Book Reviews
The language of God: a Scientist presents Evidence for Belief.
Francis Collins Pocket Books £8.99 2007
Many accept that what the U.S. believes one day, we believe the next. If so, we must be more aware of an extraordinary attitude of many in the U.S.. Polls show there is a deep distrust of science and scientists among the American public. Is it possible to be a scientist and a Christian? Many don’t think so.
Into this whirlpool steps Dr Francis Collins, the leader of one of science’s greatest achievements. His autobiography tells how he moved from atheism to faith, and how he reconciles his faith with his scientific understanding of the world. As head of the Human Genome Project he has been studying DNA, the code of life, but still believes that true life comes from faith in God. Read this book to find out how the sciences are not incompatible with belief.
Alister McGrath’s book, Dawkins’ God, deals at more length with the theological and moral issues raised by evolution, but as a personal account of the boredom and excitement experienced by a research scientist Francis Collins book is the more inspiring. He gives an example of how one family has been helped by DNA research, but also raises a number of ethical issues that are raised by the same research. This is a book to read and to pass on to those interested in modern scientific discovery and its theological and ethical consequences.
Martin Light
