Comments on: Why the Fuss About Dr. Francis Collins’ Faith?

By: RachelK

RachelK — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:05:32 +0000

“Tough-minded thinking and tenderhearted reverence are friends, not enemies. We have for too long separated the head from the heart, and we are the lesser for it. We love God with the mind and we love God with the heart. In reality, we are descending with the mind into the heart and there standing before God in ceaseless wonder and endless praise. As the mind and the heart work in concert, a kind of “loving rationality” pervades all we say and do. This brings unity to us and glory to God.”
- Soren Kierkegaard

By: RachelK

RachelK — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:05:32 +0000

By: letjusticerolldown

letjusticerolldown — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:51:52 +0000

I rather suspect the negative reaction is not coming out of a 'science vs evangelicalism' conflict — but rather a deeper and broader basic human struggle about whether God exists; and whether humanity ought to bow.

I doubt the reporting is driven by scientists, who because of their science, doubt his capacity to lead NIH. I suspect it is driven by a larger cultural storyline (fully advanced by major media) that conservative evangelicals are anti-reason and anti-science; and for this reason their promotion of a God-centered reality to which we are called to submit can be rejected.

By: SisterMarie

SisterMarie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:03:35 +0000

“The thing is that creation and evolution are not the same as creationism and evolutionism.”???

Even though I have only my high school diploma, I thought that I understood this subject until now. Please explain the difference in terms that I can understand.

“We have met the enemy and he is us.”

By: pogo

pogo — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:16:07 +0000

What's the big deal? I spent 40 years as a research scientist and consider myself an evangelical Christian. The thing is that creation and evolution are not the same as creationism and evolutionism. Creationism and evolutionism are both religious terms and the is a conflict between them.

By: 1Grace

1Grace — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:50:58 +0000

Good point Palosaari . The most harm done to sceince is those who one side take Genesis and fit into 6000 years old earth or those secularists who take the Creation and make it a random act of pure chance without any possibilty of divine order. So many people do fit in the middle , some tilting towards one or the other side , but open to sharing and tolerating others .

God always has a way of humbling the smarty pants on either side .

By: bhaack

bhaack — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:24:50 +0000

Hmmm one wonders how science managed to progress so well before atheism became the “official” position in the scientific community.

How one's belief in God disqualified them from being a good scientist is beyond me. What is important is that a scientist be committed to the scientific method. There are plenty of atheists who are disqualified on those grounds.

By: Palosaari

Palosaari — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:11:28 +0000

It's good to remember, contrary to popular wisdom, that the majority of scientists in America are Theists- and that's when defining “scientist” as one who accepts evolution. Fundamentalist Atheists and Fundamentalist Christians may not like it, for it doesn't fit their preconceived notions of reality, but somehow, God remains bigger than our preconceived notions of reality.

By: Eric77

Eric77 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:56:45 +0000

Good commentary Elizabeth! My wife works for NIH and is extremely excited about Dr. Collins' appointment.

There are non-Christian scientists out there who are bigoted or prejudiced against Christians, and evangelicals in particular. They can't seem to grasp that someone can be an effective scientist and a Christian at the same time. Hamilton doesn't seem like he can grasp this either.