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

This review combines inaccurate reporting and misrepresentations of what
Collins says with criticisms based on YEC dogma. It certainly does not do
justice to Collins' exposition and arguments. One could not determine from
the review that Collins is an evangelical Christian.

This review is all too typical of other reviewers by YECs. The underlying
message to the YEC believer is, "Don't read this book."

Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol or John Burgeson" <burgytwo@juno.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 3:51 PM
Subject: [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 17:56:11 2006