Hawkings is no different than anyone else .In quest to find his personal God he is doing what humans have done since they found the time to reason... create one that he can understand in his own terms.
I understand the laws of physics as well as most laymen ;compared to Hawkings ,hardly at all. Perhaps it gives him comfort to equate or to replace God to mathematical equations .
For myself ; I prefer something closer to the personal God that Johnny Cash sang about.
Your own, personal, Jesus
someone to hear your prayers,
someone who cares
Your own, personal, Jesus
someone to hear your prayers,
someone who's there
Feeling unknown
and you're all alone,
flesh and bone,
by the telephone,
lift up the receiver,
i'll make you a believer
Take second best,
put me to the test,
things on your chest,
you need to confess,
i will deliver,
you know i'm a forgiver
Reach out and touch faith
Reach out and touch faith