The Language of God

A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

By: Francis S. Collins

Narrated by: Francis S. Collins

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists, yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture. Dr. Collins has resolved the dilemma that haunts everyone who believes in God and respects science. Faith in God and faith in science can be harmonious, not separately but together, combined into one worldview. For Collins, science does not conflict with the Bible, science enhances it.

The Language of God makes the case for God and for science. Dr. Collins considers and dismisses several positions along the spectrum from atheism to young-earth creationism, including agnosticism and Intelligent Design. Instead, he proposes a new synthesis, a new way to think about an active, caring God who created humankind through evolutionary processes.

He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes listeners on 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 for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: Why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2006 Francis S. Collins. All rights reserved. (P)2006 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Collins' credibility as a scientist and his sincerity as a believer make for an engaging combination, especially for those who, like him, resist being forced to choose between science and God." (Publishers Weekly)

Very Insightful

Not too technical but very insightful. Right mix of genius and common sense with his own God honoring spiritual convictions. Thanks for making the complex so simple.

Well written, well read.

I'm an agnostic who enjoys occasionally picking through other peoples' theories and writings about their beliefs. I found this book to be highly informational, although a very large chunk of this book *is* dedicated to evolution, which might be old hat to you if you remember your biology lessons from school. The background information on evolution was necessary, though, for those who aren't intimately familiar with the details, and also for a better understanding of the author's secure belief in the system, and how he can see through evolution and into where he perceives God's position in he grand scheme of things.

There are a couple of points that he touches on but doesn't go into any great detail about, such as his belief in miracles, or a brief mention of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and a short venture into quantum mechanics. Although I'd like to have seen more written about either subject I didn't find the text lacking because of it. Great read all-around, and a good look into a scientific mind, using numbers and scientific research to explain his views.

Skeptics can share this with believers

I'm not a traditional theist by any means, but this presentation by a Christian believer who is also a world-rank scientist (the author headed the public Human Genome Project) deserves reading/listening by anyone fustrated by the harmful "culture wars" put on by extremists of both sides.

Francis Collins presents his case for belief with an accessible presentation of how science is no threat to those willing to go beyond a literalist view of religion. As a Christian, he also does not go into a mere polemic for only Christianity, he is open to all forms of belief in God. For Collins, theism is a mature position to take, and that one can be of a scientific viewpoint and still respect religion.

For this Humanist, a good case for faith, and a good book to suggest to religious people who have a hard time with biological evolution and current scientific cosmology.

Very Interesting

This was a very intriguing book. I enjoyed hearing a perspective on God and Religion from a very intelligent, well informed scientist with excellent credientials and deep experience in science. This is a very balanced and intelligent view of modern religious thought through the eyes of a keen scientific mind. His personal struggle with the co-existance of God and Science is very interesting. This is a great listen for anyone who is interested in both science and religion.

Worth reading for believers and sceptics alike

The key "so what" of this book is that the scientists and theologians need to collaborate rather than agitate, and for that the author should be commended.

I think that his christian apologetics were less strong than his scientific apologetics, but his language is that of a scientist and this is not surprising. I am thrilled that people who think clearly about both topics make an attempt to speak about both at the same time.

This is not on my list of best books I've ever read, but it should be on the reading list of those who want to enter into the faith-science debate with some level of understanding of the contemporary arguments.

By the way... the discussion in the appendix is some of the most interesting, and disturbing of the whole book.

For your intellectuall friends who've deemed you

For my intellectual friends that have deemed me not, because of my faith.

I recommend this book for those who question my embracing of my faith.

Excellent audio book on science/faith coexistence.

Amazing content and excellent performance. Collins presents information which supports a world view where science and faith coexist without conflict. Collins, a former atheist and director of the Human Genome Project, provides an unique yet informed perspective.

Good overview.

I would classify this as a good overview in theistic evolution. Give the credentials and knowledge of Dr Collins I would have wished for it to be more comprehensive and detailed. Nevertheless it is a great starting point for personal reflection.

Still unconvinced

Interesting read. I learned some new cool things about genetics. And this book did convince me that it's okay to both believe in God and follow the precepts of science. However, it didn't really convince me of God's existence. I was unsatisfied by the "moral law" argument, and the arguments about the unlikeliness of a universe hospitable to human life seemed too teleological.

wonderful!!

Francis Collins intertwines science and faith into a well articulated exposition of theory and discovery.