Letters to the Editor

This letter is associated with the following article:
Francis Collins -- head of the Human Genome Project -- discusses his conversion to evangelical Christianity, why scientists do not need to be atheists, and what C.S. Lewis has to do with it.
  • This is why I am an agnostic (or soft atheist)

    The main point of science is how you look at the universe. I can't tell anyone that there is no God. If you have relationship with God, then it should be completely personal. Imposing your views on me is no better than me imposing my views on you. But, in the culture war, this is what happens. As long as what I do doesn't hurt you, then you should have no opinion on what I might do.

    People cannot handle a gray world. They must see things as black and white no matter the evidence to the contrary. If you live in a black and white world, decisions are easy to make, and it gives you power. when you live in a world of gray, it is hard to be strong in your views and analysis without seeming to betray the basic foundations - things are gray and mutable.

    But, I do find it strange that a scientist would choose to have a relationship with his God where he will force his religion down other people's throats. The crux of science is to view the data and come to a conclusion based on the data. The data will, hopefully, be the same, but the conclusions may be different. Then, you come at the problem with an open mind to weigh the various explanations and come to a consensus. Religion is not about consensus building. It is about the immutable word of God, and the sentiment "you are with us or against us" has great meaning.

    Could there be a God? Sure. There is much I will never understand about the universe. But, I can question if there isn't a God. Those who have chosen atheism or religion will not reasonably question their beliefs. Until presented with a better analysis, I can only state that I don't know and will never know. I am fine with that.