Does science necessarily undermine faith in God? Or could it actually support faith? Beyond the flashpoint debates over the teaching of evolution, or stem-cell research, most of us struggle with contradictions concerning life's ultimate question. We know that accidents happen, but we believe we are on earth for a reason. Until now, most scientists have argued that science and faith occupy distinct arenas. Francis Collins, a former atheist as a science student who converted to faith as he became a doctor, is about to change that.Collins's faith in God has been confirmed and enhanced by the revolutionary discoveries in biology that he has helped to oversee. He has absorbed the arguments for atheism of many scientists and pundits, and he can refute them. Darwinian evolution occurs, yet, as he explains, it cannot fully explain human nature -- evolution can and must be directed by God. He offers an inspiring tour of the human genome to show the miraculous nature of God's instruction book. Sure to be compared with C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, this is a stunning document, whether you are a believer, a seeker, or an atheist.

Autorentext

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.

Inhalt

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