After writing his book, The Language of God, Francis Collins began receiving letters from people asking further questions about science and faith—and the idea was to develop a website to house resources for this conversation.
Today, we still address the many questions people ask on science and biblical faith. Browse the many questions we’ve answered below …
#Christianity & Science
What is Evolutionary Creation?
God is the creator and sustainer of all things, and evolution is the best scientific explanation for the relatedness of life on Earth.
Should we trust science?
Trust can be used as a synonym for faith, but we should not “trust in” science in that way. Our ultimate hope and salvation comes from God not from science. So when should we trust science?
Should Christians get vaccinated?
We seek to help Christians make wise decisions that are both true to our faith and based on accurate science. As you seek to learn more and make an informed decision, here’s why we think vaccination is a safe, ethical, and wise choice.
Are science and Christianity at war?
Some people see science and religion as enemies, at war for leadership in our modern culture. Others see science and religion as completely separate and unrelated facets of life.
How is Evolutionary Creation different from Evolutionism, Intelligent Design, and Creationism?
We affirm that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God. We also accept the science of evolution as the best description for how God brought about life on earth.
Why should Christians consider evolutionary creation?
Considering evolutionary creation has important benefits for Christians both in our relationship with God and in our relationships with other people, believers and non-believers.
Can science and Scripture be reconciled?
The truths we find in Scripture should not conflict with the truths we find in nature. Conflicts happen at the level of human interpretation.
How have Christians responded to Darwin’s “Origin of Species”?
Even before Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859, many Christians had already accepted an old Earth.
#Scientific Evidence
Should we trust science?
Trust can be used as a synonym for faith, but we should not “trust in” science in that way. Our ultimate hope and salvation comes from God not from science. So when should we trust science?
What is evolution?
Properly understood, evolution is a scientific theory about the development of life and is consistent with Christian theology.
Is evolution a "theory in crisis"?
Opponents of evolution sometimes claim it is a theory in crisis. This is misleading at best.
How are the ages of the Earth and universe calculated?
Many independent measurements have established that the Earth and the universe are billions of years old.
Should Christians get vaccinated?
We seek to help Christians make wise decisions that are both true to our faith and based on accurate science. As you seek to learn more and make an informed decision, here’s why we think vaccination is a safe, ethical, and wise choice.
Can evolution generate new information?
We at BioLogos marvel at the complexity of genetic information but agree with the majority of biologists that well-understood processes—which we understand to be under God's providential care—give rise to new information all the time.
What does the fossil record show?
For Christians, the fossil record is a remarkable gift that prompts reflection on the kind of world God has made.
How can evolution account for the complexity of life on Earth today?
A complex biological structure with interacting parts might appear as if it were created in its present form with all its interlocking parts, not developed step by step via evolution.
Does thermodynamics disprove evolution?
The objection is grounded in a misunderstanding of the second law.
How did life begin?
How life came from non-life is still largely a scientific mystery.
Does the Cambrian Explosion pose a challenge to evolution?
The Cambrian Explosion does present a number of important research questions. It does not, however, challenge the fundamental correctness of the central thesis of evolution.
Is historical science reliable?
The so-called “historical” sciences test their hypotheses using observation and experimentation, much like any other type of rigorous science.
What is the evidence for evolution?
This article summarizes multiple independent lines of evidence that evolution is the best scientific description of the process by which life has diversified.
#Biblical Interpretation
Is Genesis real history?
We believe Genesis is a true account that, like other ancient narratives, uses vivid imagery to describe past events. It is silent on the scientific questions we might wish it to answer.
How should we interpret the Bible?
Clues to the original intended meaning can be found in the style of language, the genre of literature, the original audience, and the historical and cultural context.
How long are the days of Genesis 1?
The seven-day pattern in Genesis 1 is a literary device that serves the theological purposes of the author, rather than revealing information about the chronology of natural history.
How was the Genesis account of creation interpreted before Darwin?
Many assume Darwin’s theory shook the foundations of Christianity, but the 6-day interpretation of Genesis was not the only view held by Christians prior to modern science.
How should we interpret the Genesis flood account?
The Flood story proclaims God’s grace and love for his people.
Is Evolutionary Creation compatible with biblical inerrancy?
Is it possible to accept both biblical inerrancy and an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation?
#God's Relationship to Creation
Why should Christians care for creation?
As bearers of God’s image, all people have the responsibility and privilege of caring for God’s creation.
Is animal suffering part of God’s good creation?
If God is good, how can we account for the enormous amount of suffering caused by predation, disease, and natural disasters?
Does modern science make miracles impossible?
At BioLogos, we accept both mainstream science, which points to God’s working through regular patterns to sustain his creation, as well as miracles, which testify to his character and Kingdom.
Are gaps in scientific knowledge evidence for God?
The God of the Bible is much more than a god of the gaps. God is always at work in the natural world, in the gaps as well as the areas that science can explain.
What do “fine-tuning” and the “multiverse” say about God?
Some Christians argue that fine-tuning is proof of God’s existence, while some atheists argue that the multiverse replaces God. Is either side right?
On what grounds can one claim that the Christian God is the creator?
Christian doctrine is broadly compatible with scientific accounts of our origins.
What created God?
Many arguments claiming to prove the existence of God have been proposed throughout the centuries. The response to many of these arguments, however, is: “If God created the world, what created God?”
#Human Origins
Were Adam and Eve historical figures?
At BioLogos, we are passionately committed to taking the Bible seriously and to seeking a scientific understanding of God’s creation. How do the Bible and science inform our understanding of Adam and Eve?
What is the genetic evidence for human evolution?
In the last couple of decades, our understanding of genetics has grown dramatically, providing overwhelming evidence that humans share common ancestors with all life on earth.
How could humans have evolved and still be in the "Image of God"?
Evolutionary creationists believe that God created humans in his image, and that God created humans using natural processes that scientists describe as evolution. How can these beliefs work together?
Did death occur before the Fall?
Humans appear very late in the history of life. The fossil record clearly shows that many creatures died before humans appeared.