Stephen Hawking had very simple answer when asked if he believed in God

Stephen Hawking, renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, shared his thoughts on God and religion in his final book, Brief Answers to the Big Questions. He rejected the idea that disabled people were cursed by God, instead explaining everything through the laws of nature. Hawking noted that while some may view these laws as the work of God, that’s more a definition than proof of God’s existence. He expressed that, for him, the simplest explanation is that there is no God, no creator, and no one directing our fate. Consequently, he believed there’s no Heaven or afterlife—only this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe.

Despite being an atheist, Hawking found solace in the mysteries of the cosmos. In an interview with The Guardian, he compared the brain to a computer that stops working once it fails, dismissing the idea of an afterlife as comforting stories for those afraid of the dark. Nevertheless, he encouraged curiosity and resilience, advising people to look up at the stars and wonder about the universe’s existence, and to keep going despite life’s challenges.