The Language of God by Francis Collins - Observations and Comments

Observations and comments from GW on The Language of God by Francis CollinsIn so far as this book sets out to prove the existence of God- GW does not need any convincing. The author's dependence on the Moral law argument is strange given that this seems the least sustainable explanation. I prefer the Cosmic Grandeur & elegance explanations since this seems to transcend the limited time frame associated with human existence.I also like the reasoning which involves God's purpose of creating relationship -meaning relationship with his human creations. For this implies a Master / servant relationship with mutual love and respect being consequences.From this understanding I can reason the primacy of the two great commandments and, by extension, understand the spiritual life hereafter.Given the unimaginable spans of time that cosmic theology embraces and the minute fraction occupied by human existence it is easy to grasp that Man's time on earth is finite and, probably, close to expiry. But, knowing we have a loving God, we can be assured that He indeed has a place for us in His house and that we need not worry about a fiery end game. Furthermore , the awesome privilege of experiencing life itself is indeed worthy of expressing our constant gratitude.Collin's arguments relating to Man's suffering are basically threefold:

1. That much of Man's suffering results from he having the freedom to make his own decisions, which often are poor / bad with adverse results on his fellow man
2. If we accept that God was the creator of the universe then we should expect that He would apply the same principles of evolution to non-physical things as to physical. On this basis, the unpredictabilities of weather and tectonic movement are also likely to impact Man - often with dire consequences. And it is unreasonable to expect that God would frequently intervene to avoid suffering to Mankind because this would only create greater chaos in earthly evolution and Man's life. ( This argument is cold comfort to those who are grappling with personal loss or misfortune caused by earthly catastrophe)
3. 'Growth through Suffering' is another cold -comfort argument which says that ,without hardship and suffering we have no measure by which to experience happiness and comfort. Small consolation is experienced by those who are told to accept that God's purpose in misfortune is often beyond our comprehension but that we should allow that He has an ultimate plan for goodness and that we should look for the 'silver lining' in all adversity.

I believe that none of the foregoing explanations give much (any?) consolation to the recently aggrieved and that the comforter can best support him or her by providing 'quiet love ' by their presence and prayer. We cannot try to reason the unexplainable and to attempt to do so must surely only create confusion and skepticism.