Simon Schama Quotes

My theology, briefly, is that the universe was dictated but not signed.

Time is not eternal but was created by God at the beginning.

Except for a God who sits down after the universe begins, all other gods conflict with the assumptions of science.

So I see that Christianity in believing in a Creator pulls together more facts, data, inner experience and ability than any mechanistic view could hold for me.

I believe God controls the universe. I don't believe biology works in an uncontrolled fashion.

The universe is incredibly wondrous, incredibly beautiful, and it fills me with a sense that there is some underlying explanation that we have yet to fully understand. If someone wants to place the word 'God' on those collections of words, it's OK with me.

Einstein, stop telling God what to do!

A universe with a God would look quite different from a universe without one. A physics, a biology where there is a God is bound to look different. So the most basic claims of religion are scientific. Religion is a scientific theory.

Einstein was adamant in rejecting all ideas of a personal god.

I think it's misleading to use a word like 'God' in the way Einstein did. I'm sorry that Einstein did. I think he was asking for trouble, and he certainly was misunderstood.

God is a character, a real and consistent being, or He is nothing. If God did a miracle He would deny His own nature and the universe would simply blow up, vanish, become nothing.

If there is a God, his plan is very similar to someone not having a plan.

What are the chances there is a God, really?

It is true that you can't prove a negative. However, the existence of God is provable in the same way a building is positive proof that there was a builder.

What was God doing before the divine creation?

My view is that science only has something to say about a very particular notion of God, which goes by the name of 'god of the gaps'.

God may exist, but science can explain the universe without the need for a creator.

Out of all the ridiculous religion stories - which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous - the silliest one I've ever heard is, 'Yeah, there's this big, giant universe, and it's expanding, and it's all going to collapse on itself, and we're all just here, just 'cuz. Just 'cuz.' That to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever.

It makes sense that there is no sense without God.

It is possible to demonstrate God's existence, although not a priori, yet a posteriori from some work of His more surely known to us.

As a scientist, I don't believe science will ever discover whether God exists. Nor do I believe religion will ever prove it.

The universe is one of God's thoughts.

I believe God did intend, in giving us intelligence, to give us the opportunity to investigate and appreciate the wonders of His creation. He is not threatened by our scientific adventures.

The question of whether there exists a supernatural creator, a God, is one of the most important that we have to answer. I think that it is a scientific question. My answer is no.

Years ago I went into my laboratory and said, 'Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for?' The Great Creator answered, 'You want to know too much for that little mind of yours. Ask for something more your size, little man.'