JohnKennDitto on respect for a great mind, and Linear's OP is likely quite accurate. Hawk said he couldn't deny Creator, but the universe could be explained without such reference. We are too low on the evolutionary totem pole to comprehend anything in a broader extent regarding cosmology, no matter how advanced our primate level physicists and mathematicians are. Steve was a great soul trying to challenge us one step deeper, up to a point where he hit a brick wall and finally by design gave it up in the mystery of it all while trying to figure it out.. 99.9999% short of the glory, but did his best to share hi insights with the rest of us lesser in tune life forms. Passing of a good and great sage by human standards. John