Francis S Collins' Book

[pgp_protector]

Has anyone read "The Language of God" (Francis S Collins)

If so, what did you think of it?
(Listing to it again during my commute, haven't finished it yet)

 

[Tinker Grey]

I read it. I didn't find it particularly inspiring. In fact I can't remember much about it.

Let's see. He properly castigates those that refuse to believe evolution due to incredulity but ironically (within paragraphs, if memory serves) relies on incredulity to require God to jump start the universe.

Nevertheless, there was some science to learn. Since I don't store some of that very well, I think I was learning something. Stuff about cloning, etc. ETA: I thought his handling of ethics (like cloning) of biology was refreshing coming from an evangelical.

However, it would be most useful to hand to your evangelical friends to show that you can accept what science shows without giving up religion.

 

[LifeToTheFullest!]

Yes, I read it about 2 years ago. Wasn't much impressed. His science was solid, but as Tinker said, within pages he's making jumps to incredulity and a belief in goddidit theology. I found Ken Miller's book to be much more stimulating.

 

[Tinker Grey]

I found Ken Miller's book to be much more stimulating.

Agreed.

 

[pgp_protector]

Hmm The only one of his books on audible (preferred format at the time) is
The Bison King: Convictions of the Courageous

 

[Targ]

I read it a few months ago. I thought the book was quite sparse in content compared to Ken Miller's books, focussing on just a few issues rather than doing a complete job of it. Though what he said about genetics was fascinating, given that I hadn't really read much about genetics before.

 

[matthewgar]

I never read the first one, but read the second one on the idea of revolutionizing medicine by learning and using what we know of genes and DNA to try to help catch possible problems ahead of time. It looks good, though saw in skeptic magazine while bored, that someone felt that it may cause more problems then good, with more armchair doctors using what is still new to try to fix things that arn't 100% known. Like alot of the genes just increase chances, but there are alot of outside factors that can influence wether someone gets breast cancer or such.

 

[Super_Rational]

I gave it an attempt once & was turned off by the first or second chapter. He doesn't seem to subject his religious beliefs to the same level of criticism as I'm sure he does to his science and lost my attention right there. There was obvious compartmentalization. Right off the bat, he falls victim to the god of the gaps & makes unsupported assumptions (I don't remember details off hand), and of course assumes the christian god is responsible. Had he been raised in Iran, his book would have been "the language of allah."