“The Language of God” by Francis Collins
by Francis Collins
Free Press, New York, 2006
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Description
"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." - From Publisher's Weekly. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Reviews
- Cornelia Dean, New York Times:
In “The Language of God,” Dr. Collins, the geneticist who led the American government’s effort to decipher the human genome, describes his own journey from atheism to committed Christianity, a faith he embraced as a young physician.
Full Review - Scott Russel, Washington Post:
Although Collins's purpose is grand, his manner is modest and his prose clear, as befits a man more concerned with sharing his views on the nature of things than with displaying his ego."
Full Review - J.W. Haas, Jr., American Scientific Affiliation:
Collins writes clearly about complex things. His book is a wide-ranging account laced with humor, humility, a love for science, and a desire to witness to God—an inspiring account for the faithful and a challenge to the casual reader to follow his path to belief.
Full Review - Wilburn T. Stancil, Catholic Book Review:
I highly recommend this book, especially for nonprofessionals in theology or science, as an example of the integration and dialogue that is possible between science and religion.
Full Review - James Marroquin, Baylor University Medical Center:
Francis Collins is under no illusion that his book will settle the often rancorous disputes between the religious and scientific communities. But he hopes at least to offer a model for more civil and reasonable dialogue. In this respect, I believe he has succeeded.
Full Review - Marc Wagner, Spectrum Magazine:
The book has breathed fresh wind and fresh fire into my quest to reconcile faith with science. And I am certainly not alone, as evidenced by the book’s handsome place on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Full Review - David Klinghoffer, The Weekly Standard:
In his most satisfying defense of belief, Collins brings forward a clever way of reconciling an unguided evolutionary process with God as the Creator. He points out that God resides beyond the limits of time.
Full Review - Tara McKelvey, New York Times:
In a country where a large percentage of the population believes that the world is less than 10,000 years old and that humans once frolicked with dinosaurs, his argument that science and faith are compatible deserves a wide hearing. It lets non-churchgoers, too, consider spiritual questions without feeling awkward.
Full Review - Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus:
Collins has written a winsome book for a popular audience that also manages to be very direct in its objections to obscurantist Christian zeal or over-zealous atheistic scientists.
Full Review - Marcia Ford, Faithful Reader:
As a researcher fully immersed in the complexity of science and a believer equally immersed in the complexity of God, Collins emerges as a voice of reason standing squarely between the polarized camps of science and faith --- and his is a voice worth listening to.
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