The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture.

Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious. In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science. He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needless rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers for a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of faith: Why are we here? How did we get here? What does life mean?

An instant bestseller, The Language of God provides the best argument for the integration of faith and logic since C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity .

It has long been believed that science and faith cannot mingle. Faith rejects the rational, while science restricts us to a life with no meaning beyond the physical. It is an irreconcilable war between two polar-opposite ways of thinking and living. Written for believers, agnostics, and atheists alike, The Language of God provides a testament to the power of faith in the midst of suffering without faltering from its logical stride. Readers will be inspired by Collin’s personal story of struggling with doubt, as well as the many revelations of the wonder of God’s creation that will forever shape the way they view the world around them.

Francis S. Collins is one of the country's leading geneticists and the longtime head of the Human Genome Project. Prior to coming to Washington, he helped to discover the genetic misspellings that cause cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, and Huntington's disease. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and in his spare time he enjoys riding a motorcycle and playing guitar.

Introduction

PART ONE: THE CHASM BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH
One - From Atheism to Belief
Two - The War of the Worldviews

PART TWO: THE GREAT QUESTIONS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE
Three - The Origins of the Universe
Four - Life on Earth: Of Microbes and Man
Five - Deciphering God's Instruction Book: The Lessons of the Human Genome

PART THREE: FAITH IN SCIENCE, FAITH IN GOD
Six - Genesis, Galileo, and Darwin
Seven - Option 1: Atheism and Agnosticism (When Science Trumps Faith)
Eight - Option 2: Creationism (When Faith Trumps Science)
Nine - Option 3: Intelligent Design (When Science Needs Divine Help)
Ten - Option 4: BioLogos (Science and Faith in Harmony)
Eleven - Truth Seekers

APPENDIX: The Moral Practice of Science and Medicine: Bioethics
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index