Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music and Entertainment
‘Universe Designed’ Doc Gives ‘Evidence for Christianity’

‘Universe Designed’ Doc Gives ‘Evidence for Christianity’

Last updated on: January 14, 2026 at 10:12 pm by DeWayne Hamby

0 Comments

‘Universe Designed’ Doc Gives ‘Evidence for Christianity’ 2026-01-14T22:12:50-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Filmmaker Michael Ray Lewis, a former atheist, said he made the documentary “Universe Designed” to present “the evidence that compelled me that Christianity was true,” an effort he hopes will prompt viewers to “take a deeper look at Christianity” and the field of apologetics.

Michael Ray Lewis image courtesy of Sundari PR

Lewis, who directed and assembled the film from more than three years of work, said the project began after his wife suggested he document the arguments that led him from skepticism to faith. He contacted authors whose work had influenced him, including Frank Turek, Hugh Ross and Stephen Meyer, and conducted interviews that was ultimately more than he needed for the film.

“I ended up with 36 hours of content that I had to condense down to an hour and 25 minute movie,” Lewis said.

The director, who did not study film in college and started working in the industry after high school, said “Universe Designed” is intended not as an exhaustive treatise but as an introduction.

“You really need more time,” he said. “The challenge for people who watch the film is for them to go to the website” to access further resources, Lewis added, pointing to a resource tab on his site that lists ministries and scholars featured in the documentary.

Lewis described a personal journey that began as an attempt to disprove Christianity. He said he initially viewed church as populated by people he could not identify with, recalling early impressions formed by street-preaching zealots. But after his wife resumed attending church, Lewis said, he intended to show her the faith was “nonsense” and began to probe her beliefs with documentaries and debates he found online. One video, he said, changed his path: “A YouTube video… by Dr. Hugh Ross going over how science is not incompatible with Christianity… that video piqued my curiosity.”

That curiosity led to a multiyear investigation of books, debates and theological conversations. Lewis said his growing readiness to answer difficult questions culminated in a discussion with a family friend who is a theologian. After the friend “answers every single question” Lewis had prepared, Lewis said he realized his resistance was less intellectual than emotional: “I actually think that this is true… it really didn’t sink in until the drive home… it wasn’t the evidence that was holding me back. It was the fact that I didn’t want it to be true.”

Lewis said the film is aimed at both nonbelievers and Christians. For skeptics, he urged viewers to “make it all the way through it and really start to think about the big questions of life again” — questions such as purpose and the existence of God. For believers, he encouraged using the film as an evangelistic tool: “Equip yourself with these answers, with the evidence, so that when you’re out and having conversations with people, you can have conversations about Jesus.”

The director has been steadily posting interview segments to his YouTube channel, describing the full release of content as a way to maximize what he calls an “opportunity for people to dive into apologetics.” He said he also plans to reinvest any profits generated by “Universe Designed” into future apologetics-focused projects.

“Any profit that this film makes, I’m going to use it to continue to make an additional film,” Lewis said.

Technical and narrative choices shaped the final cut, Lewis said, with the need to balance thoroughness against audience attention.

“Have it make sense, have it build a compelling case, but not be too information heavy to where you tend to lose people’s interest,” he said.

That editorial constraint influenced how he distilled dozens of hours of interviews into a 85-minute feature intended to “pique curiosity for the nonbeliever, and hopefully encourage the believer to realize… there are really good arguments for what we believe.”

Lewis noted that misconceptions about the Christian worldview frequently hinder productive dialogue. “Most people… don’t have a proper understanding of what the Christian worldview is. They have a misnomer of the concept of God,” he said, adding that clarifying terms and implications helps prevent the gospel from “falling on deaf ears.”

“Universe Designed” is available for rent on major streaming platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

According to the filmmaker, the movie is less an endpoint than an invitation.

“I hope that this will be a film that will introduce people into what is called the field of apologetics, giving a defense for the faith, and challenge them to be able to study this information and really take a second look at Christianity,” he said.

Previous Post

January 7, 2026

First Look: 'Relationship Goals' Inspired by NYT Bestseller

Next Post

January 14, 2026 Marianne Haaland’s Journey Toward Faith, Acting

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Trying to find tickets but there are none."

raphael

“Beyond Belief”: Petra’s 80s Rock Hits ..."

"This is a well - written and insightful article. The points you covered are very ..."

Jobs

New Angel Studios Good Samaritan Film ..."

"Why are so many people trying to normalize this vile behavior. He was a racist, ..."

CarletteHarris0731

Wrestling Champ Hulk Hogan Brought His ..."

"He was a stone cold racist"

Jon Altman

Wrestling Champ Hulk Hogan Brought His ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus do for Jairus' daughter?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Fed her Raised her from the dead Made her invisible Healed her blindness