BioLogos Foundation
Encyclopedia
The BioLogos Foundation is a Christian advocacy group established by Francis Collins
in 2007. BioLogos aims to address the core themes of science and religion, and emphasize a compatibility between science and Christian faith.
Francis Collins served as its president until he resigned on August 16, 2009 to become the 16th Director of the National Institutes of Health. His position was assumed by Darrel Falk
, and Karl Giberson
serves as its vice-president.
was published in 2006, Collins says that he received thousands of e-mails from individuals seeking to explore the relationships between scripture and science. Collins established the BioLogos Foundation to provide responses to these questions and promote a view of harmony between science and faith.
The foundation promotes theistic evolution
, but maintains separation from the label to avoid being associated with atheism in some religious communities. Evangelicals are the foundation's primary audience, however, Collins says that he hopes that skeptics, seekers and believers of other faiths will find the website to be helpful.
Chief among these resources are the site’s “Questions,” which are responses to the emails Collins received after publishing The Language of God. According to the website, “by providing brief but detailed responses, the Questions address many of the most interesting topics in science and faith.” Topics for the Questions include “What is evolution?” and “Can science and scriptural truth be reconciled?” Each Question has been reviewed by at least one scholar in its related subject area.
The website also features a video interview section, “Conversations.” These interviews were held during a workshop in November 2009 titled “In Search of a Theology of Celebration” and they feature attendees offering their thoughts on a wide range of topics, from interpreting Genesis to how we should view the harmony of science and faith. Similarly, the website’s blog “Science and the Sacred” is home to insights on science, faith and their integration from members of the foundation as well as guest contributors.
, a young earth creationist, said “it is compromisers like Collins who cause people to doubt and disbelieve the Bible—causing them to walk away from the church.” Ham discussed his opposition to The BioLogos Foundation in detail during his second annual "State of the Nation" address on February 17, 2009. Jerry Coyne
, a professor of biology at the University of Chicago, calls the foundation the “latest endeavor to forcibly marry science and faith” and “embarrassing in its single-minded fervor to prove that conservative Christianity and evolution are really good buddies.”
Supporters of the Biologos Foundation include Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker
, who claims the Foundation’s goal of “helping fundamentalists evolve can only be good for civilization," and Timothy Keller, author of The Reason for God and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, who has stated that “the BioLogos foundation provides an important first step towards (a thoughtful dialogue between science and faith).”
Francis Collins (geneticist)
Francis Sellers Collins , is an American physician-geneticist, noted for his discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project . He currently serves as Director of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to being appointed Director, he founded and...
in 2007. BioLogos aims to address the core themes of science and religion, and emphasize a compatibility between science and Christian faith.
Francis Collins served as its president until he resigned on August 16, 2009 to become the 16th Director of the National Institutes of Health. His position was assumed by Darrel Falk
Darrel Falk
Darrel R. Falk is professor of biology at Point Loma Nazarene University in Point Loma, California.-Education:Falk attended Simon Fraser University, originally planning on becoming an M.D. eventually. In his second university semester, he signed up for Introduction to Biology, Genetics, and...
, and Karl Giberson
Karl Giberson
Karl Willard Giberson is a physicist and scholar specializing in the creation-evolution debate . He has held a teaching post since 1984, written several books, and been a member of various academic and scientific organizations.-Education:Giberson holds two Bachelor's degrees from the Eastern...
serves as its vice-president.
Background and goals
After his book The Language of GodThe Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief is a bestselling book by Francis Collins in which he advocates theistic evolution. Francis Collins is an American physician-geneticist, noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes, and his leadership of the Human Genome Project ....
was published in 2006, Collins says that he received thousands of e-mails from individuals seeking to explore the relationships between scripture and science. Collins established the BioLogos Foundation to provide responses to these questions and promote a view of harmony between science and faith.
The foundation promotes theistic evolution
Theistic evolution
Theistic evolution or evolutionary creation is a concept that asserts that classical religious teachings about God are compatible with the modern scientific understanding about biological evolution...
, but maintains separation from the label to avoid being associated with atheism in some religious communities. Evangelicals are the foundation's primary audience, however, Collins says that he hopes that skeptics, seekers and believers of other faiths will find the website to be helpful.
Website
The BioLogos Foundation’s main project is its website, which launched on April 28, 2009. The site provides resources and readings for those interested in the compatibility of science and religion.Chief among these resources are the site’s “Questions,” which are responses to the emails Collins received after publishing The Language of God. According to the website, “by providing brief but detailed responses, the Questions address many of the most interesting topics in science and faith.” Topics for the Questions include “What is evolution?” and “Can science and scriptural truth be reconciled?” Each Question has been reviewed by at least one scholar in its related subject area.
The website also features a video interview section, “Conversations.” These interviews were held during a workshop in November 2009 titled “In Search of a Theology of Celebration” and they feature attendees offering their thoughts on a wide range of topics, from interpreting Genesis to how we should view the harmony of science and faith. Similarly, the website’s blog “Science and the Sacred” is home to insights on science, faith and their integration from members of the foundation as well as guest contributors.
Response
The BioLogos Foundation has drawn criticism from both creationists and atheists. In response to a Time Magazine article about the foundation, Ken HamKen Ham
Kenneth Alfred Ham is the Australian President/CEO of Answers in Genesis USA. He is a vocal advocate for a young Earth and a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis, and his cross-country speaking tours and many books make him one of the better known young-Earth...
, a young earth creationist, said “it is compromisers like Collins who cause people to doubt and disbelieve the Bible—causing them to walk away from the church.” Ham discussed his opposition to The BioLogos Foundation in detail during his second annual "State of the Nation" address on February 17, 2009. Jerry Coyne
Jerry Coyne
-Online articles:* , The New Republic* , The New Republic* , The New Republic* ", The New Republic * -Online articles:* , The New Republic* , The New Republic* , The New Republic* ", The New Republic (Review of Michael Behe's The Edge of Evolution)* -Online articles:* , The New Republic* , The...
, a professor of biology at the University of Chicago, calls the foundation the “latest endeavor to forcibly marry science and faith” and “embarrassing in its single-minded fervor to prove that conservative Christianity and evolution are really good buddies.”
Supporters of the Biologos Foundation include Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker
Kathleen Parker
Kathleen Parker is an American syndicated columnist. Her columns are syndicated nationally by The Washington Post. Parker is a consulting faculty member at the Buckley School of Public Speaking, and is a regular guest on television shows like The O'Reilly Factor and The Chris Matthews Show....
, who claims the Foundation’s goal of “helping fundamentalists evolve can only be good for civilization," and Timothy Keller, author of The Reason for God and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, who has stated that “the BioLogos foundation provides an important first step towards (a thoughtful dialogue between science and faith).”