Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Philosopher, author, and intelligent-design advocate Stephen Meyer joins me to discuss the arguments of his recent book, "The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe." While we only got around to two of those three discoveries, our conversation was robust, engaging, and will interest both advocates and critics of Stephen's work.
This interview is also available as a podcast: open.substack.com/pub/mileskdonahue/p/71-does-science-reveal-a-mind-behind?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Stephen's book: amazon.com/Return-God-Hypothesis-Compelling-Scientific/dp/0062071505/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7YP2138EJ7KS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4KFvM-8QHx2bNaBMCEYQn8kCTfO5DM70qlkVT4-qP4L77ltETatj5WJmIGMeuycq-sgWM7NLfo0X7NXBKv0vFqYy7VSUgf04ATUOYuzsE7-feKZfWnHYBrnYEvz_FlTVA5DFCENO8PjYI-IxajPo2ao7wzUkZgWPNxo-cr37s-enPz30qNyJ5iMoZWpnV7ahyFkOej6ZKyCO4tu9bFkY3jFcyGFmdPAvxKqBkUCfLG0.KO1xMtG8Lh08ZL_iXOOMPoEKnoA0v09gPUU4CQFc3FM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+return+of+the+god+hypothesis&qid=1770816941&sprefix=the+return+of+the+god+hy%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee (buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue).
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:11 Interview with Joe Rogan
00:03:19 Stephen's basic case for God
00:12:05 Data point #1 - Origin of the universe
00:17:26 The limits of singularity theorems
00:25:45 Quantum cosmology and theories of quantum gravity
00:32:36 What if spacetime is emergent?
00:36:45 Why is a beginning more likely under theism?
00:41:22 Data point #2 - Cosmic fine-tuning
00:46:40 Why is fine-tuning unlikely under naturalism?
00:53:31 Why is fine-tuning likely under theism?
00:57:55 Technical objection: No background information
01:03:04 The multiverse hypothesis
01:08:19 Do we need a "scientific" theory of the multiverse?
01:13:20 Richard Dawkins' argument: God is complex
01:17:24 But what about evil and suffering?
Philosopher, author, and intelligent-design advocate Stephen Meyer joins me to discuss the arguments of his recent book, "The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe." While we only got around to two of those three discoveries, our conversation was robust, engaging, and will interest both advocates and critics of Stephen's work.
This interview is also available as a podcast: open.substack.com/pub/mileskdonahue/p/71-does-science-reveal-a-mind-behind?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Stephen's book: amazon.com/Return-God-Hypothesis-Compelling-Scientific/dp/0062071505/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7YP2138EJ7KS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4KFvM-8QHx2bNaBMCEYQn8kCTfO5DM70qlkVT4-qP4L77ltETatj5WJmIGMeuycq-sgWM7NLfo0X7NXBKv0vFqYy7VSUgf04ATUOYuzsE7-feKZfWnHYBrnYEvz_FlTVA5DFCENO8PjYI-IxajPo2ao7wzUkZgWPNxo-cr37s-enPz30qNyJ5iMoZWpnV7ahyFkOej6ZKyCO4tu9bFkY3jFcyGFmdPAvxKqBkUCfLG0.KO1xMtG8Lh08ZL_iXOOMPoEKnoA0v09gPUU4CQFc3FM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+return+of+the+god+hypothesis&qid=1770816941&sprefix=the+return+of+the+god+hy%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee (buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue).
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:11 Interview with Joe Rogan
00:03:19 Stephen's basic case for God
00:12:05 Data point #1 - Origin of the universe
00:17:26 The limits of singularity theorems
00:25:45 Quantum cosmology and theories of quantum gravity
00:32:36 What if spacetime is emergent?
00:36:45 Why is a beginning more likely under theism?
00:41:22 Data point #2 - Cosmic fine-tuning
00:46:40 Why is fine-tuning unlikely under naturalism?
00:53:31 Why is fine-tuning likely under theism?
00:57:55 Technical objection: No background information
01:03:04 The multiverse hypothesis
01:08:19 Do we need a "scientific" theory of the multiverse?
01:13:20 Richard Dawkins' argument: God is complex
01:17:24 But what about evil and suffering?
