“The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. He can be worshipped in the cathedral or in the laboratory. His creation is majestic, awesome, intricate, and beautiful.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote, Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, highlights the compatibility of science and faith. By stating that the God of the Bible is also the God of the genome, Collins suggests that one can appreciate and worship the divine both in the religious setting of a cathedral and the scientific setting of a laboratory. He emphasizes the beauty and complexity of creation, whether observed through religious or scientific lenses. Collins' words emphasize the harmony between science and spirituality, suggesting that both can coexist and offer insight into the wonders of the universe.
Finding the Divine in the Laboratory
In a world where science and religion are often seen as conflicting forces, Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, presents a perspective that integrates both. With advancements in genetic research and technology, Collins sees the beauty and complexity of the genome as a testament to the divine. This quote reminds us that spirituality and scientific exploration are not mutually exclusive, and that there is room for wonder and awe in both the cathedral and the laboratory.
Quote from Francis Collins
"The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. He can be worshipped in the cathedral or in the laboratory. His creation is majestic, awesome, intricate, and beautiful.” - Francis Collins, Director of NIH"
Reflection Questions
As Francis Collins, Director of NIH, emphasizes the unity between faith and science, it prompts us to reflect on our own beliefs and understanding of the divine in relation to the natural world. Consider the following questions:
- How does this quote challenge or affirm your own beliefs about the intersection of faith and science?
- In what ways do you see evidence of God's handiwork in the intricacies of the natural world, such as the genome?
- Do you think it's possible to worship and connect with the divine in both spiritual and scientific settings?
- How can a deeper understanding of genetics or other scientific fields enhance your reverence and awe for the natural world and its Creator?
Similar quotes
“Will we turn our backs on science because it is perceived as a threat to God, abandoning all the promise of advancing our understanding of nature and applying that to the alleviation of suffering and the betterment of humankind? Alternatively, will we turn our backs on faith, concluding that science has rendered the spiritual life no longer necessary, and that traditional religious symbols can now be replaced by engravings of the double helix on our alters?Both of these choices are profoundly dangerous. Both deny truth. Both will diminish the nobility of humankind. Both will be devastating to our future. And both are unnecessary. The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. He can be worshipped in the cathedral or in the laboratory. His creation is majestic, awesome, intricate and beautiful - and it cannot be at war with itself. Only we imperfect humans can start such battles. And only we can end them.”
“At this point, godless materialists might be cheering. If humans evolved strictly by mutation and natural selection, who needs God to explain us? To this, I reply: I do. The comparison of chimp and human sequences, interesting as it is, does not tell us what it means to be human. In my views, DNA sequence alone, even if accompanied by a vast trove of data on biological function, will never explain certain special human attributes, such as the knowledge of the Moral Law and the universal search for God. Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. It merely shows us something of how He operates.”
“I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.”
“Can you worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?”
“There were long stretches of DNA in between genes that didn't seem to be doing very much; some even referred to these as "junk DNA," though a certain amount of hubris was required for anyone to call any part of the genome "junk," given our level of ignorance.”
“If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”