Get Involved

Receive the Newsletter

Enjoying our resources? Receive our monthly newsletter and more from BioLogos, tailored to your interests!

Join Now

Donate to BioLogos!

BioLogos relies on grassroots donors like you to help sustain our mission. Make a donation today, or contact donorsupport@biologos.org with donation related questions.

Give Now


BioLogos Voices is a speakers bureau featuring top scholars and communicators in the BioLogos community. Book a speaker for your next event!

Learn More
See All Events


Join the online community! We welcome you to be a part of the growing group of people who are seeing science as the study of God’s creation while upholding the authority of the Bible!

Join Now
About BioLogos

About Us

Our Mission
Our History
What We Believe
Annual Reports
Endorsements


What We Do

Conferences & Events
Speakers Bureau
Language of God Podcast
Insights Video Series
INTEGRATE Curriculum
BioLogos.org Resources


Our Team

Staff
Board of Directors
Advisory Council
Francis Collins
Careers

ForumsGive
https://biologos.org/resources/francis-collins-a-testimony
Browse Common Questions

Biblical Interpretation

How should we interpret the Genesis flood account?

How long are the days of Genesis 1?

How should we interpret the Bible?

See All
Christianity & Science

What is Evolutionary Creation?

Should Christians get vaccinated?

Should We Trust Science?

Are science and Christianity at war?

See All
Scientific Evidence

What does the fossil record show?

What is the genetic evidence for human evolution?

Does the Cambrian Explosion pose a challenge to evolution?

See All
God's Relationship to Creation

Why should Christians care for creation?

What do “fine-tuning” and the “multiverse” say about God?

What created God?

See All
Human Origins

Did death occur before the Fall?

How could humans have evolved and still be in the “Image of God”?

Were Adam and Eve historical figures?

See All
Explore Faith & Science Resources

Get Started

Use the links below to browse content carefully curated for BioLogos beginners.

Common Questions
Insights Videos
Language of God Podcast
Integrate Curriculum
Resource Centers
Impact Stories
Recommended Books


Featured People
Francis CollinsFrancis Collins
Katharine HayhoeKatharine Hayhoe
N.T. WrightN.T. Wright
Deborah HaarsmaDeborah Haarsma
Praveen SethupathyPraveen Sethupathy

Resource Centers

K-12 Educators
Pastors
Youth Ministry
Campus Ministry
Small Groups


Explore All Topics

Bible
Science
Theology & Philosophy
Church & Culture
Views on Creation


By Type

Common Questions
Articles
Series
Videos
Podcast Episodes
Audio
Books
Impact Stories

What are you looking for?

  • Forums
  • Give

 
Video

Francis Collins: A Testimony

Published on December 04, 2020
  • Apologetics
  • Medicine & Bioethics
  • Science as Christian Calling

Before You Read ...

Dear reader,

A new poll shows that for young adults in particular, belief in God is plummeting. From research, we know a primary driver behind a loss of faith among young people is the church’s rejection of science. To put it bluntly: Young people aren’t leaving the faith because of science, they’re leaving because they’ve been told to choose between science and God. That’s why BioLogos exists—to show that science and faith can work hand-in-hand. And although the challenge is clearly daunting, our work is having an impact!

As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of grassroots donors like you to reach those who are being told, “It’s God or evolution!” or “It’s God or vaccines!” or “It’s God or science!” In this urgent moment, we need your help to continue to produce resources such as this.

Give Now

Why give to BioLogos?

If you’re new to BioLogos, we encourage you to learn more about our work and the impact of your gift, and watch our video below. Your gift to BioLogos is tax-deductible!


Francis Collins tells the story of his conversion from atheism to faith as a young doctor. As he began a journey looking for evidence of God, he expected only to strengthen his atheism. Instead he encountered Jesus and made the decision to follow him.

Francis Collins believes science and Christian faith can work together, hand in hand.

Insights, a series of animated videos, presents facts, stories, and real-life experiences that pull you in, make you wonder, and guide you deeper.

Explore More Insights

Transcript

Francis Collins:

In the home where I grew up, faith was not something that was talked about very much. My father was a professor of drama, my mother was a playwright. When I went to college and those discussions in the dorm late at night about religion began to occur, I found no reason to attach value to a faith worldview. I assumed that any religious feelings that anyone held must be on the basis of some emotional experience—and I didn’t trust those—or on the basis of some childhood indoctrination, which I felt I was fortunate to have missed.

In medical school, I loved the experience of learning about the human body and all of its complexities. And I particularly loved being introduced to genetics. But then I moved on to the clinical training portion, learning to take care of patients with real diseases. This was no longer an abstract study of molecules and organ systems. These were real people with real suffering. One afternoon, I was with one of my patients, a wonderful woman, much like a grandmother, who had very bad heart disease. She had a particularly bad episode of chest pain while I was with her. She got through it, and at the end of that, explained to me how her faith in Jesus was the thing that helped her in that situation. She realized that the doctors around her weren’t really able to give her that much help, but her faith was. And after she finished her own very personal description of that faith, she turned to me. I had been silent, and she

looked at me quizzically, and then she asked, “What do you believe, Doctor?” I was stunned. I said I didn’t really know. Her question had made me realize that as an atheist, I had arrived at an answer to the most important issue that we humans ever deal with. Is there a God? And I had arrived there without ever really looking at the evidence. I was supposed to be a scientist. If there’s one thing scientists claim they do is to arrive at conclusions based upon evidence. And I hadn’t taken the trouble to do that.

So I was determined to search for evidence. I was greatly assisted by a pastor who lived down the road, who tolerated my blasphemous questions and gave me a copy of CS Lewis’ wonderful book, Mere Christianity. Here was an Oxford scholar, a prodigiously developed intellect, who had traveled the same path. Within those pages, I realized for the first time that one can come to belief on a rational basis. In fact, I soon discovered that there are many pointers towards a creator that come from science itself. The universe had a beginning. It follows elegant mathematical laws. And it is fine tuned by the way all those constants that determine the behavior of matter and energy seem to have been set just in a certain, very precise range to make life possible. 

As I searched for more evidence of what God must be like, I encountered the person of Jesus Christ. I was amazed to discover how much we know about his life. I had thought that Christ was as much myth as history. As I studied more, I learned there is a great deal of evidence for his teachings, and even for his having risen literally from the dead. The evidence was compelling, and it demanded a decision. That day at my patient’s bedside started a journey for me, a journey that I was reluctant to begin, but I felt I needed to. It was a journey that I thought would result in strengthening my atheism — but to my surprise, resulted in my conversion. I am now a follower of Jesus.


Related Videos

Bible under the microscope
God's Word, God's World
  • Featuring Francis Collins, 
  • Jim Stump 
  • and Deborah Haarsma 

Francis Collins on Science and Faith During COVID-19
Featuring Francis Collins 

What Do YOU Believe, Doctor?
  • Featuring Francis Collins 
  • and N.T. Wright 

A Christian Response To Coronavirus: A Virtual Event with N.T. Wright and Francis Collins
Francis Collins, founder of BioLogos
1. What is BioLogos?
See all videos 

01/06

Related Resources

If you enjoyed this resource, we recommend you check out one of the following:

All Resources
  • Iv pole on blue background
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest J. Todd Billings 

    J. Todd Billings | Good Servant, Tyrannical Master

    Todd Billings shares his depth of thought on healing, medicine and chronic disease, which is informed by his own experiences with cancer.

  • cells seen through a microscope
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest Jeff Hardin 

    Jeff Hardin | Science & Wonder

    Jeff Hardin's work as a scientist, exploring the intricate details of life’s origin, has only enriched his wonder toward the God who created it all, an awe which feeds back into his teaching and research.

  • Tender moment between patient holding family's hand
    Article
    • By Terri Laws 
    • and Ciara Reyes-Ton 

    Terri Laws: Caring for the Humanity in Others

    For Dr. Terri Laws the Gospel cannot be decontextualized from our society and the lives that we live. It has very practical implications that compel us to care for others and love our neighbors well, especially the marginalized.

  • Man sitting on pew in empty church
    Blog Post
    By Mario A. Russo 

    Three Tips from a Pastor to Care for Those Deconstructing

    What do you say to someone who has suffered so much and has good reasons to leave the faith? Is this really the time to use apologetics? Or is there a better approach?

  • Church surrounded by night sky full of stars
    Blog Post
    By Deborah Haarsma 

    Why I Never Had a Faith Crisis Over Science

    Science is a growing factor in people leaving church, doubting God, and dropping away from their faith altogether. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

  • Deb Haarsma speaking at BioLogos 2022 Conference
    Video
    By Deborah Haarsma 

    Deb Haarsma: Faith and Science in Polarized Times

    Watch Deb Haarsma's full talk "Faith and Science in Polarized Times," from the BioLogos Faith & Science 2022 conference. She offers advice on navigating difficult conversations, drawing on her own personal story.

  • Iv pole on blue background
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest J. Todd Billings 

    J. Todd Billings | Good Servant, Tyrannical Master

    Todd Billings shares his depth of thought on healing, medicine and chronic disease, which is informed by his own experiences with cancer.

  • cells seen through a microscope
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest Jeff Hardin 

    Jeff Hardin | Science & Wonder

    Jeff Hardin's work as a scientist, exploring the intricate details of life’s origin, has only enriched his wonder toward the God who created it all, an awe which feeds back into his teaching and research.

  • Tender moment between patient holding family's hand
    Article
    • By Terri Laws 
    • and Ciara Reyes-Ton 

    Terri Laws: Caring for the Humanity in Others

    For Dr. Terri Laws the Gospel cannot be decontextualized from our society and the lives that we live. It has very practical implications that compel us to care for others and love our neighbors well, especially the marginalized.

  • Man sitting on pew in empty church
    Blog Post
    By Mario A. Russo 

    Three Tips from a Pastor to Care for Those Deconstructing

    What do you say to someone who has suffered so much and has good reasons to leave the faith? Is this really the time to use apologetics? Or is there a better approach?

  • Church surrounded by night sky full of stars
    Blog Post
    By Deborah Haarsma 

    Why I Never Had a Faith Crisis Over Science

    Science is a growing factor in people leaving church, doubting God, and dropping away from their faith altogether. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

  • Deb Haarsma speaking at BioLogos 2022 Conference
    Video
    By Deborah Haarsma 

    Deb Haarsma: Faith and Science in Polarized Times

    Watch Deb Haarsma's full talk "Faith and Science in Polarized Times," from the BioLogos Faith & Science 2022 conference. She offers advice on navigating difficult conversations, drawing on her own personal story.

  • Iv pole on blue background
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest J. Todd Billings 

    J. Todd Billings | Good Servant, Tyrannical Master

    Todd Billings shares his depth of thought on healing, medicine and chronic disease, which is informed by his own experiences with cancer.

  • cells seen through a microscope
    Podcast Episode
    Featuring guest Jeff Hardin 

    Jeff Hardin | Science & Wonder

    Jeff Hardin's work as a scientist, exploring the intricate details of life’s origin, has only enriched his wonder toward the God who created it all, an awe which feeds back into his teaching and research.

  • Tender moment between patient holding family's hand
    Article
    • By Terri Laws 
    • and Ciara Reyes-Ton 

    Terri Laws: Caring for the Humanity in Others

    For Dr. Terri Laws the Gospel cannot be decontextualized from our society and the lives that we live. It has very practical implications that compel us to care for others and love our neighbors well, especially the marginalized.

  • Common Questions

    Resources

    Christianity and Science
    Scientific Evidence
    Biblical Interpretation
    God’s Relationship to Creation
    Human Origins

    Getting Started
    Common Questions
    Resource Centers
    BioLogos Basics Videos
    Language of God Podcast
    Impact Stories
    Recommended Books

    By Type
    Common Questions
    Articles
    Series
    Videos
    Podcast Episodes
    Audio
    Books
    Impact Stories

    By Topic
    Bible
    Science
    Theology & Philosophy
    Church & Culture
    Views on Creation

    Resources by Audience
    Pastors
    K-12 Educators
    Small Groups
    Youth Ministry
    Campus Ministry

    Get BioLogos Resources


    About Us

    Our Mission
    Our History
    What We Believe
    Annual Reports
    Endorsements

    Get Involved

    Open Forum
    Homeschool Forum
    Attend an Event
    Donate

    What We Do

    BioLogos Conferences
    Resource Centers
    Events
    BioLogos Voices (Speaker’s Bureau)
    Language of God Podcast
    INTEGRATE Curriculum

    Social Media

    BioLogos on Instagram BioLogos on YouTube BioLogos on Twitter BioLogos on Facebook

    © BioLogos 2019  Terms of Use   Privacy   Contact Us   RSS

    It looks like your cart is empty!

    Subtotal: $0.00

    Sign up or log in to continue checkoutBrowse All Units