
Holy Post Episode 483: Faith, Science, and the Covid Vaccines with Francis Collins
11/17/21 • 82 min
2 Listeners
Are faith and science irreconcilable belief systems? Not according to Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health and founder of BioLogos. He talks with Phil about his journey from atheism to faith, his role in overseeing the country’s response to Covid-19, and why America’s culture war is literally killing people. Collins also explains why the Covid vaccines are safe and should be embraced by Christians as an answer to prayer.
Then, The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s attack on a small Texas church backfires, leading to a conversation about God and gendered language. The editor of World Magazine leaves in protest as yet another evangelical institution takes a sharp turn to the right. Are we witnessing the final fury of a dying religious right? Plus, Phil was unknowingly on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. And, a meaningless archeological discovery in Michigan.
News Segment:
November livestream details [3:41] http://patreon.com/holypost
Archaeological discovery in Michigan [5:21] https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/32486160/the-remarkable-story-man-found-162-bowling-balls-house
Phil on the Late Show [12:24]
Beth Allison Barr and our language for God [14:04]
“The Making of Biblical Womanhood” - https://amzn.to/3oSOVm3 https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-457-paul-power-patriarchy-with-beth-allison-barr
Marvin Olasky and the struggle between evangelicals and fundamentalists [28:52] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/14/business/world-magazine-marvin-olasky-trump.html
https://twitter.com/drantbradley/status/1460273263590916099
Interview with Francis Collins:
Interview Start [49:28] “Language of God” book [52:20] https://amzn.to/3qGHG2P
Response to objections after NIH nomination [55:19]
Science and faith conflicts [57:20]
COVID-19 responses and vaccines [1:00:05]
Legacy as a visible scientist of faith [1:07:23]
Culture wars and the pandemic [1:15:21]
Other resources mentioned:
Biologos: https://biologos.org
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Are faith and science irreconcilable belief systems? Not according to Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health and founder of BioLogos. He talks with Phil about his journey from atheism to faith, his role in overseeing the country’s response to Covid-19, and why America’s culture war is literally killing people. Collins also explains why the Covid vaccines are safe and should be embraced by Christians as an answer to prayer.
Then, The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s attack on a small Texas church backfires, leading to a conversation about God and gendered language. The editor of World Magazine leaves in protest as yet another evangelical institution takes a sharp turn to the right. Are we witnessing the final fury of a dying religious right? Plus, Phil was unknowingly on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. And, a meaningless archeological discovery in Michigan.
News Segment:
November livestream details [3:41] http://patreon.com/holypost
Archaeological discovery in Michigan [5:21] https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/32486160/the-remarkable-story-man-found-162-bowling-balls-house
Phil on the Late Show [12:24]
Beth Allison Barr and our language for God [14:04]
“The Making of Biblical Womanhood” - https://amzn.to/3oSOVm3 https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-457-paul-power-patriarchy-with-beth-allison-barr
Marvin Olasky and the struggle between evangelicals and fundamentalists [28:52] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/14/business/world-magazine-marvin-olasky-trump.html
https://twitter.com/drantbradley/status/1460273263590916099
Interview with Francis Collins:
Interview Start [49:28] “Language of God” book [52:20] https://amzn.to/3qGHG2P
Response to objections after NIH nomination [55:19]
Science and faith conflicts [57:20]
COVID-19 responses and vaccines [1:00:05]
Legacy as a visible scientist of faith [1:07:23]
Culture wars and the pandemic [1:15:21]
Other resources mentioned:
Biologos: https://biologos.org
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Previous Episode

Episode 482: Truth, Lies, and Spiritual Imagination with John Mark Comer
Why do we expect the Christian life to be easy when the Bible clearly says it will be a struggle? Starting with the wrong expectation, says John Mark Comer, makes us spiritually neurotic and causes more suffering than necessary. He talks with Skye about his new book, “Live No Lies,” why spiritual warfare isn’t what you’ve been taught, why information alone doesn’t change us, and what it means to really be people committed to the truth.
Also this week, artificial intelligence is now offering very questionable ethical advice. Phil wonders what it means for self-driving cars. Two seminaries are suing the government over the Covid vaccine mandate, but is it really a question of religious liberty? New data says white evangelicals are those most likely to use violence to defend America, and those most likely to reject America’s founding ideal of pluralism. Does anyone else see a contradiction? Plus, skull-crushing wombat bums.
News Segment:
Deadly wombat butts [5:14] https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/04/wombats-deadly-bums-how-they-use-their-skull-crushing-rumps-to-fight-play-and-flirt
Ethical AI trained on Reddit [13:57] https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7dg8m/ethical-ai-trained-on-reddit-posts-said-genocide-is-okay-if-it-makes-people-happy
“Drive Recklessly” short film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S75Rfva9O8
Two evangelical seminaries sue to block vaccine mandates [27:32]
Study: Most white evangelicals don’t want to live in a religiously diverse country [38:06]https://religionnews.com/2021/11/01/study-most-white-evangelicals-dont-want-to-live-in-a-religiously-diverse-country/
Holy Post Updates [48:40]
Interview with John Mark Comer:“Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace”- https://amzn.to/3oh724y
PATREON BONUS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58518164/
Interview Start [51:05]
Spiritual warfare and the spirituality of struggle [53:14]
Truth and lies; desert fathers and mothers [1:00:09]
Information alone vs. embodied spiritual formation [1:05:41]
Mental maps and spiritual imagination [1:13:36]
Conservative and progressive fundamentalism [1:24:14]
Other books mentioned:
“Water from a Deep Well” by Gerald L. Sittser - https://amzn.to/3kpBMPJ “The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck - https://amzn.to/3D5t4h4 “Where the Light Fell” by Philip Yancey - https://amzn.to/3mZAzjS
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Next Episode

Episode 484: Why to Leave Evangelicalism & How to Stay with Dan Stringer
In case you haven’t noticed, the evangelical movement in America is a mess. Some say we should let it all burn down. Others fiercely defend the historic and theological richness of the tradition. Dan Stringer says there’s a third option that is honest about evangelicalism’s failures, while also valuing its strengths. Kaitlyn interviews Stringer about his new book “Struggling with Evangelicalism: Why I Want to Leave and What It Takes to Stay.”
Also this week, former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn says the U.S. should only allow one religion. Skye explains why the Pilgrims did not come to America for religious freedom, and Christian explores healthy and toxic patriotism. Then, what should we conclude from the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict? Plus, orcas are attacking yachts and Phil celebrates World Toilet Day.
Thanks to the Grow Center for sponsoring this episode. More information about The Ray Bakke Certificate of Biblical and Entrepreneurial Thinking is available here: https://www.thegrowcenter.com
News Segment
0:00 - Intro 04:07 - World Toilet Day12:28 Animal News: Orcas attacking yachts https://www.yachtingworld.com/cruising/orca-attacks-rudder-losses-and-damage-as-incidents-escalate-133968
18:43 - Michael Flynn says U.S. should mandate one religion https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnists/2021/11/20/michael-flynn-john-hagee-ed-stetzer-one-religion/8649034002/?gnt-cfr=1
42:45 - Kyle Rittenhouse verdict https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/kyle-rittenhouse-right-self-defense-role-model/620715/https://robertpjones.substack.com/p/free-as-f-kyle-rittenhouse-whiteness
Interview w/ Dan Stringer “Struggling with Evangelicalism: Why I Want to Leave and What It Takes to Stay” - https://amzn.to/3FIPkyc
54:43 - Interview Start & Guest Background 59:55 - Shifting perspective on evangelicalism 01:04:13 - Importance of remembering our history/tradition 01:12:46 - Communal repentance https://urbana.org/message/litany
01:16:46 - Learning from each other 01:22:37 - Is this the moment for renewal? 01:27:06 - What next? Responding after pain
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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