Francis Collins, a prominent geneticist and former NIH director, discusses his dual identity as a scientist and evangelical Christian. He shares his struggles to convince skeptical American Christians of the importance of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation highlights the growing polarization within the evangelical church and the troubling decline in trust towards science. Collins calls for a return to foundational truths while addressing the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic selection and the profound challenges of suffering.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Francis Collins' Journey
Francis Collins, a geneticist and former NIH director, became a Christian in his 20s after a period of atheism.
He has written books like "The Language of God" and "The Road to Wisdom", exploring science and faith.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Beatitudes vs. Modern Grievances
A pastor preached on the Beatitudes, trying to counter his congregation's anger and grievance culture.
A couple told him that Jesus' teachings on turning the other cheek don't apply to today's fights against "woke liberals."
insights INSIGHT
Catastrophism and Distrust
Many Christians have developed a sense of catastrophism, believing they are in a war against opposing forces.
This mindset, amplified by misinformation and anger, fuels distrust, especially towards science, even among believers.
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John Walton's "The Lost World of Genesis 1" offers a fresh perspective on the book of Genesis, challenging traditional interpretations. Walton argues that the creation account in Genesis 1 should not be understood as a scientific or historical narrative but rather as a literary work conveying theological truths about God's relationship with humanity. He emphasizes the ancient Near Eastern cultural context of Genesis, suggesting that the text's primary purpose was to establish God's kingship and covenant relationship with Israel. Walton's work encourages readers to appreciate the literary and theological richness of Genesis 1, moving beyond simplistic literal interpretations. The book has sparked significant debate among biblical scholars and theologians, prompting a re-evaluation of traditional approaches to Genesis.
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
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Mark Noll
The Language of God
A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
Francis Collins
In 'The Language of God,' Francis S. Collins advocates for theistic evolution and describes his conversion to Christianity. The book addresses the long-held belief that science and faith are mutually exclusive, arguing instead that they can complement each other. Collins draws on his experiences as a scientist, including his work on the Human Genome Project, and cites influential thinkers like C.S. Lewis and Augustine of Hippo. He discusses the concept of Moral Law, the universal human longing for God, and how science and religion can coexist without conflict. The book also explores the reconciliation of evolutionary theory with Christian beliefs and warns against using God to fill gaps in scientific knowledge[2][4][5].
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
Tim Alberta
In 'The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory', Tim Alberta provides an expansive and profoundly troubling portrait of the American evangelical movement. The book explores how evangelical Christians have become polarized and entangled in partisan politics and cultural warfare, straying from the core teachings of Christ. Alberta investigates the ways conservative Christians have pursued and abused power, highlighting the disconnect from New Testament scripture. He documents the growing fracture within American Christianity, the impact of events like Donald Trump's presidency and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges faced by individual pastors and churches in a rapidly secularizing America.
Francis Collins is one of the leading scientists of his generation, a world-renowned geneticist who led the international project to map the human genome. Later he served under three presidents as the director of the National Institute of Health, which led him to play a pivotal role in America’s battle against the covid pandemic. He’s also an evangelical Christian who has often shared his convictions that science and Biblical faith are never in conflict. His experience trying, and often failing, to persuade sceptical American Christians to get vaccinated, while culture wars tore apart churches and communities alike, prompted him to write a book calling for a return to traditional sources of wisdom: science, truth, and faith. In this episode we talk through his experiences in public office as a Christian scientist and discuss how the US evangelical church became so polarised, divided and sceptical of good science, even when presented by faithful believers like him.
Francis’s book is The Road to Wisdom https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/francis-s-collins/the-road-to-wisdom/9781399822312/
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