Francis S Collins
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Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith Hardcover – 1 July 2010
by Francis S Collins (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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Review
"Any seeking clarity on the debate between reason and faith will find this an engrossing collection."--The Bookwatch
"As I read through the chapters, I felt I was at a banquet table with old friends. What a feast Francis Collins has served!"--Philip Yancy, author of What's So Amazing About Grace
"Because I teach in the area of faith and reason I have a shelf full of anthologies, and I have to say that this is the most varied and interesting of them all."--Nancy Murphy, co-author of Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? and Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary
"BELIEF is more than an anthology; it is a provocation, a brilliant, wide ranging and powerful series of readings on the possibilities, problems and mysteries of faith. This book belongs on the shelf of every believer - and every serious skeptic."--Rabbi David Wolpe, author of WHY FAITH MATTERS
"Francis S. Collins--a foremost geneticist and author of the bestselling The Language of God--has compiled a rich array of readings in his new book."--America Magazine
"This life-giving, faith-filled and hard-nosed collection reveals why, as St. Anselm wrote, true faith always seeks to understand."--Rev. James Martin, SJ, author of My Life With the Saints
A wonderful expose on the different arguments for religious and spiritual beliefs. These readings are critical for our understanding of religion and will be essential for fostering greater dialogue about the nature of religion in the future. An important read for anyone interested in the study of religion and spirituality.--Andrew Newberg, M.D., author of Why God Won't Go Away
From the Back Cover
"Is there a God?" is the most central and profound question that humans ask. With the New Atheists gaining a loud voice in today's world, it is time to revisit the long-standing intellectual tradition on the side of faith. Francis Collins, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of God and renowned physician and geneticist, defends the reason for faith in this provocative collection. Collins is our guide as he takes us through the writings of many of the world's greatest thinkers -- philosophers, preachers, poets, scientists -- both past and present, including such luminaries as C. S. Lewis and Augustine, and unexpected voices such as John Locke and Dorothy Sayers. Despite the doubts of a cynical world, this essential companion proves once and for all the rationality of faith.
"In the twenty-first century, many seem to have concluded that the spiritual experience and the life of the mind ought to occupy separate domains, and that disruptions, conflicts, and disenchantments will result if the firewall comes down. Surely humanity's ongoing search for truth is not enriched by such limitations. In the words of Socrates, the key to a fully mature and richly rewarding life, both for us as individuals and as a society, is to 'follow the argument wherever it leads, ' unafraid of the consequences. If this collection of essays provides even a small encouragement in this direction for the seeker, the believer, or the skeptic, that will be gratifying indeed." -- from the Introduction
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Publisher : HarperCollins Religious - US (1 July 2010)
Language : English
Hardcover : 352 pages
Customer Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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Francis S Collins
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., helped to discover the genetic misspellings that cause cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington's disease, and a rare form of premature aging called progeria. A pioneer gene hunter, he led the Human Genome Project from 1993 until 2008. For his revolutionary contributions to genetic research, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007, and the National Medal of Science in 2009. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and has a longstanding interest in the interface between science and faith. He currently serves as the Director of the National Institutes of Health. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and in his spare time he enjoys riding a motorcycle and playing guitar.
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TheUnseendimension
5.0 out of 5 stars Great references for any thinking theist
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2019
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For the theist, this collection of works carefully compiled by Francis and team should give you reason to be confident in your beliefs beyond just the personal/spiritual experiences you may have had or not as the case may be. For the atheist who is willing to follow the evidence where it leads and honest enough, this should raise some important questions to ponder on.
Some of the chosen writers not the easiest to comprehend but good thing is the book has several views from different writers on the same subject which is just brilliant.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 March 2016
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Well researched and informative
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Don Munro
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading and gives Christians greater knowledge when dealing with hard questions.
Reviewed in Canada on 13 May 2016
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I really enjoy reading this book. Francis Collins was an atheist and became a Christian. He also covers the views of Many of histories great minds and their views on Christianity. You can check it out on Amazon.
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Mr. B. Shepherd
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2010
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Any anthology of this sort is bound to draw argument and disapproval from some. The book itself is a compilation of extracted chapters from over 30 author's major works.
Whilst the major argument is bound to centre on weather a certain piece should have been included or whether another article would have been better suited the book has more than enough to cater for everyone's individual tastes, no matter how varied. For me, the highlights included:
St Anselm - God as being that which nothing greater can be conceived
Blaise Pascal - On Pascal's Wager
Keith Ward - On the irrationality of `religion' as a construct
Desmond Tutu - On suffering and Nelson Mandela
Timothy Keller - On justice and misconceptions
Martin Luther King - On human dignity
Paul Brand - On his experiences as a medical surgeon
John Polkinghorne - On the correlation between science and faith
Mother Teresa - On human kindness
Anthony Flew - On rationality, and following the argument wherever it goes
For me these articles stood out amongst the rest, however, for others I'm sure different articles would be listed.
The book itself is nicely presented, in good size front. Each essay is designed to be read in a singular sitting, and therefore none of the essays are particularly long. At the start of each article Collins gives an introduction to the author and the piece included. The purpose of the book is to highlight intellectual theism and the rationality of faith.
Whether the arguments made convince you is irrelevant. Rather as Alister McGrath says: "the hallmark of intelligence is not whether one believes in God or not, but the quality of the processes that underlie one's beliefs". Thus this book is all about the processes that underlie belief.
Overall I was thoroughly pleased by the book itself and found it highly enjoyable. It's definitely a book I'll keep as I'll no doubt revisit certain articles at different points. On this basis I give the book 5 stars and a thorough recommendation to all.
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S. Meadows
3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed blessings
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2010
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As with any anthology of writings, this is going to be hit and miss. There are some outstanding sections in here that has prompted me to read the full books from which extracts are taken, and there are some that leave you wondering what the point of their inclusion was. The standout writings are those by Tom Wright and Deitrich Bonhoeffer. It was almost inevitable that Alister Mcgrath would have to be included, but the selection that was used was not his best. Perhaps his chapter on faith in "Dawkins' God" would have been a better choice. The early part of the book is tough-going and took several re-reads to fully grasp the arguments.
Is it good? Undoubtedly. Is it likely to convince many people to alter their views? Probably not.
A worthwhile read, but The Language of God remains Collins' best work to date.
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Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith
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Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith
by Francis S. Collins
3.96 · Rating details · 216 ratings · 20 reviews
"Is there a God?" is the most central and profound question that humans ask. With the New Atheists gaining a loud voice in today's world, it is time to revisit the long-standing intellectual tradition on the side of faith. Francis Collins, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of God and renowned physician and geneticist, defends the reason for faith in this provocative collection. Collins is our guide as he takes us through the writings of many of the world's greatest thinkers -- philosophers, preachers, poets, scientists -- both past and present, including such luminaries as C. S. Lewis and Augustine, and unexpected voices such as John Locke and Dorothy Sayers. Despite the doubts of a cynical world, this essential companion proves once and for all the rationality of faith.
"In the twenty-first century, many seem to have concluded that the spiritual experience and the life of the mind ought to occupy separate domains, and that disruptions, conflicts, and disenchantments will result if the firewall comes down. Surely humanity's ongoing search for truth is not enriched by such limitations. In the words of Socrates, the key to a fully mature and richly rewarding life, both for us as individuals and as a society, is to ‘follow the argument wherever it leads,' unafraid of the consequences. If this collection of essays provides even a small encouragement in this direction for the seeker, the believer, or the skeptic, that will be gratifying indeed." -- from the Introduction (less)
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Hardcover, 352 pages
Published March 2nd 2010 by HarperOne (first published 2010)
ISBN0061787345 (ISBN13: 9780061787348)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Literary AwardsSan Francisco Book Festival for Compilations/Anthologies (2010)
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Stephanie
Jun 30, 2010Stephanie rated it it was amazing
Shelves: read-2010, christian-nf
Belief-Francis S. Collins
HarperOne, 2010
312 pages
Essays; Inspirational
Source: Library
Summary: An anthology exploring faith and visiting the works of many brillaint thinkers including those expected as CS Lewis and St. Augustine as well as the unexpected like Dorothy Sayers.
Thoughts: The book is divided in to different sections with essays relating to a particular theme are grouped together. Originally I was just going to share my favorites but since I loved almost all of them, I decided to go through each and highlight particular thoughts. The first is a selection from NT Wright introducing thoughts on justice and spirituality. I enjoyed it a lot.
The second section is classic essays about faith from such philosophers as Plato, Augustine, and Pascal. I had a lot of trouble reading these because the style is so different from what I'm used to. The nice thing about this book though is that you can skip around and just read however much you want. I struggled through these difficult sections though and I think I learned a lot.
The third section is called "The Meaning of Truth" and this was a very good section, probably my second favorite. OS Guinness has a beautiful selection from his book Time for Truth which has jumped on to my to-read list. Madeleine L'Engle takes a personal approach to truth, sharing many examples from her own life. And Dorothy L Sayers (probably best known for her Lord Peter mysteries) wrote an entertaining essay including a "review" of the book of John and ending with a poem on truth.
Then there is "Loving God With All Your Mind" goes back to the Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" -Matthew 22:37 and stresses the last which has a tendency to be overlooked.
Next "Faith and the Problem of Evil and Suffering," which was probably my favorite section and the one that hit me the most. Art Lindsley, Desmond Tutu, and Elie Wiesel wrote so clearly and made so much sense to me. I don't want to blather about it but it was good.
"Faith and the Cry of Justice" was also a good section as it shows the ways in which the church has failed to respond to injustice but also how it has fought for it.
"The Harmony of Science and Faith" was an important section for me. It features two selections from two physicians who have wrestled with the intersection of science and faith. My college Christian community has struggled with spreading the Word because of the presumed gap between science and faith expressed by many college students.
"Miracles, Longing, and Mysticism" features CS Lewis among others, making this a fabulous section. Lewis's essay is about miracles and our perceptions around such. Alister McGrath incorporated excerpts from stories about two of my favorite detectives and Thomas Merton shared briefly about mysticism.
Then we have "Love and Forgiveness as Pointers to God" with selections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was killed by the Nazis and Viktor Frankl who survived four Nazi concentration camps inspiring me with their deep insights. Mother Teresa also has several writings that convict me of selfishness to finish out the chapter.
"Voices from the East" has selections from Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, offering different perspectives on faith informed by their experiences in the East rather than the Western mindset of most of the other contributors.
The last section is titled "The Irrationality of Atheism" and was one I was particularly intrigued by. But I interpreted the title differently. I was hoping for more of an apologetic approach while they showed logical inconsistencies and flaws in the atheistic approaches.
Overall: I'm feeling pretty good about this so I'm going to say 5/5.
Cover: I was attracted by the simple orange spine peeking out at me on the shelves. I'm not entirely sure why orange but it is an unconventional choice.
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Callum Iles
Jul 11, 2011Callum Iles rated it really liked it
The three hundred of so pages contained within the bindings of Belief have changed the world and continue to do so each day. The insights compiled are the foundations of modern day Christian belief, and take the reader from Ancient Greece to post-World-War-2 England to the American civil rights movement to Nazi Germany and to the heights of Tibet.
No review could do justice to the messages of the 33 brilliant minds, but I will highlight a few that inspired and broadened my thinking. N.T. Wright clearly and directly sets the scene with a look at the need for belief while Blaise Pascal brings his mathematical logic to the argument of human reasoning. Madeleine L’Engle shows her depth of insight by explaining the importance of emphasizing the Truth found in Christianity rather than just reducing it to a series of facts. We are then challenged by pastor Timothy Keller who reveals how, many problems people have with the church today are legitimate and much of the church agrees with them, however without the strength of the church, many more injustices would have continued. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s teaching calls all to love and exemplifies the heart behind his ultimate sacrifice, and Alvin Plantinga’s sojourn on the irrationality of naturalism brings a childhood simplicity to an adult argument.
One important thing to note is that even amongst these amazing thinkers, the writings of C.S. Lewis standout like a city on a hill. His eloquence, clarity of thought, humility and authority show much of why he is revered as the pinnacle of Christian thought.
I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants to be subjected to new names in Christian and secular philosophy. There is hope, insight and joy contained in Belief and you will come away with a new found precision as to why exactly you believe.
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Katia
Sep 15, 2010Katia rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction, religion
I randomly saw this on the nonfiction shelf at my library and was eager to give it a read, as I've been on a nonfiction/religion/philosophy kick lately. I have to admit that I only made it through about 65% of the essays, as some of them were too abstruse for my liking. I expected the general theme to be more of an examination of the reasonS why faith and God are such an important part of life, not the reasonING as to why they do/do not exist. I've never been great at logic problems, and some of the inclusions in this book were convoluted or hard to get into for my casual nighttime or lunchtime reading. I think if I was to pore through it slowly at my own pace I would greatly appreciate all of the selections, but because it's a library book I needed to return it by the due date (after already renewing it once!) That being said, I really enjoyed most of the pieces I did read, especially those from Madeleine L'Engle, C.S. Lewis, Mother Theresa, and the foreword by Francis Collins. Overall, I wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars. (less)
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Ryan
Mar 29, 2010Ryan rated it liked it
This anthology of arguments for belief in God focuses mainly on the Western/Christian concept of deity; however, there are a few selections from Jewish and Eastern perspectives. The book covers a very wide arena. While all of the writings argue for belief in deity, they do not all have the same concept of deity. The various arguments for belief are inconsistent in their epistemology and ontology. There is also some inconstancy among these authors in their definition of the divine. Considering everything, Collins has produced a very thought-provoking anthology; nevertheless, it falls short in its ambition to present a consistent argument for belief in the supernatural. Critical readers will find that many of the arguments presented are simply fallacious while others are unfalsifiable, vague, and confusing. I enjoyed this book but I think it raises more questions and doubts than it does answers. (less)
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Ryan Manns
Nov 28, 2011Ryan Manns rated it really liked it
Shelves: religion
This is a great collection of essays to have for anyone who believes in God. Great ideas from not only Christians but also from Jewish and Eastern religions. Some of the essays were a little hard to follow in the "Classic Arguments" chapter, and some others felt a little out of place but overall it was worth the read. For anyone who wants to know the best essays were the ones written by Madeleine L'Engle, Art Lindsley, Elie Wiesel, John Polkinghorne, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Gandhi, The Dalai Lama, Alvin Plantinga, and Antony Flew. So if you don't have time to read all the book but want a taste of it these are the essays I would recommend for anyone. (less)
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Jim Gleason
Sep 23, 2021Jim Gleason rated it it was ok
Shelves: current-affairs, historical, faith-based, religious, spiritual
I could only get so far with this book, placed in my library by my wife's download to our library, not a personal choice. I began with high hopes given the variety of writers on this very meaningful and interesting topic, but, despite giving it a real try, I can't stay interested at the level needed for follow the logical writings of so many famous deep thinkers on the subject. So, as I've recently learned the term, 'DNF' I confess that I DNF's this book. (where DNF means 'Did not finish' if that term is new to you as it was to me) (less)
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Preston
Aug 26, 2017Preston rated it really liked it
This book is a collection of persuasive essays and excerpts arguing the existence of God. I am very fond of seeing logical and scientific arguments on both sides of this debate, and consequently really enjoyed reading this.
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Drew
Jul 14, 2012Drew rated it it was amazing
Shelves: religion, philosophy
Belief sets out to demonstrate that "faith" and "reason" (as they are commonly talked about) are not opposed to each other. By presenting powerful writings from several different authors, it aims to undo that perception. People need not abandon their rationality to embrace a religious view. Even if someone ends up disagreeing with the conclusions of the various authors, and remains skeptical, they cannot possibly say the authors are not engaging with their own reason. There is room for respectful dialogue and debate on these issues.
The best part about this collection is that it introduced me to many new writers: John Polkinghorne, Dorothy Sayers, Os Guinness, John Stott, Madeleine L'Engle, and Tim Keller to name a few. It also introduced me to ideas from people I already love to be familiar with.
One of the first sections contained "Classical Arguments" and classical writers. The difference in writing style from their time period struck me. For one, the confidence that Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, and John Locke had in asserting God's existence was extraordinary, compared to many contemporary voices. Secondly, these pieces especially forced me to read and consider them slowly. But this was likely a positive thing, since it seemed to sharpen my mind, as with any other "older" books that take us out of our immediate context. That alone should make their inclusion worthwhile. (The historical value was also neat to observe, especially when it comes to the influence of Plato and Aristotle on Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, and the Middle Ages in general.)
"The Meaning of Truth" section was particularly important. Os Guinness' countering of post-modern attempts to downgrade the status of Truth, Madeleine L'Engle's observation that truth is often reduced to only mere facts, and Dorothy Sayers' synthesis of Biblical and secular history possess remarkable insights to how (post-)moderns think.
A number of pieces were not only intended to challenge skeptics and answer objections to belief, but also to challenge believers. Paired with the importance of seeking Truth, entries like John Stott's claim that Christians especially cannot slack off on using their minds and developing the intellect.
Tim Keller responds to believers-behaving-badly by stating that they fall pitiably short of their creed and ideals. The legendary Martin Luther King, Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Mother Teresa spur us Christians (which, not to mention the Jewish Elie Wiesel and Hindu Gandhi) to actively and tirelessly work and perhaps endure hardship and even suffering for a just cause.
As already mentioned, there were a few non-Christian sources (Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Pagan) provided for the reader. Although they seemed somewhat awkwardly included, they proved valuable nonetheless (such as the Dalai Lama's approach on modern science). I personally wish there had been more included, since it can be beneficial for anyone to consider figures outside of their own faith, and also because it is enlightening to see how much agreement we can find with such people.
Finally, although the collection as a whole never dismisses rationality or science (since that would undermine its very case), certain authors take pains to point out how separate philosophical ideas are often smuggled in with scientific work or "modern progress". Former atheist Antony Flew, G.K. Chesterton, and the Dalai Lama make the general point, Alvin Plantinga does this with Evolution, and Hans Küng looks at Psychology. Finally, John Polkinghorne, both a physicist and Anglican clergyman, presents a sophisticated religious approach to science.
By organizing this, Francis Collins has made a strong contribution to this area of thought. It is not only a library of considerable intelligence, but it is a grand gateway to many of these authors and more. Perhaps its chief value is renewing interest and grounds for discussion in the ordinary people who seek to live the examined life. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in exploring the Big Questions, and who like to keep their head while admiring the lofty heavens. (less)
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Giedra
Nov 25, 2011Giedra rated it liked it
Enjoyed this collection of readings from a variety of sources--from Plato and Thomas Aquinas to Madeleine L'Engle and Martin Luther King, Jr. to Desmond Tutu and Gandhi.
The readings are divided into following sections:
Classic Arguments for Faith and Reason
The Meaning of Truth
Loving God with All Your Mind
Faith and the Problem of Evil and Suffering
Faith and the Cry for Justice
The Harmony of Science and Faith
Miracles, Longing, and Mysticism
Love and Forgiveness as Pointers to God
Voices from the East
The Irrationality of Atheism
I think my favorite selections were those by Desmond Tutu (an excerpt from his book God Has a Dream, entitled God Believes in Us), Martin Luther King, Jr. (a sermon called "A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart"), and Gandhi.
A few quotes/gleanings:
Tim Keller: "Alister McGrath points out that when the idea of God is gone, a society will 'transcendentalize" something else, some other concept, in order to appear morally and spiritually superior. The Marxists made the State into such an absolute, while the Nazis did it to race and blood. Even the ideals of liberty and equality can be used in this way in order to do violence to opponents.....[then quotes Madame Roland during French Revolution saying Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name]"
Tim Keller: idea that fanatics are not those that are too committed to the gospel, but those that are not committed enough. They are fanatically zealous, but "not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding--as Christ was." Fanatics are often Pharisaical.
MLK, Jr.: "The softminded man always fears change. He feels security in the status quo, and he has an almost morbid fear of the new....Softmindedness often invades religion. This is why religion has sometimes rejected new truth with a dogmatic passion..... A nation or a civilization that continues to produce softminded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.... But we must not stop with the cultivation of a tough mind. The gospel also demands a tender heart.... The hardhearted person never truly loves..., lacks the capacity for genuine compassion... He depersonalizes life.... Nonviolent resistance...combines toughmindedness and tenderheartedness and avoids the complacency and do-nothingness of the softminded and the violence and bitterness of the hardhearted."
John Polkinghorne: In discussion on harmony between science and faith, he discusses how rationality does not take a single form, becuase of the diversity of reality, citing the vast differences in the character of the quantum world compared to that of the everyday world of Newtonian physics. As he puts it, "Quantum entities have to be known on their own terms and in accordance with their idiosyncratic rationality. It would scarcely be surprising if similar considerations applied to knowledge of the divine."
John Polkinghorne: "Human history and individual introspection both show that there is something awry with humanity."
Alister McGrath quoting Tennyson from poem "The Ancient Sage":
For nothing worthy proving can be proven,
nor yet disproven: wherefore thou be wise,
cleave ever to the sunnier side of doubt.
G.K. Chesterton: "But what we suffer from to-day is humility in the wrong place... A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert--himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt--the Divine Reason... The old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which will make him stop working altogether." "Scoffers of old time were too proud to be convinced; but these are too humble to be convinced." (less)
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Brian
Sep 25, 2014Brian rated it really liked it
Shelves: religious, science
Dr. Collins states in the introduction: "The increasingly secular Western world seems to be loosing touch with the long history of intellectual arguments supporting a rational basis for faith." Personally, I see no conflict (actually just the opposite) between the truth I see in nature (including evolution) and belief in the God of Abraham. The conflict we see today is largely, in my opinion, contrived by lazy "scientists" and religious leaders to help them maintain control and wealth.
Belief is a collection of writings from thoughtful men and women throughout the ages. It begins with Plato, goes through other classical writers (Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Blaine Pascal, etc) then goes to western writers from the last 150 years (Desmond Tutu, Elie Weisel, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc) and then goes to eastern voices (Ghandi, Dali Lama, etc) who, using reason, explain the basis for their faith-based belief system.
Ultimately, this collection of writings demonstrates that one can be both a believer in God and intellectually intact - these two options are not mutually exclusive.
The language of some of these intellectual giants was beyond me at times, but reading it was a good exercise. This book is must reading for all thoughtful people. (less)
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Lawyer
Mar 25, 2010Lawyer rated it really liked it
Recommended to Lawyer by: found browing at Barnes and Noble
Shelves: religion, science, faith-and-reason, philosophy
A wonderful anthology of spiritual readings addressing the seeming conflicts between faith and reason. The selections are drawn from classics of Christianity to voices from Eastern religions. Many selections are worthy of multiple readings to capture the precise arguments made by the various authors, from Augustine to the Dalai Llama. If you find Dawkins, Hitchens and Co. cold and strident, you will appreciate Francis Collins careful structuring of this very good anthology. Collins' introductory remarks to each selection are helpful aids for interpretation of a number of the readings. (less)
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Maggie
Jul 07, 2011Maggie rated it it was amazing
Shelves: essay-collection, non-fiction, science, secular-inspirational
a most worthy collection of smart writings on the persistent idea that faith and reason are not in conflict and furthermore that religion and science are not in conflict. francis s. collins is the current director of the human genome project. my most recent learning during this current crash course on this alleged conflict area (religion and science) is "genetic fallacy" ... time to get that one in hand for sure! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_...
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Shana
Feb 07, 2014Shana rated it really liked it
the writings of incredibly intelligent, even brilliant, people fill this book. it was a great challenge for my brain. i confess i skipped a bit towards the end, though. i got the gist of what most were saying and it was very encouraging to read - however challenging. i would definitely recommend to anyone.
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Frank Peters
Jul 02, 2011Frank Peters rated it really liked it
The book is a collection of essays on belief in God. Collins did a really good job in putting them together, and in covering a large amount of territory. A few articles were sufficiently good and interesting that I had to inflict them on my wife and one of my sons. I am now tempted to purchase books by some of the authors that I have never read before.
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Shawn Tickle
May 19, 2013Shawn Tickle rated it really liked it
Shelves: francis-s-collins
Very useful little anthology filled with insightful selections that do not typically appear in other works of this kind. So, this is not just a repetition of selections I have already read in other anthologies.
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John
Jan 24, 2016John rated it liked it
A good book. It is not overly detailed, as the work is a collection of essays and chapters from other famous works, but it is interesting. If you are looking for a light read about why faith is plausible, you may want to check this book out.
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Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith
by Francis S. Collins
3.96 · Rating details · 216 ratings · 20 reviews
"Is there a God?" is the most central and profound question that humans ask. With the New Atheists gaining a loud voice in today's world, it is time to revisit the long-standing intellectual tradition on the side of faith. Francis Collins, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of God and renowned physician and geneticist, defends the reason for faith in this provocative collection. Collins is our guide as he takes us through the writings of many of the world's greatest thinkers -- philosophers, preachers, poets, scientists -- both past and present, including such luminaries as C. S. Lewis and Augustine, and unexpected voices such as John Locke and Dorothy Sayers. Despite the doubts of a cynical world, this essential companion proves once and for all the rationality of faith.
"In the twenty-first century, many seem to have concluded that the spiritual experience and the life of the mind ought to occupy separate domains, and that disruptions, conflicts, and disenchantments will result if the firewall comes down. Surely humanity's ongoing search for truth is not enriched by such limitations. In the words of Socrates, the key to a fully mature and richly rewarding life, both for us as individuals and as a society, is to ‘follow the argument wherever it leads,' unafraid of the consequences. If this collection of essays provides even a small encouragement in this direction for the seeker, the believer, or the skeptic, that will be gratifying indeed." -- from the Introduction (less)
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Hardcover, 352 pages
Published March 2nd 2010 by HarperOne (first published 2010)
ISBN0061787345 (ISBN13: 9780061787348)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Literary AwardsSan Francisco Book Festival for Compilations/Anthologies (2010)
Other Editions (2)
Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith
Little Book of Belief
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Average rating3.96 · Rating details · 216 ratings · 20 reviews
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Stephanie
Jun 30, 2010Stephanie rated it it was amazing
Shelves: read-2010, christian-nf
Belief-Francis S. Collins
HarperOne, 2010
312 pages
Essays; Inspirational
Source: Library
Summary: An anthology exploring faith and visiting the works of many brillaint thinkers including those expected as CS Lewis and St. Augustine as well as the unexpected like Dorothy Sayers.
Thoughts: The book is divided in to different sections with essays relating to a particular theme are grouped together. Originally I was just going to share my favorites but since I loved almost all of them, I decided to go through each and highlight particular thoughts. The first is a selection from NT Wright introducing thoughts on justice and spirituality. I enjoyed it a lot.
The second section is classic essays about faith from such philosophers as Plato, Augustine, and Pascal. I had a lot of trouble reading these because the style is so different from what I'm used to. The nice thing about this book though is that you can skip around and just read however much you want. I struggled through these difficult sections though and I think I learned a lot.
The third section is called "The Meaning of Truth" and this was a very good section, probably my second favorite. OS Guinness has a beautiful selection from his book Time for Truth which has jumped on to my to-read list. Madeleine L'Engle takes a personal approach to truth, sharing many examples from her own life. And Dorothy L Sayers (probably best known for her Lord Peter mysteries) wrote an entertaining essay including a "review" of the book of John and ending with a poem on truth.
Then there is "Loving God With All Your Mind" goes back to the Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" -Matthew 22:37 and stresses the last which has a tendency to be overlooked.
Next "Faith and the Problem of Evil and Suffering," which was probably my favorite section and the one that hit me the most. Art Lindsley, Desmond Tutu, and Elie Wiesel wrote so clearly and made so much sense to me. I don't want to blather about it but it was good.
"Faith and the Cry of Justice" was also a good section as it shows the ways in which the church has failed to respond to injustice but also how it has fought for it.
"The Harmony of Science and Faith" was an important section for me. It features two selections from two physicians who have wrestled with the intersection of science and faith. My college Christian community has struggled with spreading the Word because of the presumed gap between science and faith expressed by many college students.
"Miracles, Longing, and Mysticism" features CS Lewis among others, making this a fabulous section. Lewis's essay is about miracles and our perceptions around such. Alister McGrath incorporated excerpts from stories about two of my favorite detectives and Thomas Merton shared briefly about mysticism.
Then we have "Love and Forgiveness as Pointers to God" with selections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was killed by the Nazis and Viktor Frankl who survived four Nazi concentration camps inspiring me with their deep insights. Mother Teresa also has several writings that convict me of selfishness to finish out the chapter.
"Voices from the East" has selections from Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, offering different perspectives on faith informed by their experiences in the East rather than the Western mindset of most of the other contributors.
The last section is titled "The Irrationality of Atheism" and was one I was particularly intrigued by. But I interpreted the title differently. I was hoping for more of an apologetic approach while they showed logical inconsistencies and flaws in the atheistic approaches.
Overall: I'm feeling pretty good about this so I'm going to say 5/5.
Cover: I was attracted by the simple orange spine peeking out at me on the shelves. I'm not entirely sure why orange but it is an unconventional choice.
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Callum Iles
Jul 11, 2011Callum Iles rated it really liked it
The three hundred of so pages contained within the bindings of Belief have changed the world and continue to do so each day. The insights compiled are the foundations of modern day Christian belief, and take the reader from Ancient Greece to post-World-War-2 England to the American civil rights movement to Nazi Germany and to the heights of Tibet.
No review could do justice to the messages of the 33 brilliant minds, but I will highlight a few that inspired and broadened my thinking. N.T. Wright clearly and directly sets the scene with a look at the need for belief while Blaise Pascal brings his mathematical logic to the argument of human reasoning. Madeleine L’Engle shows her depth of insight by explaining the importance of emphasizing the Truth found in Christianity rather than just reducing it to a series of facts. We are then challenged by pastor Timothy Keller who reveals how, many problems people have with the church today are legitimate and much of the church agrees with them, however without the strength of the church, many more injustices would have continued. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s teaching calls all to love and exemplifies the heart behind his ultimate sacrifice, and Alvin Plantinga’s sojourn on the irrationality of naturalism brings a childhood simplicity to an adult argument.
One important thing to note is that even amongst these amazing thinkers, the writings of C.S. Lewis standout like a city on a hill. His eloquence, clarity of thought, humility and authority show much of why he is revered as the pinnacle of Christian thought.
I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants to be subjected to new names in Christian and secular philosophy. There is hope, insight and joy contained in Belief and you will come away with a new found precision as to why exactly you believe.
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Katia
Sep 15, 2010Katia rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction, religion
I randomly saw this on the nonfiction shelf at my library and was eager to give it a read, as I've been on a nonfiction/religion/philosophy kick lately. I have to admit that I only made it through about 65% of the essays, as some of them were too abstruse for my liking. I expected the general theme to be more of an examination of the reasonS why faith and God are such an important part of life, not the reasonING as to why they do/do not exist. I've never been great at logic problems, and some of the inclusions in this book were convoluted or hard to get into for my casual nighttime or lunchtime reading. I think if I was to pore through it slowly at my own pace I would greatly appreciate all of the selections, but because it's a library book I needed to return it by the due date (after already renewing it once!) That being said, I really enjoyed most of the pieces I did read, especially those from Madeleine L'Engle, C.S. Lewis, Mother Theresa, and the foreword by Francis Collins. Overall, I wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars. (less)
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Ryan
Mar 29, 2010Ryan rated it liked it
This anthology of arguments for belief in God focuses mainly on the Western/Christian concept of deity; however, there are a few selections from Jewish and Eastern perspectives. The book covers a very wide arena. While all of the writings argue for belief in deity, they do not all have the same concept of deity. The various arguments for belief are inconsistent in their epistemology and ontology. There is also some inconstancy among these authors in their definition of the divine. Considering everything, Collins has produced a very thought-provoking anthology; nevertheless, it falls short in its ambition to present a consistent argument for belief in the supernatural. Critical readers will find that many of the arguments presented are simply fallacious while others are unfalsifiable, vague, and confusing. I enjoyed this book but I think it raises more questions and doubts than it does answers. (less)
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Ryan Manns
Nov 28, 2011Ryan Manns rated it really liked it
Shelves: religion
This is a great collection of essays to have for anyone who believes in God. Great ideas from not only Christians but also from Jewish and Eastern religions. Some of the essays were a little hard to follow in the "Classic Arguments" chapter, and some others felt a little out of place but overall it was worth the read. For anyone who wants to know the best essays were the ones written by Madeleine L'Engle, Art Lindsley, Elie Wiesel, John Polkinghorne, C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Gandhi, The Dalai Lama, Alvin Plantinga, and Antony Flew. So if you don't have time to read all the book but want a taste of it these are the essays I would recommend for anyone. (less)
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Jim Gleason
Sep 23, 2021Jim Gleason rated it it was ok
Shelves: current-affairs, historical, faith-based, religious, spiritual
I could only get so far with this book, placed in my library by my wife's download to our library, not a personal choice. I began with high hopes given the variety of writers on this very meaningful and interesting topic, but, despite giving it a real try, I can't stay interested at the level needed for follow the logical writings of so many famous deep thinkers on the subject. So, as I've recently learned the term, 'DNF' I confess that I DNF's this book. (where DNF means 'Did not finish' if that term is new to you as it was to me) (less)
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Preston
Aug 26, 2017Preston rated it really liked it
This book is a collection of persuasive essays and excerpts arguing the existence of God. I am very fond of seeing logical and scientific arguments on both sides of this debate, and consequently really enjoyed reading this.
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Drew
Jul 14, 2012Drew rated it it was amazing
Shelves: religion, philosophy
Belief sets out to demonstrate that "faith" and "reason" (as they are commonly talked about) are not opposed to each other. By presenting powerful writings from several different authors, it aims to undo that perception. People need not abandon their rationality to embrace a religious view. Even if someone ends up disagreeing with the conclusions of the various authors, and remains skeptical, they cannot possibly say the authors are not engaging with their own reason. There is room for respectful dialogue and debate on these issues.
The best part about this collection is that it introduced me to many new writers: John Polkinghorne, Dorothy Sayers, Os Guinness, John Stott, Madeleine L'Engle, and Tim Keller to name a few. It also introduced me to ideas from people I already love to be familiar with.
One of the first sections contained "Classical Arguments" and classical writers. The difference in writing style from their time period struck me. For one, the confidence that Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, and John Locke had in asserting God's existence was extraordinary, compared to many contemporary voices. Secondly, these pieces especially forced me to read and consider them slowly. But this was likely a positive thing, since it seemed to sharpen my mind, as with any other "older" books that take us out of our immediate context. That alone should make their inclusion worthwhile. (The historical value was also neat to observe, especially when it comes to the influence of Plato and Aristotle on Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, and the Middle Ages in general.)
"The Meaning of Truth" section was particularly important. Os Guinness' countering of post-modern attempts to downgrade the status of Truth, Madeleine L'Engle's observation that truth is often reduced to only mere facts, and Dorothy Sayers' synthesis of Biblical and secular history possess remarkable insights to how (post-)moderns think.
A number of pieces were not only intended to challenge skeptics and answer objections to belief, but also to challenge believers. Paired with the importance of seeking Truth, entries like John Stott's claim that Christians especially cannot slack off on using their minds and developing the intellect.
Tim Keller responds to believers-behaving-badly by stating that they fall pitiably short of their creed and ideals. The legendary Martin Luther King, Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Mother Teresa spur us Christians (which, not to mention the Jewish Elie Wiesel and Hindu Gandhi) to actively and tirelessly work and perhaps endure hardship and even suffering for a just cause.
As already mentioned, there were a few non-Christian sources (Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Pagan) provided for the reader. Although they seemed somewhat awkwardly included, they proved valuable nonetheless (such as the Dalai Lama's approach on modern science). I personally wish there had been more included, since it can be beneficial for anyone to consider figures outside of their own faith, and also because it is enlightening to see how much agreement we can find with such people.
Finally, although the collection as a whole never dismisses rationality or science (since that would undermine its very case), certain authors take pains to point out how separate philosophical ideas are often smuggled in with scientific work or "modern progress". Former atheist Antony Flew, G.K. Chesterton, and the Dalai Lama make the general point, Alvin Plantinga does this with Evolution, and Hans Küng looks at Psychology. Finally, John Polkinghorne, both a physicist and Anglican clergyman, presents a sophisticated religious approach to science.
By organizing this, Francis Collins has made a strong contribution to this area of thought. It is not only a library of considerable intelligence, but it is a grand gateway to many of these authors and more. Perhaps its chief value is renewing interest and grounds for discussion in the ordinary people who seek to live the examined life. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in exploring the Big Questions, and who like to keep their head while admiring the lofty heavens. (less)
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Giedra
Nov 25, 2011Giedra rated it liked it
Enjoyed this collection of readings from a variety of sources--from Plato and Thomas Aquinas to Madeleine L'Engle and Martin Luther King, Jr. to Desmond Tutu and Gandhi.
The readings are divided into following sections:
Classic Arguments for Faith and Reason
The Meaning of Truth
Loving God with All Your Mind
Faith and the Problem of Evil and Suffering
Faith and the Cry for Justice
The Harmony of Science and Faith
Miracles, Longing, and Mysticism
Love and Forgiveness as Pointers to God
Voices from the Ea ...more
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Brian
Sep 25, 2014Brian rated it really liked it
Shelves: religious, science
Dr. Collins states in the introduction: "The increasingly secular Western world seems to be loosing touch with the long history of intellectual arguments supporting a rational basis for faith." Personally, I see no conflict (actually just the opposite) between the truth I see in nature (including evolution) and belief in the God of Abraham. The conflict we see today is largely, in my opinion, contrived by lazy "scientists" and religious leaders to help them maintain control and wealth.
Belief is ...more
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Lawyer
Mar 25, 2010Lawyer rated it really liked it
Recommended to Lawyer by: found browing at Barnes and Noble
Shelves: religion, science, faith-and-reason, philosophy
A wonderful anthology of spiritual readings addressing the seeming conflicts between faith and reason. The selections are drawn from classics of Christianity to voices from Eastern religions. Many selections are worthy of multiple readings to capture the precise arguments made by the various authors, from Augustine to the Dalai Llama. If you find Dawkins, Hitchens and Co. cold and strident, you will appreciate Francis Collins careful structuring of this very good anthology. Collins' introductory remarks to each selection are helpful aids for interpretation of a number of the readings. (less)
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Maggie
Jul 07, 2011Maggie rated it it was amazing
Shelves: essay-collection, non-fiction, science, secular-inspirational
a most worthy collection of smart writings on the persistent idea that faith and reason are not in conflict and furthermore that religion and science are not in conflict. francis s. collins is the current director of the human genome project. my most recent learning during this current crash course on this alleged conflict area (religion and science) is "genetic fallacy" ... time to get that one in hand for sure! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_...
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Shana
Feb 07, 2014Shana rated it really liked it
the writings of incredibly intelligent, even brilliant, people fill this book. it was a great challenge for my brain. i confess i skipped a bit towards the end, though. i got the gist of what most were saying and it was very encouraging to read - however challenging. i would definitely recommend to anyone.
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Frank Peters
Jul 02, 2011Frank Peters rated it really liked it
The book is a collection of essays on belief in God. Collins did a really good job in putting them together, and in covering a large amount of territory. A few articles were sufficiently good and interesting that I had to inflict them on my wife and one of my sons. I am now tempted to purchase books by some of the authors that I have never read before.
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Shawn Tickle
May 19, 2013Shawn Tickle rated it really liked it
Shelves: francis-s-collins
Very useful little anthology filled with insightful selections that do not typically appear in other works of this kind. So, this is not just a repetition of selections I have already read in other anthologies.
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John
Jan 24, 2016John rated it liked it
A good book. It is not overly detailed, as the work is a collection of essays and chapters from other famous works, but it is interesting. If you are looking for a light read about why faith is plausible, you may want to check this book out.
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Anord
Mar 09, 2011Anord rated it it was amazing
Loved it!
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Bruce
Dec 01, 2012Bruce rated it really liked it
Great collection of writings on the subject of belief.
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Shane Wagoner
Dec 26, 2013Shane Wagoner rated it it was ok
Does it bother anyone else that every one of these arguments has already been disproven ten times over or is completely off topic?...
