The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

Collins, a former atheist, but most notably the head of the Human Genome Project, presents BioLogos (theistic evolution) for a new generation. Comparing it to atheistic evolution, Intelligent Design (ID) and creationism, he highlights the good points of this proposition that God directed evolution to its resolution in mankind. Working within this framework, he details BioLogosian logic about the origin of life, hypotheses from the Human Genome Project, and bioethics.

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.

The Language of GodFrancis S. CollinsDISCUSSION GROUP GUIDE

1. "So here is the central question of this book: In this modern era of cosmology, evolution, and the human genome, is there still the possibility of a richly satisfying harmony between the scientific and spiritual worldviews?" (p.6). What view did you have before reading this book on the integration of science and religion? How would you answer Collins's question now?

2. On page 23, Collins sums up the Moral Law, stating that "the concept of right and wrong appears to be universal among all members of the human species (though its application may result in wildly different outcomes)." Do you believe the Moral Law exists?

3. What caused the author to question his atheism? At the end of the book, he calls on the reader to question his or her current beliefs. Do you think this is a realistic request or will the average reader wait for a "personal crisis" before embarking on a journey of spiritual discovery (p.233)?

4. Did the book fairly assess the different religious "options" of atheism, agnosticism, creationism, intelligent design, and theistic evolution, renamed as BioLogos (p.159-211)? Did reading these descriptions change your understanding of any of these views? Which option best explains your beliefs?

5. Collins argues that atheism is the least rational of all these choices, since an atheist must claim such extensive knowledge that s/he can conclusively discount the possibility of God. Along those same lines, G.K. Chesterton called atheism "the most daring of all dogmas ...for it is the assertion of a universal negative". Do you agree? Is it possible to be rational atheist?

6. Collins states his belief that young earth creationist opinions ultimately harm the religion they represent more than help it: "But it is not science that suffers most here. Young Earth Creationism does even more damage to faith, by demanding that belief in God requires assent to fundamentally flawed claims about the natural world (p.177). Do you agree?

7. Collins presents data from the study of genomes (pp. 133 - 141) that argues for a common ancestor for chimps and humans. Do you find the arguments compelling from the anatomy of human chromosome 2, pseudogenes, and ancestral repeat elements? Why could this not be God using the same general themes in multiple acts of special creation?

8. Collins quotes (p. 83) St. Augustine's warning (in 400AD) that narrow interpretations of Biblical passages with uncertain meaning may place faith at the risk of ridicule if future discoveries conflict with that narrow interpretation. In what situations today do you think that warning may have relevance?

9. Discuss the following quote from Galileo: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use" (p.158). What was Galileo trying to say? Do you think this statement is in tune with the author's views?

10. In the following quote from the book, Collins refers to "why" questions as those for which science is poorly suited to provide answers: biogenesis as the one event for which science will never be able to provide an explanation: "And as seekers, we may well discover from science many interesting answers to the question 'How does life work?' What we cannot discover, through science alone, are the answers to the questions 'Why is there life anyway?' and 'Why am I here?'" (p.88). Does Collins support this claim elsewhere in the book? Do you agree with him?

11. How does the theme of this book fit together with the opening lines of Psalm 19?

12. Collins frequently describes the danger of basing religious beliefs on the scientific information that we don't know, referred to as "God of the gaps" (p.93). "Faith that places God in the gaps of current understanding about the natural world may be headed for crisis if advances in science subsequently fill those gaps" (p.93). However, he also says that the answers he searches for are those that science alone cannot discover (p.88). Does Collins's personal search fall within his description of looking for God of the gaps? Why or why not? See pages 193 and 204 for more references to God-of-the-gaps thinking.

13. Do you foresee a time when organized religion will accept Darwinism, just as we eventually came to accept that the earth revolves around the sun? Is the battle between science and religion destined to continue over each new scientific discovery that is made?

CREATIVE TIPS FOR ENHANCING YOUR BOOK CLUB OR DISCUSSION GROUP

In November, 2006, Time magazine hosted a debate between Francis Collins and Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, for a cover story (see http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1555132,00.html). Bring it to your group, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.

Reread Genesis 1 and 2 or read these passages for the first time or bring them to your meeting to discuss with your group. Do you see the two slightly different creation stories? How do you interpret these verses now that you've read The Language of God?

C. S. Lewis is quoted frequently by Collins as the philosopher who helped him discover God, and Collins repeatedly quotes Lewis's work when important religious questions arise. Take a trip straight to the source and read one of the Lewis books that Collins quotes. Choose from The Problem of Pain, Surprised by Joy, Mere Christianity, and Miracles. For more information on C. S. Lewis, visit www.cslewis.org.

As the head of the Human Genome Project, Collins has attracted a great amount of attention in the press and on the Web. Search the Internet for the information that interests you most about Collins and print a copy of what you find to bring in for discussion with the group. Good places to start your search include www.genome.gov, www.cnn.com, www.salon.com, and www.nytimes.com. There is also an online video of Collins located on the Web site for the PBS show "Religion and Ethics" at www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week947/profile.html.

Take your online research of Collins a step further to discover sites dedicated to contemplating the coexistence of science and religion. Head to the Web site of the C. S. Lewis Foundation at www.cslewis.org or take a look at the companion site of the four-hour PBS special "The Question of God": www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/. Take a visit to www.godandscience.org, www.hawking.org.uk, www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/thuxley.html, and www.aboutdarwin.com for even more information.

Try finding Web sites that explain more about the scientific and medical topics mentioned in the book. Search for details on the Big Bang, cystic fibrosis, personalized medicine, and the human genome. Sites such as www.umich.edu/~gs265/bigbang.htm, www.cff.org, http://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org/, and www.genome.gov are good places to start.

When the head of the Human Genome Project calls the genetic code "the language of God," he deserves to be taken very seriously. In a discussion that is both broadly ecumenical and scientifically incontrovertible, Collins entertains propositions both for and against the existence of God and biblical authority, as well as the moral implications of bioethics. He personalizes the narrative by recounting his own journey from atheism to faith, portraying it as much an intellectual quest as a spiritual one. His excellent discussion of intelligent design seeks not to debunk the theory, but rather to cite its limitations and to show how a scientific worldview transcends them without, in his opinion, conflicting with faith. Finally, he talks about his vision of "BioLogos," or science and religion in harmony. An essential read, equally for readers of religious or secular persuasions. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Collins, a pioneering medical geneticist who once headed the Human Genome Project, adapts his title from President Clinton's remarks announcing completion of the first phase of the project in 2000: "Today we are learning the language in which God created life." Collins explains that as a Christian believer, "the experience of sequencing the human genome, and uncovering this most remarkable of all texts, was both a stunning scientific achievement and an occasion of worship." This marvelous book combines a personal account of Collins's faith and experiences as a genetics researcher with discussions of more general topics of science and spirituality, especially centering around evolution. Following the lead of C.S. Lewis, whose Mere Christianity was influential in Collins's conversion from atheism, the book argues that belief in a transcendent, personal God-and even the possibility of an occasional miracle-can and should coexist with a scientific picture of the world that includes evolution. Addressing in turn fellow scientists and fellow believers, Collins insists that "science is not threatened by God; it is enhanced" and "God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible." Collins's credibility as a scientist and his sincerity as a believer make for an engaging combination, especially for those who, like him, resist being forced to choose between science and God. (July 17) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"What an elegantly written book. In it Francis Collins, the eminent scientist, tells why he is also a devout believer.... A real godsend for those with questioning minds but who are also attracted to things spiritual."

-- Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"The world respects Francis as a brilliant scientist responsible for breakthrough discoveries benefiting mankind. For a decade I have been privileged to admire him as a devoted family man and talented musician with a charmingly sharp wit. This intellectually honest, spiritually grounded reconciliation of God and science helps answer your greatest questions. I was profoundly enlightened and believe this important book should be required reading."

-- Naomi Judd

"Francis Collins, one of the world's most distinguished scientists, treats the relationship of science and religion with reason and reverence. Collins's mix of clear technical exposition and personal reflection is infused with an intellectual and spiritual honesty. Everyone who questions how religious faith could be reconciled with scientific knowledge, everyone who fears that modern science attacks the heart of religious faith, everyone interested in an enlightened discussion of a crucial issue of our time should read this book."

-- William D. Phillips, 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics

"In today's world, scarred by cultural warfare, it is rare for a scientist to offer a testimony of faith in God. For that scientist to be one of the world's most renowned is rarer still. For his testimony to be so lucid and compelling, combining reason and revelation, science and spirit, is unheard of. The Language of God belongs on the shelf of every believer and every seeker."

-- Dr. Robert H. Schuller, Founding Pastor, the Crystal Cathedral

Average Rating:

5 of 5 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by John (Salem, OR), February 11, 2009

I enjoy hearing from scientists who have managed to see past the lies and confusion of the academic world to find the truth. Unfortunately, Mr Collins is not one of them. He claims to believe in God and to be a follower of Jesus Christ then he proceeds to rip the Bible apart. You simply cannot reconcile old earth science and evolution with the Bible. The Bible is either the inerrant word of God or it is not. This is how Satan works. He plants the seeds of doubt and it grows from there. If you can convince people that Genesis is not the actual record of the creation, etc. then you can convince them that the rest of the Bible is meaningless as well. This has been the whole purpose of the evolution movement from its beginning - to create doubt. And Mr. Collins jumps right on the evolution bandwagon. He even goes so far as to mention the bogus Stanley Miller experiment. Shameful. This books is not worth the paper it's written on. My copy went in the recycle bin.

Reviewed by Andrew (Istanbul, Turkey), February 18, 2008

As a former Christian who became an atheist over several years of hard inquiry, I read this book to see if I had missed anything. In short, not theologically. His arguments do not adequately take the last few decades of serious New Testament biblical scholarship into account. In not doing so, they also fail to answer the key questions of why one particular system of belief and not another one. Moving from knowledge gap and intuition, to death on the cross is just too big of a leap for me. His spiritualism is heartfelt and real. However, it really does not provide much in the way of evidence for belief. It would not surprise me if his publisher wrote the title. It did remind me yet again, however, of what atheists are missing. His very honest, intelligent, and passionate discussion of his reasons for moving toward a more spiritual life was very humanistic and respectful in a way that, unfortunately, is missing these days from the increasingly vitriolic atheist camp. It is ironic that we who espouse humanism cannot be more humanistic. In terms of shear decency and who most readers would rather share the planet with, Collins puts the current crop of popular atheist authors to shame.

Reviewed by Mary Jo Burchart (Orion, MI), October 12, 2007

As a Christian and a scientist, I was eager to read Dr. Collins' book. I found it very intriguing, as cellular and molecular biology is my concentration. However, if you believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, you will have a hard time reconciling Dr. Collins' Biologos with Genesis. He considers this book more "allegory and poetry". I was disappointed.

Reviewed by BW (Northwest Ohio), February 14, 2007

This book is incredible! As a science teacher AND a Christian believer, Francis Collins filled in a lot of gaps that tend to separate the two. His book is highly readable and throught-provoking. What a treat!

Reviewed by David Buchanan (Stillwater, OK), February 09, 2007

Francis Collins is the Director of the Human Genome Project. This makes him one of the most recognizable scientists in America. He is also a Christian. “The Language of God” is his very public assertion that it is possible to be a person of science and a person of faith simultaneously. He has been joined recently by other scientist-believers (Owen Gingerich – Astronomy, Harvard University; Joan Roughgarden – Evolutionary Biology, Stanford University) in making this assertion (“God’s Universe” and “Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist”, respectively). Collin’s book covers a lot of territory. He presents his autobiography, his testimony and a brief history of the Human Genome Project. He also presents his views on naturalism, intelligent design, creationism and his preferred view, theistic evolution, which he would like to rechristen as “BioLogos”. In addition, he discusses current genetic-medical issues such as stem-cell research and cloning. Despite its wide range, the book is relatively brief and highly readable. It is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.

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