[asa] Collins' book is reviewed by the Arizona Origins Science guys

        I was surfing the Arizona Origin Science Website today -- came on this
review of Francis Collins book.

Interesting. The web site is
http://www.arizonaoriginscienceassoc.com/Reviews.aspx

Burgy

AzOSA is pleased to present a weekly book review to inform our audience
of current writing relating to the subject of Creation.

This week's review:

The Language of God by Francis Collins. Text, 283 pages. List price,
$26.00.
The main thesis of this book is that you can be a credible scientist and
a Christian by believing in theistic evolution.

Dr. Collins has very impressive academic credentials with his doctoral
level studies in Physical Chemistry, and his M.D. and Ph.D. in Medical
Genetics. He also has marvelous accomplishments as a physician and as
head of the Human Genome Project, which successfully mapped the complete
human DNA sequence.

I find portions of the main text to be an excellent resource for the
layman regarding information about the human genome, and especially the
appendix for explaining for the layman the science of embryonic and adult
stem cell research, cloning, somatic cell nuclear transplantation and
preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

However in the discussion of the moral aspects of some of these areas he
introduces relativism allowing for compromise in decision making. In
particular, regarding embryonic stem cells, he uses the situation of the
formation of identical twins to invoke confusion about when the embryo
acquires a soul. To me, this side steps the real issue, which is that
from the moment of the union of the egg and the sperm, the zygote
(embryo) has the full complement of DNA, its genetic material, and is
fully human. No further discussion is needed. He also ignores the real
and very significant advances made in treating actual patients with adult
stem cell line research technology successfully treating more than 60
different types of problems.

His well documented, profound and far reaching accomplishments in the
area of observational science should not be confused with his musings in
the area of origins science. First of all, multiple times throughout the
book he promotes the false argument that the conflict is between science
and faith in God. Dr. Collins lists various presuppositions, but accepts
the big bang as if it was observed fact, and not a presupposition. He
ignores the open letter to the scientific community, which can be easily
found on the internet, and which is now signed by 405 secular
astronomers, scientists, engineers and independent researchers who
declare the big bang to be dead.

Dr. Collins closely adheres to the assumptions and misrepresentations of
Hugh Ross. For example, he dismisses Genesis as history in one brief
sentence on page 83: Unquestionably the language is poetic. This is
compounded on page 207, where he invokes allegory again regarding Adam
and Eve. He writes Some biblical literalists insist that the wives of
Cain and Seth must have been their own sisters, but that is both in
serious conflict with subsequent prohibitions against incest, and
incompatible with a straightforward reading of the text.

Dr. Collins of all people would know that initially the genome was free
of the accumulated burden of mutations, except for his presupposition
that Adam and Eve were the continuation of some pre-Adamic race,
necessitated by his belief in evolution. According to him, Adam and Eve
allegorically represent pre-human beings transformed into human beings at
some point in the distant past by an act of God instilling into them
human characteristics such as a soul, the Moral Law and the ability to
appreciate beauty. Dr. Collins sidesteps the incongruity between death
preceding sin, which evolution requires, and death following sin, which
Scripture quite clearly states is the case in Romans 6:23: The wages of
sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord. When Scripture refers to Jesus as the last Adam, is
Christ then also to be taken allegorically?

Returning to the subsequent ban on marrying very close relatives, it was
subsequent, decreed by God in Moses time, in recognition of the
accumulation of mutations in the genome, which began after the literal
Adam and Eve. This demonstrates application of real science by God
himself. Dr. Collins assertion, that Genesis 5:4b Adam had other sons and
daughters. read in a straightforward manner, does not explain the source
of Cains and Seths wives, is incomprehensible to me.

Unfortunately, the book is filled with flaws in interpretation of
observed facts, due to the presupposition of evolution. But most
disappointing to me as a physician are the repetitions of disproved
evolutionary canards regarding human anatomy. Research has confirmed that
indeed the design of the retina is ideal, the spine is well designed for
optimum flexibility and weight loading, and that the appendix does have
extremely important functions as part of the immune system in the earlier
years of life.

Dr. Collins characterizing young earth creationists as extremists by
using the label ultraliteralists does him no credit and should give him
pause to rethink his interpretation of Scripture, for one day we all will
have to stand before the Lord and account for our treatment of His word.

Joseph Kezele, M.D., President,

Arizona Origin Science Association

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Received on Wed Sep 20 15:54:10 2006