When asked about his belief in God and heaven, the late Stephen Hawking had a straightforward response.

Science and religion often clash—creationism versus the big bang theory, miracles versus scientific explanation. So, it’s intriguing to consider whether the legendary scientist Stephen Hawking believed in God.

Hawking, who passed away in 2018 at 76, was a world-renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author.

He is best known for his 2002 book, “The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe,” and his contributions to the fields of general relativity and quantum gravity.

Hawking’s views on God and the afterlife can be heard here:

In 1963, at the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a type of motor neurone disease.

Doctors at the time gave him just two years to live. However, defying this prognosis, Hawking’s ability to move and communicate deteriorated over time, and he later used an advanced computer system to communicate.

The system consisted of a tablet mounted to his wheelchair, powered by the wheelchair’s batteries. It had an on-screen keyboard controlled by detecting his cheek movements, allowing him to type what he wanted to say.

Upon his death at 76, Hawking was the longest-living ALS survivor in history. He referenced his disability in his final book, “Brief Answers to the Big Questions,” writing:

“For centuries, it was believed that disabled people like me were living under a curse that was inflicted by God. Well, I suppose it’s possible that I’ve upset someone up there, but I prefer to think that everything can be explained another way, by the laws of nature.”

Hawking elaborated on his scientific beliefs:

“If you believe in science, like I do, you believe that there are certain laws that are always obeyed. If you like, you can say the laws are the work of God, but that is more a definition of God than a proof of his existence.”

He also shared his thoughts on the existence of God and the afterlife:

“We are each free to believe what we want, and it’s my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization: there’s probably no Heaven and no afterlife, either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe and for that I am extremely grateful.”