The Grand Design

Stephen Hawking's new book The Grand Design has created some controversy. However, all he is saying is that god "is not necessary" to explain the creation of the universe. This is not a new idea and is similar to what science says about evolution.

A recent blog post on the Freethought & Rationalism Discussion Board sums up this controversy:

"When a scientists says they think that a god is necessary, based on
something outside of their area of expertise, creationists tout their
opinion as something we should all accept at face value, because they're
scientists, dammit, isn't that what we atheists should respect?

When a scientist says they think a god isn't necessary, based on
something inside their area of expertise, the creationists sneer at them
for some imagined failure.

And they're the morally superior ones?"