.jpg)
Francis Collins: A Scientist’s Journey from Atheism to Faith
The story
In this personal testimony, Francis Collins describes a gradual, roughly two-year process of reconsidering atheism. Encounters with patients prompted him to face questions about suffering, belief, and whether God cares. Conversations with Christians and reading C. S. Lewis helped him explore those questions further.
Collins also reflects on leading the Human Genome Project and the sense of wonder he finds in DNA and the natural world. He presents scientific discoveries as part of his own reflection on faith, while acknowledging that science did not prove God to him.
Keep the story in context
Collins’s account describes one person’s experience over time, beginning decades ago. It can offer a perspective on how scientific work, personal experience, and philosophical questions shaped his thinking. It does not establish a broader trend among scientists.
Read and reflect
Read Francis Collins’s testimony on BioLogos
As you read, consider:
- How did his experiences with patients affect the questions he was willing to ask?
- What role did C. S. Lewis and philosophical arguments play?
- How did Collins interpret his scientific work, and where did he distinguish that interpretation from scientific proof?
- What changed in his thinking, and what remained part of his scientific practice?
A testimony invites attention to a particular life. Readers can consider Collins’s reasons and conclusions without assuming that every scientist or Christian will reach the same ones.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)