“Why this scientist believes in God”

Human Genome Project Director Francis Collins briefly explains why and how he moved from being an atheist to “a follower of Jesus.”

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danielg says:
11 April, 2007 at 1:11 PM
I particularly like this analogy:
“But reason alone cannot prove the existence of God. Faith is reason plus revelation, and the revelation part requires one to think with the spirit as well as with the mind. You have to hear the music, not just read the notes on the page. Ultimately, a leap of faith is required.”
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Aaron says:
11 April, 2007 at 5:28 AM
I think that is an accurate statement. Logic and reason can point one to God, but it can not make one a follower of God.
In apologetics, you have to know that you can work to remove any logical or reason-based barriers between someone and God, but ultimately God must woo an individual through the Holy Spirit while the person must respond to the invitation.
I can know through reason and logic that a certain event will occur, but that doesn't get me any closer to the actual event. I have to act on the knowledge that was shown to me.
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Louis says:
11 April, 2007 at 6:06 AM
And how do you know that the revelation is true? And which one?
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Cedric Katesby says:
12 April, 2007 at 1:53 PM
"And how do you know that the revelation is true?"
Aye, there's the rub! :)
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Aaron says:
13 April, 2007 at 7:25 AM
Louis and Cedric, you evaluate, using logic and reason, the evidence for the revelation. Many “revelations” can be discarded early on in the process because of clearly conflicting and illogical things.
As Collins understands, taking a “leap of faith” does not require jumping away from reason. It only means going farther than reason can take you.
The best example is knowing about a famous person and personally knowing a famous person. Logic and reason can lead you to know all about George W. Bush, but that doesn’t mean you know him personally. You have to take the step of spending time with him and getting to know him to actually know him. The logic and reason can only take you so far.
It is the same with faith. I can know a lot of things about God through logic and reason. I can investigate everything and believe that He makes the most sense, but that doesn’t mean I know Him personally. I have to go about finding the way that He gives for me to get to know Him. That is where faith comes in.
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Louis says:
13 April, 2007 at 2:45 PM
That still doesn't answer my question. Yes, logic and reason have limits, but that doesn't validate the claims of specific religions to having true revelations. How do you really know that the xian revelation is true, or even the only true revelation? You assert it. You have faith. But how can you convince an outsider that your faith is true faith? Why should I choose christianity over, say, islam, or hinduism or satanism? What evidence can you provide me that your revelation is the only true one among many others? I have stated before that I believe in the Mystery that is life, that there is more than mere reason and logic. But that doesn't mean I accept the assertions of any particular religion for its particular revelation. I would like nothing better to have it proven to me that there is a god of mercy and justice, but I have as yet seen no convincing evidence for it.
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danielg says:
13 April, 2007 at 5:05 PM
How do you really know that the xian revelation is true, or even the only true revelation? You assert it. You have faith. But how can you convince an outsider that your faith is true faith? Why should I choose christianity over, say, islam, or hinduism or satanism?
It's late, so i'll be short and maybe fill in tomorrow.
1. Faith first involves faith in a source of information you trust. If it has provided good information that you can verify, you may want to trust it for information you can't validate immediately.
So, for instance, you can validate many of the historical claims of a book. Some claims may not be disprovable, since historical evidence has gaps the farther you go back. However, if history clearly contradicts the information source, you may lower your faith in it.
One noted historian (google it) once said that no major discovery of archaeology has ever contradicted the bible. So maybe it's more trustworthy than, for example, the Book of Mormon, which makes some outlandish historical claims that are easily dismissed.
2. Look for congruence with other systems of thought you have proven true in your own research.
Since all reality is one integrated thing, any revealed truth should integrate with how you see reality working.
So for instance, one of the reasons I returned to Christianity after exploring and enjoying Buddhism is because Christianity had a superior way of explaining the relationship between love and justice. It also translated better into government structures and public policy. It was also more amenable to logical and intellectual pursuits, while Buddhism, in many ways, is much more esoteric and mystical.
3. Look for compassion and truth.
Jesus said that love is the crown of spirituality, that the truth will set you free. Scriptures say that "mercy and truth met in Jesus Christ." Now, you can find liberating truth and compassion in many religions, including Buddhism, so this won't narrow it down to one, but it might, for instance, eliminate Islam (whence compassion?).
"By their fruits you will know them." Now, of course, not all members of any group are loving or mature, but you can look at how people's lives are changed by believing things, and decide based on that. This is what initially led me to Buddhism, since I met many peaceful and compassionate people in that faith. However, as I said, I found it incomplete, though I still respect and practice many of its principles.
4. Whose teachings ring true in your own heart?
Like it or not, there is a subjective element to faith. While we are prone to self-deception in order to hide our faults and hurts, real truth has a way of seeping into our lives and bearing the fruit of conviction, liberation, and change.
So read the words of Jesus and decide for yourself. If you can't believe them, then you can't. If they don't ring true to you, you can't just pretend.

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Cineaste says:
14 April, 2007 at 2:11 AM
Here is one for Dr. Collins to chew on, being the geneticist he is…
"Among mammals, a virgin birth (parthenogenesis) can only produce female offspring, for chromosomal reasons. Messiahs are mammals. Therefore, Jesus was… On the other hand, among turkeys, the chromosomal situation is such that all products of virgin birth are males. So if Jesus was a male, he might also have been…"
Frank Zindler (In a note to the debate Does god exist? with John Koster)
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“Why this scientist believes in God”

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