1.) Asked by ABC’s Diane Sawyer if science and religion could be reconciled, famed physicist Steven Hawking stated “There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, [and] science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works.” By “science” Hawking means atheistic materialism and by “religion” he means belief in God. But wasn’t the whole point of this interview to invoke Steven Hawking’s authority on this question? So who is relying on authority now?
2.) “Just as Einstein’s ideas would baffle a chimpanzee,” said President of the Royal Society Lord Martin Rees, gaining a full understanding of how the universe works might not be possible “simply because they’re beyond human brains.” Lord Rees points out that a fish swimming in the water lacks the ability to understand what water is, and speculates that man may be similarly limited in his ability to understand the universe. Brilliant scientists have been trying to reconcile the theories of Special Relativity (dealing with really big things) and Quantum Theory (dealing with really small things) for decades with zero progress. Extrapolating, we might expect to solve this riddle…never.
The quest for God-like knowledge and a “theory of everything” is folly. As God’s creature, man is granted limited but real understanding and knowledge of the world sufficient to do good things and in so doing, honor his Creator. Efforts to “be as God, knowing good and evil” lead only to mischief.
What is interesting is to note the false premise and ignorance of Sawyer’s question. Science and religion do not need to be reconciled as they are not at odds. Hawking’s response is all the more absurd (and dishonest as ought to know better), although understandable given his pop audience. The real questions (and real answers) don’t sell.
I am not so sure that the quest for understanding the universe and its origins necessarily equates to “God-like knowledge”, as you say. It certainly can become that and it does to some scientists. But that occurs only when philosophy and science are conflated.