Ep. 25 / Faith & Science: The DNA of Belief ► Dr. Francis Collins

Dr. Francis Collins takes us on a profound intellectual and spiritual journey from atheism to faith while simultaneously reshaping modern medicine through his leadership of the Human Genome Project. Growing up on a small Virginia farm with no religious background, Collins embraced science as his passion and atheism as his worldview until a pivotal moment in medical school when an elderly patient asked him, "Doctor, what do you believe?"

This simple question launched a methodical, evidence-based examination of faith that would transform his life. Collins shares how C.S. Lewis' rational arguments for Christianity in "Mere Christianity" forced him to reconsider his atheist stance, particularly through the universal human experience of moral law – our innate sense of right and wrong that transcends evolutionary explanation. 

What makes Collins' testimony particularly compelling is how his scientific expertise enhanced rather than hindered his faith journey. As the director who led the revolutionary Human Genome Project to map all human DNA, he describes scientific discovery as "getting a glimpse of God's mind" and laboratories as potential "cathedrals." Throughout his distinguished career, including twelve years directing the National Institutes of Health, Collins has demonstrated how scientific and spiritual worldviews can beautifully complement each other.

Perhaps most moving is his account of treating a critically ill young man in a Nigerian mission hospital with minimal resources. After a successful but risky procedure, the patient provided unexpected wisdom: "You came here for me." This profound moment revealed to Collins how God works through individual human encounters rather than grand schemes.

For anyone wrestling with questions about science and faith, Collins provides a thoughtful path forward that honors both intellectual integrity and spiritual hunger. 

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