Ross G. Douthat, an American author, journalist and television correspondent for CBS News’ 60 Minutes spoke at Tuesday's forum and encouraged BYU students to hold on to their belief in God.
Douthat said that students will encounter situations in which their faith, beliefs and values will be challenged. However, he stressed that they should not feel defensive or ashamed of believing in God. Instead, he invited students to understand those beliefs, so that they could approach those situations with confidence.
“The case for being religious rests at a convergence of different lines of argument, different aspects of reality that a religious perspective makes sense of,” Douthat said.
Douthat offered three lines of convergence: the cosmos, human consciousness, and supernatural experience as evidence of converging lines leading to the existence of a higher being.
A Fine-Tuned Cosmos
Douthat explained that the universe follows laws and conditions that allow planets, stars, and life to exist. He argued that the universe is “finely tuned,” and asserted that it’s reasonable to consider that it was created intentionally rather than by chance.
Human Consciousness
Second, Douthat identified human consciousness as another line of convergence. He explained that the mind is fundamental to reality, pointing to humans’ ability to understand the universe itself.
“The further that the human mind advances in its understanding of reality, the more reality yields its secrets,” Douthat said.
Supernatural Experiences
Douthat then explained that, despite the decline of religious institutions, religious and supernatural experiences have increased. He pointed to near-death experiences as one example, noting that advances in medicine have allowed people to return from the verge of death and report similar experiences that fit with a religious perspective of an afterlife.
"Come what may, we are meant to be here, we are meant to exist, we are meant to find fulfillment and understand our place in the universe."
Douthat concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for a religious perspective in a world where technology is advancing. As artificial intelligence develops, he said people will start to feel like they’re being replaced. Douthat, however, urged students to hold on to their beliefs that every human has value and purpose that cannot be diminished by technology.
