Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.

[Angrboda]

If I remember correctly, Hawking's comments about atheism were in response to a direct question about his beliefs and he answered honestly, for himself.

There is nothing wrong with that.  I don't deny that he said he was an atheist, nor does he have to give some exposition as to why. However if someone is pointing to his atheism as to some grander indication of what is the objective truth of the matter, then I think it is fair to ask why.  Don't you?

I don't think anybody claimed that his atheism was some grander indication of what is objective truth of the matter, and I've just gone through the entire thread.

Would you mind quoting where anyone said as much? Otherwise, I'm calling bullshit.