How God Works: Can Religion and Science Get Along in the 21st Century?

Science and religion seem to be getting ever more tribal in their mutual recriminations, at least among hardline advocates. While certain fundamentalist believers cast science as a misguided or even malicious source of information, certain polemicizing scientists argue that religion isn’t just wrong or meaningless, but also dangerous. Yet this tension between the scientific and spiritual worldviews has not always been present. Today, in our efforts to find answers to some of our most deeply held questions, maybe it’s time to rethink that tension. Pursuit of knowledge through science doesn’t require giving up faith. And recognizing that religion can be a powerful force for good doesn’t mean giving up the scientific method. In fact, one thing science and religion agree on is that people who are engaged in spirituality live longer, healthier, and happier lives. 

Join How God Works host Dave DeSteno for a live discussion with Dr. Francis Collins, one of the world’s leading geneticists and former director of the National Institutes of Health, where he served three presidents until 2021, including oversight of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two will talk about Dr. Collins’ journey through science and his adult discovery of faith, his efforts to enhance communication between these communities about controversial issues, and the roles religion can play, for good and for ill, when it comes to health and society.