Francis Collins, former director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the National Human Genome Project, combined secular thought and religious beliefs at a BYU forum address on Jan. 27.
He began his address by recounting significant scientific discoveries in which he has been involved.
From discovering the human genome sequence to curing sickle cell anemia, Collins has witnessed the wonders of scientific discovery and the vital role that it plays in people’s lives.
Collins then shared his journey of becoming religious. Although he was once an atheist, his work with those nearing death caused him to ask himself questions he had never considered before.
“One day, sitting at the bedside of a patient of mine ... she shared her faith with me in a very personal, compelling way, and I listened awkwardly,” Collins said. “And then she turned to me, and she asked me this question: 'What do you believe? Doctor, four words, what do you believe?'”
This simple question stirred inside Collins, and he began an inner search for truth.
Through great study and contemplation, Collins eventually concluded that he could no longer resist the reality of Christ the Savior.
“I fell on my knees, and I gave my life to Jesus Christ, (at) age 27,” Collins said.
After accepting the reality of a God, Collins explained an interesting discovery he had.
“I had, by that time, also learned that there are pointers to God from science ... that are pretty hard to ignore. (And) that I had ignored until I started this journey,” Collins said.
For him, a few examples of this include how the world came to be, the constants of gravity and nuclear forces, humans' natural attraction to the beautiful and the idea of moral law.
“Why is it that all human populations have this sense that there's something good and there's something evil, and we're called to be good, even sometimes when it asks us to sacrifice in ways that are a scandal to evolution,” Collins said. “I can't explain that without seeing it as a signpost to something outside of what we can measure.”
Collins then shared his concern for the increasing polarization in the United States of America. Citing it as a hindrance to Americans’ ability to flourish, Collins called for citizens to look beyond opinion and political party and seek the truth.
Highlighting the example of COVID-19, Collins shared that 230,000 people died unnecessarily because they refused to accept vaccinations for the sickness. If they had not fallen into the trap of culture wars and politics, many lives would have been saved.
“That is because somehow, we lost our way in being able to tell the difference between an opinion and a fact and deciding who to trust,” Collins said.
He explained that this is one of the reasons why he wrote his book, “The Road to Wisdom.”
Collins shared that this comes through first accepting pure objective truth.
“Do you believe in objective truth? I sure hope so,” Collins said. "There are 3,000 people who belong to the Flat Earth Society, and apparently they're unswayed by objective truth."
Collins shared that he is nervous about the declined trust in science, and he called for continued support for medical research.
Collins also acknowledged that there are times when questions cannot be answered through science.
This is when faith comes into play.
“God is my refuge, strength and ever-present help in trouble,” Collins said. “Our country's in trouble. Faith should be helping us here. Christians should be in the best position to advocate against divisiveness, animosity, vitriol, grievances, love, grace and truth.”
He further explained that the anchor to the soul comes through truth, science, faith and trust.
He also advised on how to seek needed wisdom.
“James 1:5 — you know this: “But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given him,’” Collins said. “And then secondly, how do you know wisdom when you see it? Because there are some fabricated versions out there. It's pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable (and) full of mercy.”
Collins then stated his call to action.
“My prayer for myself and for all of you is that we remember that and we search, by the means we've been given, to find that kind of wisdom and then apply it to make our world better, because the world needs us more than ever right now,” Collins said.
He concluded by having the audience join him in a hymn that celebrated the combination of secular learning and spiritual knowledge.