The Language of God is a powerful confession of belief from one of the world's leading scientists. Refuting the tired stereotypes of hostility between science and religion, Francis Collins challenges his readers to find a unity of knowledge that encompasses both faith and reason.

DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists. He works at the cutting edge of the study of DNA,the code of life.Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God and scripture.

Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious. In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science. He has heard every argument against faith from scientists, and he can refute them. He has also heard the needless rejection of scientific truths by some people of faith, and he can counter that, too. He explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes readers for a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry, and biology can all fit together with belief in God and the Bible. The Language of God is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of faith: Why are we here？ How did we get here？ What does life mean？

Introduction 1

PART ONE: THE CHASM BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH

   ONE From Atheism to Belief 11

   TWO The War of the Worldviews 33

PART TWO: THE GREAT QUESTIONS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

   THREE The Origins of the Universe 57

   FOUR Life on Earth: Of Microbes and Man 85

   FIVE Deciphering God's Instruction Book:The Lessons of the Human Genome 109

PART THREE: FAITH IN SCIENCE, FAITH IN GOD

   SIX Genesis, Galileo, and Darwin 145

   SEVEN Option 1: Atheism and Agnosticism(When Science Trumps Faith) 159

   EIGHT Option 2: Creationism(When Faith Trumps Science) 171

   NINE Option 3: Intelligent Design(When Science Needs Divine Help) 181

   TEN Option 4: BioLogos(Science and Faith in Harmony) 197

   ELEVEN Truth Seekers 213

APPENDIX: THE MORAL PRACTICE OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE: BIOETHICS 235

Notes 273

Acknowledgments 281

Index 285