Stephen Hawking Predicts 'There Is No God' in Last Book, Released This Week

"There is no God," Stephen Hawking wrote in his final book, which was posthumously released this week, CNN reported.

The world-renowned physicist mentioned his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease when discussing his views on an omniscient deity in Brief Answers to the Big Questions.

"For centuries, it was believed that disabled people like me were living under a curse that was inflicted by God," he wrote. "I prefer to think that everything can be explained another way, by the laws of nature."

He further extrapolated his views. "The question is, is the way the universe began chosen by God for reasons we can't understand, or was it determined by a law of science? I believe the second," Hawking said, according to USA Today, which cited an excerpt of the text published by United Kingdom paper the Sunday Times. "If you like, you can call the laws of science 'God', but it wouldn't be a personal God that you would meet and put questions to."

The physicist also offered similar remarks in 2010 after co-publishing The Grand Design. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist," he wrote.

Hawking had not completed his book by the time he died in March at age 76. His colleagues and family finished the text, which answered questions the scientist received most frequently during his life.

The Cambridge University professor and prolific author offered predictions about the future of the species in the book. He postulated that genetic engineering could spell doom for humanity, as superhumans with modified DNA would endanger humanity as we know it.

"Once such superhumans appear, there will be significant political problems with unimproved humans, who won't be able to compete," he wrote. "Presumably, they will die out, or become unimportant. Instead, there will be a race of self-designing beings who are improving at an ever-increasing rate."

Hawking also offered parting remarks on the contentious political atmospheres consuming the United Kingdom and United States. "With Brexit and Trump now exerting new forces in relation to immigration and the development of education, we are witnessing a global revolt against experts, and that includes scientists," Hawking said in prepared remarks that were played at the launch of his book on Monday.

He had previously questioned Trump's denials of climate change and travel ban, according to USA Today.