consider reading francis collins

You suggested I read Francis Collins, probably because Collins manages to reconcile his professional (scientific) and spiritual influences. But one can hardly credit Collins for writing a scientific book that leads to God. Collins' thesis centers on what he perceives as a misplacement of faith: according to Collins, many Christians place their faith in God in those fields where the science remains inadequate or incomplete— the Christian God becomes a so called "God of the gaps." Unfortunately, as Collins notes, this leaves such Christians vulnerable to advances in science. For example, as progresses in microbiology better define the evolutionary processes that lead to the creation, diversity, and complexity of species, arguments such as "irreducible complexity" no longer carry weight. This is troubling to a Christian if he or she bases his or her faith in God on the validity of Intelligent Design (which Collins speaks against). Therefore, Collins urges one to place his or her faith "outside the jurisdiction" of science.

So where does Collins place his faith? Collins finds refuge in the altruistic nature of humankind—that because anthropologists and sociologists cannot determine the evolutionary usefulness of altruism, this (according to Collins) is where God reveals Himself. I was incredibly disappointed with his conclusion. Collins delivers a scathing and creditable criticism of the "God of the gaps" mentality only to conclude that he places his faith in a tendency of human character that scientists have yet to fully understand. Unfortunately for Collins, scientists have presented several theories to explain the altruistic nature of humans (and other animals). What will Collins do now?