"The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence For Belief"

There is a lot of debate (as there has been for decades now) about the relationship between science and faith. Can a scientist who is "driven by the evidence alone" believe in God? Does belief in God contradict the nature of being a scientist? Are those who have faith also affirm science? Without a doubt, the early great scientist, including Galileo, Newton, and others, were Christians and men of faith. In fact, Newton wrote more on theology than on science.

And so, it is books like Francis Collins, "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence For Belief" that adds to the conversation. Despite the argument that science and faith are not compatible, respected and well qualified scientist Collins argues that yes, one can believe in God and the Supernatural.

Collins' book has introduced a new vigor among believers that the two are not contradictory, and it is with this understanding that I picked up his book and began to read it. For the most part, there is nothing new in his book. He makes the same arguments that have been made before. However, it is his past as an atheist scientist and now his faith as a Christian, and how studies in science and DNA have led him to that faith, has given these points added power.

One of Collins main reasons for coming to faith was the moral law. Following the argument of CS Lewis in "Mere Christianity," Collins began to realize that the existence of a moral law implies the existence of a Divine Lawgiver. Lewis' influence on Collins is profound and he quotes Lewis throughout the book. I find this argument compelling and remains as one of the best arguments for the existence of God.

Perhaps the climax of the book is his look at possible interpretation of the evidence as it relates to the question about God. First, we can become an atheist or an agnostic, or as he puts it, When Science Trumps Faith. With the recent rise of atheism in our culture, this chapter, as I saw it, was critical. It was not deep, but he did deal with with characters like Dawkins. Collins traces the history of atheism and it's growing influence in modern culture. Collins shows why such a response to the evidence is not only wrong but dangerous. Faith, despite what Dawkins might argue, is not irrational.

Another option is Creationism, that is, when Faith Trumps Science. Collins argument, I believe, in rejecting a young earth belief in creation is found in the age of the earth. I have found that the first place one argues against a literal translation of Genesis isn't necessarily about evolution, but about the age of the earth, and Collins does just that. He traces how old the earth must be and where the evidence is. Collins, though a Christian who believes in the Bible, rejects this view and argues that one who believes in the Bible does not have to believe that the earth was created less than 10,000 years ago.

This is obviously my biggest frustration with this book. I am one of those young earth creationist. Call me crazy, but I am. Sorry if that makes me weird or out of the mainstream. I think I'll find a way to survive. On the theological and exegetical front, I have a hard time finding murkiness in the Hebrew word for "day," (yom). Yom simply means day. Nothing more, nothing less. I do not see ambiguity or even the possibility of it ever meaning anything else other than the typical meaning of day. Why is it that the word day means 24 hours everywhere else in Scripture except for in Genesis 1-2? It seems inconsistent.

I praise Collins for "coming out" and declaring his faith openly and boldly. However, I fear that in this case, Science has trumped Faith. Collins seems overwhelmed, and for good reason, by the evidence of evolution. But that is precisely his problem: evolution. I believe that if Christians, like myself, are going to recover a Biblical understanding of origins, it is not going to begin with the age of the earth, but rather with evolution. If we can win the battle over evolution, then we will be able to win the battle over the age of the earth. Evolution demands an old earth. Therefore, if we fight evolution and win, we will likely win the argument over the age of the earth.

Thirdly, one could affirm Intelligent Design or, When Science Needs Divine Help. Collins is not a fan of this option neither. Though the Intelligent Design Movement is growing, Collins seems to finds it to be inherently lazy. He is at least honest in saying that Intelligent Design is not a hidden agenda of the Christian right. Rather, it is an honest attempt, just like Collins, to look at the evidence and see clearly an Intelligent Designer.

But, to Collins, they are scientifically lazy. How? Collins tries to show that whenever science runs into a seemingly dead end, scientist keep looking, Intelligent Designers just say, "it's God, let's move on." Collins complains about this and thinks that scientist should continue to seek for answers rather than to resort to concluding that it is all a miracle.

My problem with this argument is that Collins' argument for faith and for the existence of God is essentially based on the same argument. True that Collins loves evolution and sees God's work at play in evolution, even he must eventually conclude: this has to be the work of God.

For example, when reflecting on the Big Bang, Collins concludes:

The Big Bang cries out for a divine explanation. It forces the conclusion that nature had a defined beginning. I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural fore that is outside of space and time could have done that. -67

I vehemently concur. If the Big Bang is factual, then it does in fact cry out for a deity. But if Collins is consistent in his criticism of Intelligent Design, then Collins, instead of seeing God, should rather turn to theories explaining what made the everything go "Bang." Is that not what Intelligent Designers do? Though I affirm Collins belief in Christianity, God, and salvation through Christ, I find his criticism of Intelligent Design wrong. And his approach to faith proves it.

Finally, one could affirm Biologos (Theistic Evolution) or when Science and Faith are in Harmony. This is Collins' view and he expands on why it is valid. Basically, Collins sees no contradiction in affirming evolution and believing in the God of the Bible. I must respectfully disagree.

First, what do we do about death? If evolution is true, then animals and pre-homo saphiens were dying and fighting for survival millions of years before Adam and Even ate of the fruit, which, according to the Bible, introduced sin and it's consequence of death with it. If death existed before the Fall, then the Bible is mistaken about man's great need: to be redeemed from a fallen world. For the Bible is clear that without sin, there would be no death.

Secondly, what about God's declaration of the earth being "very good," whenever chaos and extinction was the way of the world? If evolution is true, then how could God declare the chaos of the evolutionary process "very good?"

Thirdly, what do you do with Adam and Eve? If evolution is true, they can't be the first couple. Of course Collins has an answer to this question: Adam and Eve were the first people created. He offers arguments like, who married Cain when he fled from his parents? This question has been answered throughout history and it is clear from Scripture that Adam and Eve were the first and sole people on earth prior to the birth of Cain and Abel.

These are just a few problems with Theistic Evolution, or as he calls it, Biologos. Though it is a good try, I fear that Collins has bowed Scriptures knees to science rather than correctly understanding Scripture and letting science bow it's need to God's Word.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Outside of his belief in evolution and his arguments for ethics in the appendix, Collins has written a thrilling book. Though it has it's holes, it does open the door for continued debate. For those who affirm that faith and science can be friends, this is an invaluable tool. But as a Christian that puts proper exegesis of scripture above everything else, I cannot endorse it as great theology.

Here is a lecture Dr. Collins gave that summarizes much in "The Language of God."




I also want to suggest the following video between Francis Collins and Stephen Colbert on the issue of faith and evolution. I find it hilarious and it really points out some of the holes in evolution.