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The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief 1st Edition

by
Francis S. Collins (Author)
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Francis S. Collins (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 693 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0743286398
ISBN-10: 0743286391
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 294 pages
  • Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (July 11, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743286391
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743286398
  • Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (693 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

253 of 289 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 starsIntriguing
By Robert W. Kellemen on July 31, 2006
Format: Hardcover
You have to hand it to Francis Collins, he is no fence-sitter, though some may mistakenly so perceive him. Some may think he is trying to win friends and influence people of all types--those who love science and those who love Scripture. In reality, a book like this is sure to displease more die-hards than please them. Evangelicals are sure to get squeamish about Collins' support for the big bang and evolution and his beliefs in a non-literal interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis. On the other hand, as previous vitriolic reviews clearly indicate the so-called loving left will and have attack Collins for daring to value Scripture and claim that believe in God, the Christian God no less, are not only faith issues, but supportable by science. So, he's attacked if he does and he's attacked if he doesn't.

And what does he do? Using his personal faith in God and his professional expertise as an internationally-known scientist, Collins presents a case for the integration of science and Scripture. Both disciplines require the use of reason and logic, as well as faith and experience. Both must interpret the evidence. In Collins' skillful hands and able prose, "The Language of God" is sure to challenge the intellectually honest reader who will read it with an open mind, rather than a defensive heart.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."
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233 of 267 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsScience and God
By Math Enthusiast on August 3, 2007
Format: Paperback
In this deeply personal book, Francis Collins tackles the "science vs. religion" debate. Since at least Immanuel Kant, we have known that this is a false dichotomy. However, modernity has in effect turned a deaf ear to Kant. In this book, Collins follows in the footsteps of the Kantian tradition, attempting the great synthesis of the empirical and the spiritual, the pure reason and the practical reason. Like Kant before him, Collins is sure to raise the ire of both sides of the aisle. And that is usually a good sign one is doing something right.

Collins reviews in the first part of the book his personal journey from atheism towards a theistic worldview, and the classical objections against it. His answers are mostly based on the apologetics of C.S. Lewis. This debate is much older than C.S. Lewis of course; most of his ideas can be found in St. Augustin, the Stoics, Pascal and Kant. However he does manage to present those arguments from a modern perspective, in an accessible conversational style.

The second part of the book is a popular science exposition, where Collins draws extensively on his considerable scientific background in both physics and biology and, in particular, the leading role he played in the Human Genome project.

The third part of the book is where Collins tries to reach a final conclusion about the issue of "faith in science and faith in God." He reviews his options, from Creationism to Atheism, and settles on the middle -of-the-road worldview he calls BioLogos. He expounds this theistic evolutionary view, according to which orthodox evolution theory is a fact, but also a divine means of creation. Here is where Collins slips a little, by trying to chew too much.Read more ›
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140 of 163 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsC. S. Lewis Rehash
By Random Bimms on April 1, 2007
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I bought this book, hoping it would describe, in detail, hard scientific reasons to believe in God. The cover, with its picture of DNA, led me to believe this.

It did not. Instead, it recycled the old arguments of C. S. Lewis. Don't get me wrong, I love Lewis and he largely helped me to remain Christian in college. But I have never been convinced by the particular argument that Collins recycles here.

I can summarize the main argument quite rapidly: We have a sense of morality within us. Therefore, God supposedly exists.

Collins tries to argue against the so-called "God of the gaps" fallacy. What people don't seem to realize is that if the gap is large enough, so that there is simply no way for blind natural forces to jump across it, it is not a fallacy to point this fact out.

There happen to be multiple huge "gaps" that there is simply no way for blind forces of nature to bring into existence without God's help. It is not a "fallacy" to point out these huge gaps. For example, it has recently been calculated that the absolute minimum size of DNA required for the simplest life forms is roughly 180,000 base pairs. And without God, supposedly dead chemicals just happened to randomly arrange themselves into the correct sequence? This is a major huge gap, and it simply points straight to God.

If you are looking for serious, hard science to back up your belief in God, I recommend that you read two books that made lifelong atheist Antony Flew recently convert to Deism. The two books are:

"The Wonder of the World" by Roy Varghese.

"The Hidden Face of God" by Gerald Schroeder.

The above two books are excellent, giving you nothing but hard science and great scientific details. This book by Collins pales in comparison, even if Collins happens to have impeccable scientific credentials.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThe intricacies of creation speak of the Creator

Science has not been my forte. But this is a fascinating book. Like many Christians, I had some skepticism. Can you really embrace both science and the Bible? Read more

Published 6 days ago by Catherine Lawton
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat, thought provoking book. I highly recommend it to anyone...

The author's final words sum up nicely the theme of this very engaging book: "It is time to call a truce in the escalating war between science and spirit. Read more

Published 12 days ago by Kenneth Morgan
4.0 out of 5 starsAmazing story

Collins begins by describing his upbringing, in which religion played no part, and relates how his early medical work with terminally ill patients led him to explore spirituality... Read more

Published 15 days ago by Ann Sherwin
1.0 out of 5 starsit annoyed me

Not impressed at all. In fact, he made me angry and stunned by his audacity. From the first page he talks about himself and who he knows. Read more

Published 27 days ago by Ibrahim
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

A lucid, enlightening and ultimately convincing argument for the reconciliation of science and religion.

Published 1 month ago by Mike Kwon
5.0 out of 5 starsAn Excellent Thought Stimulator!

With an able facilitator, this book is excellent for group study and discussion.

Published 1 month ago by Sharon
5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome

Book came in excellent condition

Published 1 month ago by Michael
5.0 out of 5 starsLife changing

As a scientist it is reassuring that greater minds than mine have struggled with balancing the discipline of the scientific method of inquiry with an equally powerful recognition... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Kevin C. Glenn
2.0 out of 5 starsNO!!!!!!

I expected a lot more. No agnostic would be convinced by the reasoning here. I learned almost nothing from this book except the good reviews were wrong. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Donald Perry
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

An excellent book that deals with a very complicated topic in a very understandable way.

Published 2 months ago by harry h snell

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