Universe Designed: A Documentary on God’s Existence

[Editor’s Note: This blog was originally posted on Mama Bear Apologetics]

Do you have a sciency cub? Do they make comments about things like “the starlight problem” and “multiverse theory” that make your eyes glaze over? No fear! We got you, mama bears!

Our friend, Michael, is not only a sciency-bear, but a really good filmmaker to boot! Let’s face it: much of our Western culture has been steeped in an atheistic worldview where science and reason are seen as the tools of the naturalist. The Christian worldview, meanwhile, is relegated to blind faith. But is this actually true? Do we Christians have any evidence for a Creator? What is the best explanation for the way things are?

Questions like these and more are the target of Michael Ray Lewis’ new film, The Universe Designed. Michael grew up as an atheist. In his mid 20’s, he began asking questions about science and evolution that were too difficult for most Christians to answer. Upon digging deeper, however, he discovered Christian Apologetic resources offering evidence for God’s existence. After 3 years of deep investigation, Michael was convinced that God was the best explanation for the world in which we live. At the age of 29 (2016), he gave his life to Christ. Today, Michael has dedicated his life to sharing the same arguments that solidified his own faith, hoping to empower believers and unbelievers alike to see that we do, indeed, live in a universe that was designed! Join us in this virtual interview about the documentary, how it came about, and where you can see it.

Interview

Can you walk us through your personal journey from being a convinced atheist to a Christian, and what specific evidence finally made you give faith a chance?
For a long time, I was completely comfortable in my atheism. I didn’t just lack a belief in God; I was convinced that science had effectively proven religion was a thing of the past. My view of Christians was shaped by people shouting on street corners or documentaries like Zeitgeistthat portrayed the Bible as a collection of myths. To me, faith was just a crutch for people who couldn’t handle the cold, hard facts of the world, and religion was just a fairy tale made up by people in the past who didn’t yet have science to understand the world.

Everything changed when my wife came home and told me she felt Jesus was calling her back. My immediate reaction was a mix of frustration and fear. I didn’t want our lives to change, and I certainly didn’t want to join her. I only started going to church to support her, but in my mind, I was already planning my way out. I figured the best way to get her to stop was to show her this was all nonsense. I started hitting her with difficult questions, expecting her faith to crumble. Instead, she stayed firm, which only made me more curious and more frustrated.

The real turning point came when I saw a video by astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross. In the video, he broke down the creation story in Genesis from a scientific perspective. That was the first time I realized that the Bible and science didn’t have to be enemies; in fact, the Bible contained future scientific discoveries. On top of that, Dr. Ross explained just how finely tuned our universe was, and how astronomically implausible it was that this was all by chance. That was the first moment I thought to myself, maybe there is something to this. It sparked a three-year deep dive into the cosmological, biological, and philosophical arguments for God. I started putting my presuppositions about Christianity aside and just following the facts. By the end of that journey, I realized that all my ideas about what Christians actually believe were wrong, and that the Christian worldview, in fact, provided the most logical explanation for why the universe exists, why we exist, and what our purpose here really is.

What gave you the idea to create Universe Designed, and how did your background in the film industry help you tell this story?
Before this journey started, I spent my career in the film industry making low-budget horror movies and other video work. It was a job I knew well because I was obsessed with horror films growing up and always had a passion for filmmaking, but after I became a Christian, I felt a massive shift in my priorities. I didn’t want to spend my time on projects that didn’t have any lasting value. I wanted to create something that mattered – something that could help people who were struggling with the same doubts I once had.

I was talking with my wife about how most of the Christian films I saw felt a bit “off” to me. They often lacked the production quality I was used to, or they didn’t really address the intellectual side of faith. She was the one who suggested I make a documentary about the evidence that convinced me. I immediately sent emails out to the authors of books I had read on my journey, and one by one, they agreed to be interviewed. I immediately booked plane tickets, and before I knew it, I was interviewing some of the world’s top Christian apologists.

My time as a skeptic was actually my greatest asset during production. I knew exactly what would sound “preachy” or “fake” to an atheist. I didn’t want to make a movie that just told people THAT Christianity was true, but WHY it was true. I wanted to guide them on a journey. I approached the project with a slow, methodical pace, focusing on reason. The goal was to make a film that felt honest and respectful to anyone watching, regardless of where they were in their beliefs.

How does the film challenge the idea that science and faith are incompatible?
The common narrative today is that you have to choose between your brain or your Bible. I think that’s a false choice, and the film was made to show exactly why. In fact, many of the biggest scientific discoveries of the last century actually point directly toward a Creator rather than away from one. We aren’t asking people to ignore science; we’re asking them to look at where the science is actually leading.

We focus on a few key areas that are hard to explain away as just “by chance.” First is the fact that the universe had a beginning. If the universe started at a specific point in time, then whatever caused it has to be outside of time and space. Then we look at “fine-tuning.” This refers to the fundamental laws of physics, things like gravity or the rate at which the universe is expanding. These values are so precise that if they were off by even a fraction, life would be impossible.

We also dive into the complexity of DNA. When we see a code in a computer program or a message written in the sand, we know it came from an intelligent mind. DNA is the most complex information system in existence. It’s essentially a digital code that builds biological machines. If we see code everywhere else and assume a designer, why would we treat DNA any differently? The film takes these big concepts and makes them accessible, showing that the more we learn about how the world works, the more it looks like it was intentionally designed for us to be here.

What are your goals for Universe Designed?
When I first had the idea to make this film, I had no real sense of what was ahead. Looking back now, it’s incredible to see how God worked through every stage of this project. This film was made almost entirely through the generosity of people who believed in what we were doing and chose to support it. The journey took four years, not only because it took time to raise the necessary funding, but also because creating the film required significant personal sacrifice. To invest the time needed, I often had to step away from my day job that paid the bills and spend less time with my family. It was a long road, but it has been deeply rewarding, and one that was only made possible by the full support of my wife. She has been my biggest cheerleader from day one, and I couldn’t have done this without her.

Jesus helped me create something I could never have accomplished on my own. My hope is that this film will generate enough income to help fund future projects, allowing me to continue creating films like this, films that point people to the evidence that convinced me Christianity is true and that Jesus is who He claimed to be.

While I can’t build an entire case for the Christian worldview in a 1-hour 25-minute film, I can pique someone’s curiosity, and that is my goal. My hope is that this film serves as a resource that does what Greg Koukl eloquently describes as “putting a pebble in someone’s shoe.” This means that you give them some piece of information that just doesn’t fit with their current beliefs, and it can’t be ignored. It’s just uncomfortable enough to cause someone to think deeper, ask questions, and seek truth.

Who is the main audience for this film, and what do you hope people are thinking about when the credits roll?
I really believe this is a film for everyone, but I especially had two groups in mind. First, the skeptics and doubters. I kept in mind while making the film, “What would I think about this when I was a skeptic?” My hope is that the film challenges their assumptions and shows them that Christianity is a serious, intellectually grounded option worth thinking about. Second, the believers who want to feel more confident in their faith. After giving my life to Jesus, I discovered that 90% of the Christians I talked to had no idea what apologetics was. They had no idea there were so many good arguments for their own worldview. It’s hard to talk to others about God if you feel like you don’t have the answers, so I wanted to give them a resource that could encourage them to realize what they believe is actually true and, hopefully, could give them an evangelistic tool they would be proud to share.

And finally, my hope is that this film will help raise up budding little scientists. Kids are extremely interested in practical scientific topics. Because of that we withhold the “hard answers” to the difficult questions until “they are ready.” That’s unwise for a few reasons. First, they are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. They can even sometimes understand concepts that even we as parents struggle with. Secondly, we want to occasionally give them answers that are slightly above their heads. It’s both humbling and it whets their appetite for more! My hope is that this film will be used in youth groups and shown to the younger children in order to foster curiosity and build an apologetics foundation whereby kids are not afraid to ask the big questions. They are even encouraged to!

Do you have any final thoughts before we go?
Yes. I’d say that my ultimate goal is that the film causes people to stop and reconsider their place in the world. I’m not trying to win an argument; I’m trying to invite people to follow the evidence. My challenge to the viewer is to be a genuine seeker of truth. Ask the big questions, look at the data honestly, and don’t be afraid of what you find. I’m confident that if someone really pursues the truth with an open mind, they will eventually find themselves face-to-face with Jesus. I want them to walk away believing that they aren’t an accident, that they were designed on purpose, for a purpose.

***

That is so beautiful. Thank you so much for talking with us, Michael!

Mama Bears, be encouraged. The fact is, we serve a God who provided us with so much evidence for Himself! He doesn’t necessarily give us evidence beyond a possible doubt, but he does give us evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. The more we understand the evidence, the freer we are to ask questions! The best part about asking questions is that, properly understood, both science and the Bible give us the best explanation for the natural world we live in and the moral mess in which we find ourselves. And it alone has solutions that go beyond just trying to meditate the sin away, or trying to “buckle down and do better.” Christianity alone has testable claims, engages the analytical mind, and withstands the scrutiny of history, science, archaeology, and critical thinking. Again, it does all this when properly understood. We need to remind our kids that we do not have to hand over our minds in our pursuit of God. Rather, we love the Lord with our minds! This documentary is an incredible tool in your toolbelt–not just for strengthening your own faith but the faith of your families.

If you would like to watch this documentary, you can visit their website to find all the ways you can access this awesome resource.

Recommended Resources:

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Paperback), and (Sermon) by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek

Science Doesn’t Say Anything, Scientists Do by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3 and Mp4)

Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Does Science Disprove God? by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)Stealing From God by Dr. Frank Turek (Book)

God’s Crime Scene: Cold-Case…Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe (Paperback), (Mp4 Download), and (DVD Set) by J. Warner Wallace

Hillary Morgan Ferrer is the founder and President of Mama Bear Apologetics. She feels a burden for providing accessible apologetics resources for busy moms. She is the chief author and editor of the bestselling books Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out God’s Design, and the soon to be released Honest Prayers for Mama Bears. Hillary has her master’s degree in biology and loves helping moms to discern truths and lies in both science and culture. She and her husband, John, have been married for 16 years and minister together as an apologetics team. She can never sneak up on anybody because of her chronic hiccups, which you can hear occasionally on the podcast and in interviews.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/4wm9VCw