Bloggers Sound Off on Collins’ New Book

Jerry Coyne and PZ Myers have taken to their blogs to express their frustration with the upcoming release of the National Institutes of Health director’s newbook, “Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith.” Francis Collins is also the author of “The Language of God.” Coyne, writing on his blog Why Evolution is True, argues that the NIH director is “blurring the lines” between faith and science, adding “Imagine, for example, the outcry that would ensue if Collins were an atheist and, as NIH director, published a collection of atheistic essays along the lines of Christopher Hitchens’s 'The Portable Atheist,' but also arguing that scientific evidence proved that there was no God. He would, of course, promptly be canned as NIH director.” Myers concurs, writing that he’s also concerned that the book is “being promoted is by touting the credentials of its editor” as the NIH director.