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Apr 08, 2008

Ellis rated it:

This book was Fantastic. If it were up to me, this book would be required reading for every college freshman or senior in high school. I listened to Dr. Collins speak at last year’s scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to the head of the international group responsible for sequencing the human genome. I was impressed with his clear forward-thinking mind. Probably because I'd heard Dr. Collins speak, knew his work, and had a v More...

6 comments like (8 people liked it)

Nov 03, 2007

Anand rated it:

I have no doubt in the sincerity of Dr. Collins's beliefs, but I found this book insufferable. I picked it up at the store, hoping to catch a glimpse of how an established (and wildly successful) scientist reconciles his faith with the tradition of scientific rationalism. Instead, I found a lot of C.S. Lewis fan-dom mixed with a clumsy rehashing of pretty tired theological arguments hinging on a mysterious intrinsic "Moral Law". To be honest, it reads like Collins is trying to convince More...

6 comments like (10 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Heather rated it:

Let me preface this review by saying that I read this book as part of a discussion with my intelligent and faithful (not to mention extremely good looking - its a genetic thing) family members, who are open-minded to both science and religion. I hope that I can be likewise. They asked me for my sincere opinion about this book, and here is the result of that request. If they write a review, I will provide a link to it.

Collins seems like an intelligent, decent person with a sincere des More...

2 comments like (7 people liked it)

Sep 04, 2010

Dan rated it:

This book is now my recommended first read for anyone who is asking the question, "Can a scientist be a Christian or even believe in God?" Collins, best known for being director of the human genome project, has impeccable credentials in the scientific world. He began as an agnostic. Feeling that agnostics who have not really tried to find God have no basis to defend their position or criticize others, Collins endeavored to see whether belief in God is possible. He leads the reader More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 28, 2007

Dave rated it:

It was very refreshing to hear a reasonable person discuss these issues without trying to overemphasize controversy. There are two portions of the book: Collins personal story of how he came to faith in God, and his views on a number of controversial issues in the overlapping worlds of science, ethics and faith. The first is particularly intriguing to scientists who are interested in faith. The second portion is more technical but valuable to anyone who wrestles with these issues.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 28, 2007

Linda rated it:

While I am not usually a big fan of non-fiction (takes too long to read) this book really affected me. As a scientist I was ready to disagree with the ideas of this evangelical Christian, but his arguments were well, scientific. His rational arguments struck a chord with me and he convinced me that theistic evolution is a valid possibility as to where we came from.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Lynn rated it:

This book was a disappointment to me, i did not gleam any new insight from it. It was the old circular 'I believe because I believe' argument meets an ode to C.S. Lewis. This guy obviously LOVES C.S. Lewis! He quoted him so often it started to feel a bit plagiarised.

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2009

D. rated it:

This book I read and re-read from it. It just blows your mind that an atheist and eminent scientist came to believe in God, just by coming to understanding how God created men. This author, who incidentally, is the Director of the Human Genome Project, can refute every argument against faith, against God; he also takes you through his own journey from atheism to faith and to his complete understanding that faith in science and faith in God are compatible. Incredible book for the open-minded on b More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 06, 2010

Brooke rated it:

I picked this book up because I thought it would be interesting to read about the religious views of the head of the Human Genome Project. What does someone who has his scientific credentials think about God and spirituality? Some of the reviews on GR attempt to attack perceived fallacies in his arguments and prove him “wrong,” but I was less interested in that than I was getting inside his head and listening to his personal story, whether I agreed with him or not.

The Language of Go More...

5 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 04, 2008

Aisha rated it:

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is actually really good, made all the better by the fact that the author is not a big shot priest trying to convince you his faith is correct, but rather is by a scientist who has experienced doubt, and even atheism, to come out a believer.

I found out more about evolution and had many of the myths that I had thought true corrected. It has made me more solid in my belief in evolution but also in the idea that one does not have to loose one's More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 15, 2008

Sean rated it:

Full disclosure: I didn't read this whole book, as I was principally interested in Collins's arguments against Intelligent Design, so that and his arguments against atheism were the only two sections I have read so far. I will therefore confine myself to addressing those two sections.

Collins is a world-renowned scientist, a geneticist who headed the Human Genome Project, and as such his words carry a great deal of weight. In the cases where he gets it right, this is a good thing; whe More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jun 18, 2008

Clint rated it:

In this book Collins explains how he harmonizes his belief in God with his understanding of evolution and other scientific processes involved in the creation of our universe. While I don't agree with every conclusion that Collins reaches, his honest and reasonable approach make this a very interesting book. He does a good job of giving a broad-brush description of the major scientific theories involved (big bang and evolution) and evidence for them. His explanations of DNA, how it's used, and ho More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 16, 2008

Mike rated it:

First off, Collins is a very gifted writer. He can explain complex things like the creation of a protein from a stand of DNA with just enough detail to make sense, but never gets bogged down in jargon. Also, I like the moderate approach he has to religion and science, and I think it would appeal to a lot of people who are loosely religious or searching. If only every religious person thought the way he does! I love that Young Earth Creationists and Intelligent Designers are getting scolded by on More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 28, 2007

Jeff rated it:

I say "i really liked it" about this book because i enjoyed reading something "by the other side." I actually believe that Collins is sincere when he says that he believes proponents of Intelligent Design are sincere (whereas i do not believe that proponents of ID are sincere at all--i believe that they think they found a way to market an idea that undermines Evolution, an idea they fear/hate/want to destroy).

I really liked making notes in the margins about this b More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 19, 2007

Kent rated it:

Very easy read considering the science involved in the subject matter. Collins develops his view of theistic evolution and gives it the name, "BioLogos."

Although Collins makes a very interesting history of the Human Genome Project, he is unconvincing in his argument against creation as presented in Genesis 1 and 2.

I find it funny that Collins is certain that his perspective of how nature begins is something "we know," but he can not seem to know w More...

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 07, 2009

Emily rated it:

Dr. Collins articulates the two sides of the argument (faith v. science) well - and then demonstrates how the argument really shouldn't exist at all as both faith and science are involved in the search for Truth, albeit with different tools and methods. Nothing spectacularly new, in fact he leans heavily on others' words, notably C.S. Lewis, but also many others from Copernicus to Augustine to generally good effect. Hard to judge how convincing he was since I already agreed with most of his pr More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 18, 2009

Alisse rated it:

Collins covers much of the same ground covered by Kenneth Miller's books (plus some unique additions), but in a simpler format and a quicker read, and with a gentler tone. Collins' conclusions are both well-reasoned and heartfelt, underscoring the confidence we can place in both science and religion. Highly reccommended for those seeking an understandable, balanced, and fairly comprehensive introduction to important questions at the science-religion interface.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 22, 2011

Julie rated it:

Excellent book! I found myself cheering throughout. Every believer, unbeliever, and everyone in between should read this book. In a very eloquent, gentle way, he tells believers "don't be so stupid and closed-minded about science" and to the unbeliever he says "don't be so closed-minded and think you are too smart for belief in God." In other words, he puts both extremes in their place and shows us the error of our ways. I hope there are many more Francis Collinses in th More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 26, 2009

Nani rated it:

Francis S Collins is one of the country's leading geneticists and the longtime leader of the Human Genome Project. He went from agnostic to atheist to believer. I gained a greater understanding of the creation of the universe, evolution and the bioethics of current medical and genetic research. I learned more about why the science of evolution is not in conflict with faith in God. It is very readable though I admit I didn't understand all the technical scientific terminology--I am at least f More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 01, 2008

Daniel rated it:

This book was interesting insofar as it was written by one of the co-directors of the Human Genome Project. A brilliant man, quintessential scientist and follower of Jesus.

It was intriguing mostly because as a 'liberal arts educated' person the questions and tensions he had, as a scientist, weren't ones I struggled with (dealing more with issues of post modernism, etc.). So his chapters were intriguing, but often I didn't understand his arguments.

He basically is a fo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 30, 2008

Davyhong07 rated it:

If you are a faithful Christian but find it hard to believe that evolution is a false theory and can't accept intelligent design or the Young Earth theory on the origin-of-earth, this book is the book for you. The book makes the case for BioLogos, belief that God did create this world, but that evolution and other scientific theories and natural laws were God's method of creation.

To my fellow Christians...let's face facts here people, with the scientific knowledge we know now abou More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 27, 2010

Teresa rated it:

This is probably not a book I would have picked up on my own, mostly because this is not an issue I struggle with much. In the days when I took a more literal approach to scripture, I just didn t think about it; and now I tend to take the creation story as something more metaphorical, which happens to also be the view that Collins takes. But my church book club selected it, and I enjoy the discussions, so I was game to read along.[return][return]Collins presents the science in clear straightfor More...

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Feb 07, 2009

Joel rated it:

Collins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_S._...) is a prominent geneticist and head of the Human Genome Project. He is also a former atheist who became an evangelical Christian. His thesis in this book is that truth discovered by science should be welcomed by believers, and that unbelievers should be open to truth discovered by spiritual inquiry. After an overview of the current debate between scientists and religious fundamentalists, Collins highlights key evidence for the big bang theo More...

1 comment like

Feb 11, 2012

David rated it:

Like many other reviewers, I read this book hoping to find new insight into the debate about science and faith, particularly from the point of view of an author who had headed up the Human Genome project no less. I was singularly disappointed.

On the question of faith, he largely re-presents C S Lewis's arguments from Mere Christianity, bolstered with the writings of St Augustine. In doing so he leaves out some important steps in Lewis's logical argument. For example, Lewis is very cl More...

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Jan 07, 2012

Barbara rated it:

Dr. Collins was influenced by the intellectual arguments put forward by C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" and he refers many times to this book. He also discusses some of the current scientific theories including the Big Bang and evolution. He proposes that both intelligent design (ID) and scientific creationism (SC) are theologically and scientifically dead ends. He then states that there is another belief system: BioLogos, in which God used evolution to create the world. I'm not so s More...

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Nov 01, 2011

Lee rated it:

Current-day proponents of the New Atheism like to push the idea that atheism is the only rational belief, and believers are weak-minded non-thinkers who hide from science. This just simply isn't so. Some very accomplished scientists in many different fields are believers.

Here's one. Francis Collins is a devout believer and distinguished scientist (he is the head of the Human Genome Project) with a questioning mind and a reverence for reason ... and for the merger of science and relig More...

3 comments like

Oct 09, 2011

Greg rated it:

Francis Collins is a renowned scientist who ultimately abandoned atheism to become a Christian. He became convinced that atheism was an untenable position as it could not explain our spiritual nature, specifically the Moral Law (a la C.S. Lewis) as a universal feature of human existence. Neither could science answer spiritual and philosophical questions.

Collins explains how he reconciles his views as a theist to his training and professional experience as a scientist. Drawing on his More...

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Jul 27, 2011

James added it

Apologetics (vs. Atheism): 3.5 stars

Science: 2 stars

Composite score: 3 stars

Collins's book failed and succeeded. His first objective was to sieve Darwinian Evolution from atheism, on which he sold me. His second was to defend Theistic Evolution, in which he thoroughly failed. On the first matter, he created the best starting apologetic for scientific atheists that I've read. Collins was once an atheist. He took apart Dawkins. He glossed over true differences between DE and theology for the sake More...

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Jul 27, 2011

Joseph added it

An interesting and enlightening book. I'm not an expert in biology, but the arguments seem convincing to me. He has been accused of building a straw man out of the ID-arguments, but he has a fair tone in the writing. Collins makes a good case for the possibility of combining a faith in God with acceptense of the theory of evolution. I'm not quite sure that I agree that the evolution can explain the human being as fully as for example Dawkins think, but that is not on theological grounds, but I a More...

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Feb 27, 2011

Lynne rated it:

The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief was a 4* read for me.

It was an interesting book about how science an religion should not be opposed to one another, they should actually be embraced as supporting on another fully.

It was written by Francis Collins who was the head of the Genome Project when the final mapping of the human Genome was completed. He talks a little about why he converted from atheism to Christianity, but much mo More...

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