Andrew Scheibe
Jr Faith
11/13/08 Francis Collins:A Man of Faith


Picture taken from Stanford

Francis Collins is a scientist best known for his work on the Human Genome Project, and his work on disease genes. Until the age of 27, Collins was an atheist because he believed that "mathematics, chemistry and physics had it all" and he "kind of liked being in charge (him)self." He started questioning his views when "he was impressed by the strength that faith gave to some of his most critical patients." His views were severely shaken when he read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Lewis defending his views extremely well and it forced Collins to reconsider his views. The real transformation of his views came in his "leap of faith" that occurred when he saw the beauty of God in the Cascade mountains. He then could no longer deny the existence of God and became a Christian. His transformation of his world views is not what makes him a man of faith though.

Francis Collins is a man of faith because of his trust and belief in the fact that science and religion can be supportive and not contradicting of each other. He firmly believes that God can be found in science and that scientific theories can be reconciled with religion. He believes "that science cannot be used to refute the existence of God because it is confined to the natural world." His most prominent reconciliation of religion and science can be seen in his view of theistic evolution. He avidly defends his position that religion and science can coexist in the academic world where religion is frowned upon. Francis Collins is a man of faith because he defends his views, no matter how controversial, in a community where it is very frowned upon, and where it is hard to keep the faith.

For more information of Francis Collins, go to my sources
genome.org
timesonline
salon.com
or come to talk to me personally, or email me at scheibe92@yahoo.com