Science and Evidence Led Atheists Away from Atheism

How Science and Evidence Can Lead to Faith

Many people assume that science and atheism go hand in hand, and that anyone who is rational and evidence-based must reject the existence of God or any spiritual beings. However, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there are many examples of scientists and intellectuals who were once atheists but later became believers in God or some form of spirituality. What led them to change their minds? How did they reconcile their scientific worldview with their faith? In this blog post, I will explore some of the reasons and arguments that convinced these former atheists to embrace a higher power.

The Argument from Design

One of the most common reasons that some atheists become theists is the argument from design, also known as the teleological argument. This argument states that the universe and life are so complex, orderly, and purposeful that they must have been designed by an intelligent agent, namely God. The argument from design appeals to the intuition that things that look designed are designed, and that natural processes alone cannot account for the fine-tuning and functionality of the cosmos and living organisms.

One of the most famous proponents of this argument was Antony Flew, a British philosopher who was widely regarded as one of the most influential atheists of the 20th century. Flew was known for his defense of atheism and his critique of religion, especially Christianity. However, in 2004, he shocked the world by announcing that he had become a deist, a person who believes in a God who created the universe but does not intervene in it. Flew explained that he was persuaded by the evidence of intelligent design in nature, especially in the fields of physics and biology. He cited the work of scientists such as Gerald Schroeder, John Polkinghorne, and Francis Collins, who argued that the laws of nature, the constants of physics, and the origin of life point to a cosmic designer. Flew said that he followed the principle of “following the evidence wherever it leads”, and that he had to admit that “the case for an Aristotelian God who has the characteristics of power and also intelligence, is now much stronger than it ever was before” ¹.

Another example of a former atheist who was convinced by the argument from design is Lee Strobel, an American journalist and author. Strobel was an investigative reporter for The Chicago Tribune and a self-proclaimed atheist. He became interested in Christianity when his wife converted to the faith and he noticed positive changes in her life. He decided to use his journalistic skills to examine the evidence for Christianity and see if it could withstand scrutiny. He interviewed experts in various fields of science, history, philosophy, and theology, and asked them tough questions about their beliefs. He was surprised to find that many of them presented compelling arguments for the existence of God based on scientific discoveries. For instance, he learned that the universe had a beginning, that it is finely tuned for life, that life emerged from non-life against astronomical odds, that DNA contains information that implies intelligence, and that human consciousness transcends physical matter. He concluded that these facts point to a Creator who is beyond space and time, who is powerful and personal, who cares about human beings and reveals himself through nature and history ².

The Argument from Morality

Another reason that some atheists become theists is the argument from morality, also known as the moral argument. This argument states that there are objective moral values and duties that exist independently of human opinions or preferences, and that these moral values and duties imply the existence of a moral lawgiver, namely God. The argument from morality appeals to the intuition that some things are really right or wrong, good or evil, regardless of what people think or feel about them, and that these moral judgments require a transcendent foundation.

One of the most notable advocates of this argument was C.S. Lewis, a British writer and scholar who was famous for his works such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters. Lewis was raised in a Christian family but became an atheist at a young age. He was influenced by materialism, naturalism, and rationalism, and rejected any notion of God or spirituality. However, he later realized that his atheism was inconsistent with his moral convictions. He recognized that he had a sense of right and wrong that he could not explain by natural causes or social conventions. He wondered why he felt obliged to follow certain moral rules even when they went against his desires or interests. He also wondered why he felt angry or indignant when he saw injustice or cruelty in the world. He concluded that these moral feelings were not subjective or relative, but objective and absolute. He argued that they were clues to a higher reality beyond nature, a reality where a moral law exists and where a moral lawgiver presides ³.

Another example of a former atheist who was persuaded by the argument from morality is Francis Collins, an American physician and geneticist who is the director of the National Institutes of Health and the leader of the Human Genome Project. Collins was an atheist until his late twenties, when he was working as a doctor in a rural hospital. He encountered patients who had terminal illnesses but who had a strong faith in God and a peace that he did not understand. He also met a Methodist minister who challenged him to investigate the evidence for Christianity and to read the works of C.S. Lewis. Collins was intrigued by Lewis’s arguments for the existence of God based on morality, logic, and reason. He realized that his atheism was based on assumptions and prejudices, not on facts and evidence. He also realized that his moral sense was not a product of evolution or culture, but a reflection of God’s image in him. He became convinced that there is a God who is the source of all goodness and truth, and who loves him personally and offers him salvation through Jesus Christ ².

Conclusion

These are just some of the examples of how science and evidence can lead to faith. Of course, there are also many scientists and intellectuals who remain atheists or agnostics, and who have different interpretations of the same evidence. However, the point is not to prove or disprove the existence of God, but to show that it is possible and reasonable to believe in God while being rational and evidence-based. Science and faith are not enemies, but allies, in the quest for understanding the reality we live in. As Albert Einstein once said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading! 😊

³: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperOne, 2001). ²: Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004). ¹: Antony Flew with Roy Abraham Varghese, There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind (New York: HarperOne, 2007). : Albert Einstein, “Science and Religion,” in Ideas and Opinions (New York: Crown Publishers, 1954), 46.