 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | Does science necessarily undermine faith in God? Or could it actually support faith? Beyond the flashpoint debates over the teaching of evolution, or stem-cell research, most of us struggle with contradictions concerning life's ultimate question. We know that accidents happen, but we believe we are on earth for a reason. Until now, most scientists have argued that science and faith occupy distinct arenas. Francis Collins, a former atheist as a science student who converted to faith as he became a doctor, is about to change that. Collins's faith in God has been confirmed and enhanced by the revolutionary discoveries in biology that he has helped to oversee. He has absorbed the arguments for atheism of many scientists and pundits, and he can refute them. Darwinian evolution occurs, yet, as he explains, it cannot fully explain human nature - evolution can and must be directed by God. He offers an inspiring tour of the human genome to show the miraculous nature of God's instruction book. Sure to be compared with C.S. Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY, this is a stunning document, whether you are a believer, a seeker, or an atheist. |
Average Customer Rating:   The Language of God - A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief I realize winter is almost come and gone and our inclination is to put down our books and venture outdoors, but I have one recommendation before you put away your reading glasses. The book is "The Language of God - A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief" by Francis S. Collins. Collins was the Director of the Human Genome Project and the co-discoverer of numerous genes, including the one responsible for Cystic Fibrosis. The book is biographical, as well, and his story leading up to this book is a fascinating journey from home-schooling, to atheism, to belief.
Despite covering topics as weighty as cosmology, quantum physics and microbiology (material which can be skimmed over unless you are really interested in them, as I was), the book is well written, easy to read, and hard to put down. Parts one and two lay down the framework for Part three, which is "must reading" for anyone who has been confronted with the prevailing materialistic world view, and for anyone who has turned their back on science in order to preserve their faith, or worse, adopted a pseudo-science to bolster their faith.
I must admit that I began reading this book with many pre-conceived notions and pet theories, most of which have since been left by the night-stand. Collins does a good job of debunking "God of the gap" theories such as "Creationism" and "Intelligent Design" as well as debunking "Atheism" and "Agnosticism". If you are addicted to epiphanies and don't mind stretching your faith outside the box a bit, this is a book I believe everyone who even remotely professes a faith in God should take the time to read. And for those who do not, what do you have to lose?
In an age when science and faith are seemingly at war, Francis S. Collins has accomplished what he set out to do in bringing harmony once again to the "two pillars of truth". The evidence for belief that Collins presents is really not evidence leading to belief, but evidence that does not rule out belief. In chapter ten, Collins says, "Belief in God will always require a leap of faith." I underlined the words "leap of faith" in my copy of the book because it is a phrase dearly attributed to the philosopher-poet, Søren Kierkegaard, who so painfully pondered our existence and God. It is not the job of science to prove the existence of God. Nor can it be proved philosophically. The possibility of God must always be left to faith, but can such faith coincide with our current and future understanding of natural laws without a "God of the gaps" theory? It must.
If God is true and rigorous science is true, they cannot contradict.
Wonderful resource I appreciate this book for what it is -- a scientist speaking about his personal belief. It was great to read about his personal life and how his growing up. The book is written without much agenda, as he just seems to want to present another view of creation and spirituality/science discussion. It is very well reasoned and sincere and I appreciate a differing viewpoint even if readers agree or do not. Creating a thirst for Scientific Study I am not a scientist but a designer raised in a family of scientists.
Our family has theists, agnostics and in between. I would say I am in between, leaning towards theist at the beginning of undertaking this book. I would say that reading this book has not changed my views, but I find it an interesting read and wish my son's Middle/High School Sunday class were reading and discussing this rather than the one they are reading, which is about the tenets and theology of our particular denomination. Collins' book seems wildly more appropriate reading and discussion.
I found many of the arguments in Collins' book convincing or enlightening; I could understand most of the scientific information as presented, with the occasional question having to be asked of one or the other of family members. To me, his scientific arguments were clear and convincing.
However, as a believer 75% of the time, I remained unconvinced by a few of his arguments in favor of belief, which I found he did not negotiate well: I thought he could have done better with the argument on the longing for God (I have read more interesting material). More thin ice lies in the area of why a caring God would place persons in an unfinished world where natural disasters still occur (I am not sure I have ever read anything that is satisfactory in this area) and in his arguments for miracles (here one has to believe that miracles are necessary at all).
The surprising outcome of reading this book however, which my dad highly recommended (he is a retired research scientist), is that I am much more intrigued with the study of science now and I feel an envy for scientists, their minds and their gifts for research. Science seems much more exciting than anything I ever experienced when I was in school. Even today, I wish schools had ways of kindling this kind of excitement in students at a younger age; much teaching is so cut and dry, and pure memorization. My son, who has tested into and attends a science and technology based High School, has not had his interest kindled yet; and his grades in science are exceedingly high; I notice Collins had the same feelings when younger. To me, this is a surprising and important outcome of reading his book, especially in this time when we should be encouraging gifted young persons into technology and scientific careers. Easy Read of a Complex Issue The author is one of those rare intellects that can clearly and in layman's terms write about a fascinating and complex issue. Science + Faith = TRUTH I am so thankful to a brilliant man like Dr. Collins for giving me a name for my beliefs: Biologos or Theistic evolution.
I am a believer who wanted a way to reconcile evolution with the Bible and the author did that for me. Using his own discoveries, several well known authors, like CS Lewis, and scientific theories, he marries spirituality with science. Not only are science and faith compatible, but he believes that the more you learn about science the more you can strengthen your belief in God.
I have recommended this to everyone who wants to find their way to Truth. It is entertaining, well written and logical.
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