An Interview with Sean McDowell
Michael Ray Lewis, director of Universe Designed, sat down with Sean McDowell for a powerful conversation about his journey from skepticism to filmmaking and the release of his upcoming documentary. Watch the interview on YouTube. Additionally, here’s a breakdown of the full conversation:
From Atheism to Evidence: The Story Behind Universe Designed
The journey behind Universe Designed begins with a confession from director Michael Ray Lewis. “I was an aggressive atheist.” The phrase anchors his story and frames the entire documentary. Lewis once challenged Christians at every turn and used the arguments of the New Atheists to dismiss belief in God. Yet his own curiosity eventually forced him to investigate the evidence he had ignored for years.
Curiosity That Opened a Door
Lewis describes a home where faith was mentioned but never explored. He stepped into adulthood convinced that science ruled out Christianity. He often repeated the line “I was an aggressive atheist” because he pushed Christians with questions no one around him could answer. Everything changed when a video by astrophysicist Hugh Ross appeared in his YouTube feed. The explanation of the universe in that video broke apart years of assumptions and pushed him into research instead of slogans.
A Personal Search That Led to Faith
Lewis read books by Tim Keller, Hugh Ross, Sean McDowell, and other Christian thinkers. Slowly he moved from opposition to honest investigation. Conversations with his wife and a theologian brought clarity to the questions that once fueled his atheism. By the end of his search, Lewis understood that belief in God was far more reasonable than he expected. His admission “I was an aggressive atheist” shifted from a position of pride to a marker of transformation.
Why He Created Universe Designed
This personal shift inspired Lewis to create a documentary for skeptics like his former self. Universe Designed features interviews with leading voices in Christian thought, including Sean McDowell, Hugh Ross, Stephen Meyer, Alisa Childers, and Frank Turek. The film presents scientific, historical, and philosophical evidence for God in a format built for both believers and skeptics.
It is not simply a film. It is an invitation for viewers who have ever said “I was an aggressive atheist” or who know someone wrestling with doubt.
Watch the Film and Explore More
Universe Designed is available through major streaming platforms. To explore the cast, additional resources, and more information about the documentary, visit UniverseDesigned.com.
Resources
Visit our Resources Page
If you want to dig deeper into the case for Christianity, visit our apologetics resources page for a collection of websites dedicated to exploring the Universe and the scientific evidence that points to a finely-tuned universe.