An Obnoxious Atheist Scientist
Francis Collins, a renowned geneticist and director of the Human Genome Project, once described himself as an 'obnoxious atheist.' During his academic years, Collins believed that science held all the answers, dismissing any notion of faith as mere emotional experience. However, his perspective began to shift during his medical school years in the United States, where he encountered patients facing suffering and death. One patient, in particular, challenged his beliefs by asking, 'Doctor, what do you believe?' This question prompted Collins to explore religious beliefs in earnest.
Intellectual Journey to Faith
Collins embarked on an intellectual journey, examining the arguments for and against faith. His reading of C.S. Lewis's *Mere Christianity* was pivotal: 'Within the first three pages, I realized that my arguments against faith were those of a schoolboy.' Science, he concluded, could not adequately explain the existence of morality.
Divine Encounter in Nature
A transformative moment came while hiking in the Cascade Mountains. Collins described, 'I turned the corner and saw in front of me this frozen waterfall, a couple of hundred feet high. Actually, a waterfall that had three parts to it — also the symbolic three in one. At that moment, I felt my resistance leave me. And it was a great sense of relief.' The following morning, Collins knelt on the dewy grass and embraced the truth that God is real, that Christ is His Son, and he committed his life to this belief.
Scientist Conversion to Christianity
Following his conversion, Collins became not only a Christian but also an advocate for the compatibility of faith and science. He famously stated, 'Today we are learning the language in which God created life,' highlighting the harmony he found between his scientific work and his newfound faith. Collins' journey from atheism to Christianity demonstrates the profound impact of personal encounters and intellectual inquiry, ultimately attributing his transformation to Jesus.
