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The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief | 
| Author: Francis S. Collins
Publisher: Free Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  293 reviews
Sales Rank: 3569
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 294
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 1416542744
Dewey Decimal Number: 215
EAN: 9781416542742
ASIN: 1416542744
Publication Date: July 17, 2007
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Product Description
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?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 288 more reviews...
Some Comments on Thiestic Evolution August 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The glaring gap in Dr. Collins's intellectual development from atheist to theist is his lack of knowledge of metaphysics. He falls for Stephen Jay Gould's idea that science and religion are two different "magisteriums" (Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life). To understand evolution a scientist needs to know that there are three methods of inquiry: science, metaphysics, and theology. The existence of God and the concept of the human soul are formal results in metaphysics arising, respectively, from the two existential propositions that human being are different from one another and yet equal to one another. For this branch of knowledge I recommend The One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics by Norris Clarke, S. J. Metaphysics helps us to understand evolution in two ways: 1) Evolution only applies to the bodies of human beings, not their souls. 2) Intelligent design (ID) is bad science, not because of its critique of natural selection, but because ID is metaphysics, not science.
 Reconciling science and faith August 19, 2008
I heard Dr. Collins speak at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. and I was fascinated by his humility, his distinguished scientific and medical background as well as his spiritual journey from being an atheist to being an agnostic then to being a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He heads up the Human Genome Project in Washington D.C.
I did not know that he had written this book but when I was in Pakistan, I usually browse through their excellent bookstores and there was one copy left which I grabbed. I am so glad that I did. Dr. Collins does not disappoint. He is such an intelligent man with such depth and yet a scientist of such humility. He shares his journey of faith as well as the discovery of the human genome or the hereditary code of life that "consists of text that is 3 billion letters long and a reading of that code at a rate of one letter per second would take 31 years, reading day and night. "
He writes quite powerfully and on laymen's terms that I could understand about the chasm between science and faith, the origins of the universe, the world of the scientific community and their belief in God as well as the challenges of the moral practice of science and medicine: Bioethics. His spiritual journey was affected by C.S. Lewis and he refers quite a bit to his writings, which I have thoroughly been challenged by over the years.
I think that his chapter on stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer and what we can expect in the next few years was very helpful for me in this serious debate. His science and medical background helped him to discover the genetic misspellings that cause cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis and Huntington's disease.
He writes about some strongly debatable issues such as the Big Bang theory and evolution, creationism and intelligent design and Dr. Collins rigorous mind will make you think from page one. I have to agree with William D. Phillips, 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics and his comments on this book. "Everyone who questions how faith could be reconciled with scientific knowledge, everyone who fears that modern science attacks the heart of religious faith, everyone interested in an enlightened discussion of a crucial issue of our time should read this book."
 I read the book, still waiting for evidence..... August 11, 2008
I have no doubt that Dr. Collins is a great scientist, but as a "lawyer" offering evidence of the existence of God, especially from a moderate Christian perspective, I got nowhere with this book really fast. Our backs are poorly designed? I'm an amateur powerlifter and at one time could pull a loaded barbell weighing 500 lbs off the floor and stand upright with it (which is called deadlifting) and I was a lousy deadlifter! Some humans have altruistic tendencies - this is proof of God? No, it's proof of altruism! The science writing was fine, the argument was at best poor. Not for me, 2 stars and I'm being generous!
great book July 28, 2008
I'm using this book for my science class for my homeschooling group. There are a number of creationists in my class, and I think this book will bring some good discussions. It is formatted for a book club type of thing with discussion questions included, which is nice if you like that or need it (I do).
Very Intelligent, Very Thought Provoking! July 20, 2008
This is an excellent read (or listen). I bought the audio book. This book is very intelligent and thought provoking. While I don't agree with many of Dr. Collins assumptions or positions I truly loved the science behind the book. This is a must read for anyone interested in the creation of life. Actually it is a must read for anyone who likes to read an intelligent, well written book. A word of caution; in the audio book Dr. Collins takes to singing a home brewed song. I seriously doubt if Jon Bon Jovi will have any of his fan base eroded when the listeners get a listen! That was a quasi joke!
Tom Acierno - Author of A Whisper In God's Ear
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