Friday favorite: Scientist Francis Collins

For several years, Francis Collins has perched high on my most-admired-people list.

World-class smart

Dr. Collins is one of the world’s most respected scientists. He’s the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute . In that role, he envisioned and led the Human Genome Project , which mapped and sequenced the 3 billion paired chemical components that comprise human DNA . Many scientists and historians have called the Human Genome Project the most significant scientific achievement of our time, and considering the advance of scientific knowledge in the past century, that would make it the greatest scientific feat in history.

The goal of the Human Genome Project is to improve health. It gives physicians and medical researchers an almost-infinite array of possibilities for exploring the causes and cures of illness. For many decades, the medical community will draw upon the discoveries made by Francis Collins and his colleagues.

Paradox-jumper

But Collins also is a Christian believer . He’s up-front about his faith in a vocation or discipline typically thought to be secular, even atheistic. (Collins says that’s not necessarily so. He claims at least 40 percent of scientists also are Christians.) All his notoriety associated with the Human Genome Project has provided him with a powerful platform to proclaim his faith. And proclaim he has.

I guess what I particularly appreciate about Collins’ stand for trusting his faith while working in science is that he jumps across a paradox that causes so many folks—scientists and believers alike—to stumble. Conventional wisdom seems to say you cannot reconcile the hypotheses and theories of science with the beliefs and claims of faith.

But that just doesn’t make sense. As my pastor/daddy first told me when I encountered scientific theories in junior high: “Science attempts to explain what and how. The Bible (and our faith) tells us Who and why.” That’s always seemed both logical and consistent with the majesty and sovereignty of God.

So, I’ve been affirmed and relieved to realize one of the world’s most eminent scientists feels that way, too. He's written a book about his perspectives on science and faith, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.

Articulate, insightful

One of the best blessings of this week occurred this morning, when Ari Shapiro interviewed Dr. Collins on National Public Radio. Follow this link , and you can listen to their discussion (and maybe, by the time you read this, a transcript will be available, too).

As he approaches retirement this summer, Collins talks about a range of issues. The most intriguing was how he contrasted the historic isolationist approach to scientific research with the results that were possible when a vast team of scientists worked on a project together. They never could’ve decoded DNA without working as a team, and now other scientists are seeing the value of that approach to other scientific conundrums.

Of course, that resonated with someone who’s always advocated cooperation among Christians. If scientists can sequence 3 billion parts of the DNA strand by working together, could Christians reach 7 billion people with the gospel, wipe out hunger, erase illiteracy and “turn the world upside down” if we cooperated better?

Funny & faithful

While I was hunting down the link to Collins’ NPR interview, I ran across his appearance on The Colbert Report . Check it out; he’s not only smart, but also funny, great-spirited and an attractive Christian out in the “real world.”

Enjoy; it’s Friday.