Proving God’s existence is usually a task for experienced apologists. But for 9-year-old William Maillis, it’s the reason he’s currently attending college – and making headlines in the media.
At 6-months-old, William’s parents Peter and Nancy knew their son was different from his older siblings. He was identifying numbers, and only a month later, speaking in complete sentences. From there, William’s knowledge and abilities skyrocketed. He could read and write at age 2. Algebra, sign language and Greek were conquered by age 4; geometry and trigonometry by age 7; a high school diploma by age 9.
Now, William’s number one aim is to prove God’s existence by showing that an external force must have been responsible for the formation of the universe. To accomplish this goal, the Pennsylvanian plans to enroll at Carnegie Mellon to study astrophysics next fall. Already well-versed in the theories of Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, William disagrees with their views on black holes.
Peter Maillis, a Greek Orthodox priest, has been extremely supportive of his son’s meteoric development and stunning intellect. “I just want him to appreciate the gift he has, which I think he does,” Maillis said, according to People magazine. “I tell him, ‘God gave you a gift. The worst thing would be to reject that gift and not use it for the betterment of the world.’”
Thanks to the media, which thankfully didn’t shy away from reporting on William’s faith, the world will surely be hearing more about this inspiring little guy.
