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From Atheism to Faith: How an Ex‑Ateist Filmmaker Found God and Created “Universe Designed”

by Omar El Sayed - World Editor

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Filmmaker’s journey From Atheism to Faith Fuels New Documentary

A growing number of young adults are exploring faith, and one filmmaker’s personal transformation is at the heart of a new documentary designed to address common questions about belief. Michael Ray Lewis, formerly an atheist, is now sharing his story and the evidence that led him to embrace Christianity.

The Seeds of Doubt: Early Challenges to Faith

Lewis’s initial skepticism stemmed from unanswered questions he posed to practicing Christians. He struggled with reconciling core tenets of faith, such as the existence of evil in a world governed by an all-loving God, and the concept of eternal punishment. These queries, compounded by exposure to arguments presented by figures like Bill Maher and the claims made in the documentary “Zeitgeist,” solidified his atheistic worldview.

A Turning Point: Re-examining Core Beliefs

The shift began when Lewis decided to revisit his initial objections and engage with Christianity on a deeper level. He discovered compelling responses to his earlier questions,and more importantly,positive arguments supporting the existence of God. This intellectual curiosity coincided with a personal shift – his wife’s return to faith.

Initially hesitant,Lewis agreed to accompany her to church,intending to disprove her newfound beliefs.Rather, he found himself increasingly drawn to the evidence presented and the sense of community he experienced.

Science and Spirituality: Bridging the Divide

A pivotal moment came with the discovery of an astrophysicist’s video explaining the compatibility of science and Christianity. This challenged Lewis’s long-held belief that the two were mutually exclusive. Data from the Pew Research Center in December 2023 shows a growing acceptance of science among religious americans,with 65% stating that science and religion are not in conflict. Lewis began an intensive study,devouring books and resources to understand the connection between scientific discoveries and theological arguments.

from Skepticism to Acceptance

despite accumulating evidence, Lewis remained skeptical for three years, continually questioning his wife about scripture. She eventually connected him with a theologian, who provided further guidance and helped him finally embrace Christianity in 2016. He realized his resistance was not based on a lack of evidence, but rather on an unwillingness to accept the truth.

“Universe Designed”: A New Mission

Inspired by his personal journey, Lewis transitioned from working on horror films to creating “Universe Designed,” a documentary aimed at presenting a modern case for the existence of God. The film synthesizes 36 hours of interview footage into a concise, compelling narrative.

Key Facts About the Documentary

What key factors led Ray Comfort to transition from atheism to Christianity?

From Atheism to Faith: How an Ex‑Ateist Filmmaker found God and Created “Universe Designed”

The journey from staunch atheism to profound faith is rarely linear. It’s often a winding path paved with intellectual curiosity,personal struggles,and unexpected encounters. For filmmaker Ray Comfort, this journey culminated not only in a personal conversion but also in the creation of the impactful documentary, “Universe Designed.” This article explores Comfort’s story, delving into the factors that led him away from a worldview rooted in skepticism and towards a belief in a purposeful, created universe.

Early Life and the Foundations of atheism

Ray Comfort’s early life was marked by a rebellious spirit and a deep distrust of organized religion. Growing up in New Zealand, he embraced a materialistic worldview, believing that the universe operated solely on natural laws and that god was, at best, an irrelevant concept. This wasn’t a passive disbelief; it was an actively held conviction fueled by a desire for logical consistency and a rejection of what he perceived as religious hypocrisy.

He wasn’t alone.The mid-20th century saw a rise in secular humanism and scientific naturalism, providing intellectual frameworks for those questioning conventional faith.Comfort, like many, found these frameworks appealing. He actively sought out arguments against God, immersing himself in philosophical texts and scientific theories that supported a naturalistic clarification for existence. His initial focus was on debunking religious claims, viewing faith as a crutch for those unable to face the harsh realities of life.

The turning Point: A Seed of Doubt

The shift didn’t happen overnight. It began with a nagging sense of unease. Comfort recounts that despite his intellectual conviction,he couldn’t shake a feeling that something was missing. This wasn’t a sudden emotional experience, but a gradual realization that his worldview didn’t fully account for the complexity and beauty of the natural world.

A pivotal moment came during a period of personal crisis. Facing financial hardship and emotional turmoil, Comfort found himself questioning the meaning of life. He began to consider the possibility that his atheism wasn’t a rational conclusion, but a defense mechanism against confronting uncomfortable truths.This internal struggle led him to re-examine the arguments he had previously dismissed.

Re-Evaluating the Evidence: The Fine-Tuning Argument

Comfort’s re-evaluation centered on the concept of fine-tuning. This argument posits that the fundamental constants of physics – gravity, the electromagnetic force, the strong and weak nuclear forces – are precisely calibrated to allow for the existence of life. Even slight variations in these constants would render the universe uninhabitable.

He began to study the work of physicists like Sir Roger Penrose and Paul Davies, who highlighted the improbable precision of these constants. The sheer unlikelihood of a universe capable of supporting life arising by chance began to resonate with him. He realized that attributing this precision to random chance felt less plausible than the choice: intentional design.

The Moral Argument and the Problem of Objective Truth

Beyond the scientific arguments, Comfort also grappled with the moral argument for God’s existence. He questioned the basis for objective morality in a purely materialistic universe. If life is simply a product of random evolutionary processes, where does the concept of right and wrong come from? Why do humans possess an innate sense of justice and fairness?

He found that atheism struggled to provide a satisfactory answer to these questions. Without a transcendent source of moral authority,morality seemed to become subjective and arbitrary. This realization led him to consider the possibility that morality is rooted in a divine lawgiver.

From Skeptic to Believer: Embracing Christianity

After years of wrestling with these questions, Comfort ultimately embraced Christianity. He wasn’t drawn to religion by emotional fervor or cultural tradition, but by what he perceived as the logical coherence of the Christian worldview.He found that Christianity provided a compelling explanation for the origin of the universe, the existence of morality, and the meaning of life.

His conversion wasn’t simply an intellectual assent; it was a transformative experience that profoundly altered his perspective on everything. He began to see the world through a different lens, recognizing purpose and meaning where he had previously seen only randomness and chaos.

“Universe Designed”: A Visual Argument for Creation

Comfort’s faith didn’t lead him to

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