, 2006)
• The Origin of the Universe [Full text of a lecture by Stephen Hawking]
• Stephen Hawking on Religion: 'Science Will Win' (June 7, 2010)
• Stephen Hawking Settles the God Question Once and For All (Sept. 2, 2010)
• Stephen Hawking says universe not created by God (Sept. 2, 2010)
• Stephen Hawking: God didn't create universe (Sept. 2, 2010)
• Stephen Hawking: 'Science Makes God Unnecessary' (Sept. 7, 2010)
• Stephen Hawking: 'There is no heaven; it's a fairy story' (May 15, 2011)
• Big Bang Didn't Need God, Stephen Hawking Says (April 17, 2013)
• Stephen Hawking Says 'There Is No God,' Confirms He's An Atheist (Aug. 25, 2014)
• Stephen Hawking makes it clear: There is no God (Sept. 26, 2014)
• Stephen Hawking's Three Arguments Against God (Oct. 5, 2014)
• Stephen Hawking tries to teach Pope origins of universe in awkward meeting of minds (Nov. 28, 2016)
• Stephen Hawking on God, artificial intelligence and mankind's future (March 14, 2018)
• Did Stephen Hawking Believe in God? What Physicist Said About the Creation of the Universe (March 14, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking Was An Atheist: Here's What He Said About God, Heaven and His Own Death (March 14, 2018)
• A Brief History of Stephen Hawking's Atheism (March 14, 2018)
• Here's Why Stephen Hawking Says There Is No God (March 15, 2018)
• Stephen Hawking was an Atheist. Here's What He Said About God, Heaven and His Own Death (March 14, 2018)
• God Did Not Exist -- Stephen Hawking (Video)
• Stephen Hawking on God and Life (Video)
• 'I'm not afraid': What Stephen Hawking said about God, his atheism -- and his own death (March 18, 2018)

Miscellaneous Quotes of Stephen Hawking:

• Stephen Hawking Quotes
• Top 10 Stephen Hawking Quotes
• 11 Incredible Stephen Hawking Quotes
• Top 13 Stephen Hawking Quotes to Inspire You to Think Bigger
• 20 Inspirational Quotes of Stephen Hawking Everyone Should Read
• 'Remember to Look Up at the Stars.' Read Some of Stephen Hawking's Most Memorable Quotes
• Stephen Hawking in His Own Words
• 98 Inspirational Quotes by Stephen Hawking Which Will Change The Way You See The World
• Top 121 Stephen Hawking Inspirational or Motivational Quotes

Books by Stephen Hawking:

• Stephen Hawking (official website)
• More Stephen Hawking Books
• Free Online Books by Stephen Hawking

Cartoons on Stephen Hawking:

• Cartoons on Stephen Hawking

Photos of Stephen Hawking:

• Photos/Images of Stephen Hawking

Videos of Stephen Hawking:

• Videos of Stephen Hawking (youtube.com)
• Videos of Stephen Hawking on God (youtube.com)
• Stephen Hawking on What Existed Before the Big Bang (youtube.com)
• Stephen Hawking explains black holes in 90 seconds (youtube.com)
• Stephen Hawking: Questioning the universe (TED Talk: Feb., 2008)
• Watch Stephen Hawking explain what he thinks came before the Big Bang (March 3, 2018)
• Sir Stephen Hawking's last speech on stage (2018)

Movie on Stephen Hawking:

• Stephen Hawking Movie

(Updated on March 28, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (February 14 - 20, 2016)

A quotation of Steve Allen on 'God and holy war,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo and design by Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (July 14-20, 2013)

A quotation each of Plato and Voltaire on 'God,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A solar-powered plastic sunflower as car decoration: Dhaka, January 10, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (August 12-18, 2012)

A quotation of Frank Lloyd Wright on 'God,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Moonlight over Toronto: 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Vociferous Atheist Christopher Hitchens Dies of Cancer

Christopher Hitchens

Photo courtesy: CNN

Christopher Hitchens, a U.K.-born zealous preacher of atheism, journalist, author, and polemicist, died of cancer on December 15 in a hospital in Texas, U.S.A. He was aged 62.

He was quite vocal in both writing and lecturing about issues and matters that he strongly believed in. He was proficient in the use of English language.

Baptized as an Anglican, Christopher Hitchens later changed religions several times before he became a socialist and then an atheist. Along with Professor Richard Dawkins and some other atheists, he took upon himself the duty of preaching atheism through writing, speeches and debates. 

He emphasized upon the use of logic and reasoning in place of blind faith in religion. He called upon all not to believe in God because, according to him, what religions teach about God are fictions or made-up stories. Religious leaders used religions to control minds and hearts of people.

He gained world-wide publicity when he called Mother Teresa of Calcutta a “Hell’s Angel” through a book. He was equally scathing in his remarks on some politicians.

Some of his books on the subject of religion and atheism are: The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever; Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens; The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice; god Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything; and Is Christianity Good for the World?

In the past, our blog Bangladesh Canada and Beyond gave coverage on Christopher Hitchens in the following write-ups: 

• Merry Christmas, or Happy Holiday? 

• Atheists Eager to Get Pope Arrested for ‘Crimes Against Humanity.’

The Poem of the Month (September, 2011): YOU'RE THERE, LORD

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A doodle on God

Doodle (Dhaka: February 2, 1995) © Jerome D'Costa

You're There, Lord

You're there, Lord,

But we don't see you.

You're there, Lord,

But we don't hear you.

You're there, Lord,

But we don't feel you.

Yet, we believe you're there,

We realize your presence in our heart,

We strive to live our life for you,

We even can die for you,

That's the reality for us,

That's the reality for us, Lord.

A Doodle: "God Is Good"

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A doodle on God

Doodle (Dhaka: May 21, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

Bangla (Bengali) Calligraphy: GOD IS WITH YOU

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The Bangla wordings say: "God is with you."
Calligraphy (Dhaka: November 27, 1987)© Jerome D'Costa

A Doodle: GOD

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A doodle announcing "God Is Alive"

Doodle (Dhaka: Sept. 29, 1990) © Jerome D'Costa

My Doodles Series -- 2: Catholic Religious Theme

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 Doodles on God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ 

and the Virgin Mary © Jerome D'Costa

My Roman Catholic faith automatically found its place in these doodles.

(Top left doodle) God is the triune God. In the unity of Godhead there are three persons -- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of everything and he watches over his entire creation.

(Top right) The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our faith.

(Below left) Jesus Christ is the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is our Lord and Saviour. Through his death on the cross he brought the eternal salvation to mankind.

(Below right) Mary or the Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ. She has a special place in the heart of the Roman Catholics.

(Continued)