In this talk at the 2023 Dallas Conference on Science and Faith, Stephen Meyer explores the intersection of faith and science, addressing the growing skepticism toward belief in God, particularly among younger generations. He reflects on societal issues, like teen suicide and declining religious faith, and examines how influential figures and scientific theories have contributed to this shift. Meyer presents compelling evidence from recent scientific discoveries—such as the universe’s beginning, fine-tuning for life, and the complexity of DNA—that he argues points to a designing intelligence, challenging the dominant materialistic worldview.

Reflection on America's Current State and Declining Faith

At the start of his talk, Stephen Meyer reflects on the troubling social landscape in America, mentioning alarming phenomena like mass shootings, rising teen suicide rates, confusion surrounding gender identity, and the ongoing debate over abortion. Meyer references a Gallup poll from the previous summer that reported a 10% drop in the number of people who believe in God over less than a decade. This drop is primarily among Gen Z (ages 18-30), and Meyer’s own research suggests that one of the most frequently cited reasons for young people's disbelief in God is the perception that science undermines faith. He shares a story of a grieving mother who lost her devout son to the influence of a prominent scientific atheist, leading to his hostility toward faith and creating a rift in their family.

Science and Belief: A Personal Struggle

Meyer recounts an encounter with a young woman who was brought to tears during an interview, which he conducted with Eric, after learning about scientific evidence that supports belief in God. This woman had been grappling with cognitive dissonance since her college days, where her professors asserted that science disproved the existence of God. Meyer emphasizes that this conflict is common among young people today, who face a powerful cultural narrative propagated by figures like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking. These voices argue that science, properly understood, undermines belief in God, and Meyer notes that this message has had a significant effect on the belief systems of young people, many of whom struggle to reconcile their faith with the scientific theories of unguided evolution and the origins of the universe.

Prime Reality and Competing Worldviews

Moving on to deeper philosophical questions, Meyer explores the idea of "prime reality"—the fundamental basis of existence. In the Judeo-Christian worldview, God is the prime reality, while in many elite universities and other influential cultural institutions, materialism or naturalism has become the dominant framework. Materialism posits that the physical world is all that exists, excluding the possibility of a divine being. Meyer explains how this materialistic worldview has permeated fields like law, media, and education, profoundly shaping the beliefs and decision-making processes of individuals, often with tragic consequences.

The Consequences of Ideas

Meyer emphasizes the significant impact that ideas and worldviews can have on individuals and society at large. He argues that when people lose faith or adhere to certain philosophical systems, such as Darwinism or nihilism, the results can sometimes be extreme—leading to actions like teen suicide or mass shootings. Nancy Piercy, another panelist, echoes this sentiment, highlighting how fundamental ideas about reality, such as the sanctity of life, can have wide-ranging implications depending on whether a person holds a theistic or materialistic worldview. Meyer insists that understanding the consequences of these competing worldviews is crucial for engaging in meaningful discourse on the most pressing societal issues.

Three Major Discoveries Challenging Materialism

Meyer concludes by discussing three groundbreaking discoveries that have shifted the thinking around the materialistic worldview. First, he highlights the discovery that the material universe had a beginning, which challenges the idea that nature has always existed in some eternal state. Second, he points to the fine-tuning of the universe, where fundamental physical constants are precisely calibrated to allow life to exist. This finding suggests that the universe is not the result of blind forces but instead hints at intentionality. Lastly, Meyer discusses the information content in DNA, which he believes strongly implies an intelligent source behind the origins of life, rather than a purely naturalistic process.

The Case for a Designing Intelligence

In summarizing these discoveries, Meyer asserts that they collectively point to the existence of a designing intelligence. The fact that the universe had a beginning, is finely tuned for life, and contains complex information in its DNA leads Meyer to argue that an intelligent cause provides the most compelling explanation for both biological and cosmological origins. These findings, he suggests, challenge the materialistic view and offer a renewed sense of evidence for belief in God.