Francis Collins & Kristine Torjesen on The Fight for Public Health: Science, Faith, and What's at Stake?

From Breakthroughs to Budget Cuts: The Rollercoaster of Modern Medical Research

What happens when politics wages war on science—and Christians get caught in the blast radius? In this Good Faith Podcast episode, Curtis Chang talks with former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and BioLogos president Dr. Kristine Torjesen about Collins' forced exit from NIH, the shutdown of a major HIV prevention programs in Africa, and how cuts to vaccines, medical research, and public health are threatening lives and future breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer's, and pandemic preparedness. They also confront vaccine distrust, anti-institution politics, and evangelical skepticism of science, while making the case that science is not the enemy of faith but a gift from God for truth, healing, and human flourishing.

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05:56 - Political Interference in Science Roles, Research, and Aid Cuts

10:57 - Are Medical Advances Threatened by Political Decisions?

16:03 - Curtis Gets Candid About Unexpected Benefits of Medical Aid in His Life

17:34 - Vaccine Policy Changes and Anti-Vax Influence

20:46 - Engaging Christians Who Distrust Science

25:39 - What Lessons Can We Learn from COVID Vaccine Promotion

28:32 - Is Science Politically Biased?

36:15 - Distrust of Institutions and Its Roots

44:45 - Equipping Pastors and Parents for Faith-Science Conversations

46:59 - Hopeful Medical Advances Despite Setbacks

50:15 - Science as a Source of Beauty and Worship

Scriptures:

• John 14:6 (ESV)

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Check out the Biologos website
• Announcement: Dr. Kristine Torjesen becomes BioLogos' 3rd president and CEO
• Biologos: Kristine Torjesen's Professional Biography
• NIH Bio: Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
• NIH: Decades in the Making: mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
• KFF (The independent source for health policy research and news): COVID-19 preventable mortality
• Brooke Nichols: Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts
• Check out the Impact Counter

More From Dr. Francis Collins:

• Dr. Francis Collins' The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.