--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...to apply scientific arguments to the…" description: "\"“...to apply scientific arguments to the question of God's existence, as if this were somehow a showstopper, is committing a category error.”\" — Franci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/francis-s-collins-30626_life_to-apply-scientific-arguments-to-the-que_1004245.jpg" --- # ...to apply scientific arguments to the question of God's… ![“...to apply scientific arguments to the question of God's existence, as if this were somehow a showstopper, is committing a category error.” quote by Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/francis-s-collins-30626_life_to-apply-scientific-arguments-to-the-que_1004245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/francis-s-collins-30626_life_to-apply-scientific-arguments-to-the-que_1004245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/francis-s-collins-30626_life_to-apply-scientific-arguments-to-the-que_1004245.jpg) > ““...to apply scientific arguments to the question of God's existence, as if this were somehow a showstopper, is committing a category error.”” [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using scientific methods to prove or disprove God mis a category error, as science and faith address different questions. **In simple terms:** Science and faith answer different questions. Key Takeaway Respect both science and faith. Themes faith science philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - theological debate - science education - public discourse Key Concepts category error epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Can science and faith coexist? - What limits each approach? A Different Perspective Some argue science can address existence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arguments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguments/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Many persons nowadays seem to think that any conclusion must be very scientific if the arguments in favor of it are derived from twitching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/many-persons-nowadays-seem-to-think-that-any-conclusion-must-be-very/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Nowadays nobody bothers, and it is considered in slightly bad taste to even raise the question of God's existence. 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But I think we do face the question of where God is, why we are created and where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-am-not-particularly-religious-but-i-think-we-do-face-the-question/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) ## More by Francis S. Collins > [“Science is progressive and self-correcting: no significantly erroneous conclusions or false hypotheses can be sustained for long, as newer observations will ultimately knock down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/science-is-progressive-and-self-correcting-no-significantly-erroneous/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“Yeah, it’s true we’re all dealt a set of cards. But it’s also true that it’s up to us to figure out how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/yeah-it-s-true-we-re-all-dealt-a-set-of-cards-but-it-s-also-true-that/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“I was vaguely aware that same of those around me thought that this pairing of explorations was contradictory and I was headed over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/i-was-vaguely-aware-that-same-of-those-around-me-thought-that-this/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“In that context, I find theistic evolution, or BioLogos, to be by far the most scientifically consistent and spiritually satisfying of the alternatives. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/in-that-context-i-find-theistic-evolution-or-biologos-to-be-by-far/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“At this point, godless materialists might be cheering. If humans evolved strictly by mutation and natural selection, who needs God to explain us? 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Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“There are many subtle variants of theistic evolution, but a typical version rests upon the following premises: The universe came into being out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/there-are-many-subtle-variants-of-theistic-evolution-but-a-typical/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“Faith and reason are not, as many seem to be arguing today, mutually exclusive. They never have been. The letter to the Hebrews in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/faith-and-reason-are-not-as-many-seem-to-be-arguing-today-mutually/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“In this modern era of cosmology, evolution, and the human genome, is there still the possibility of a richly satisfying harmony between the scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/in-this-modern-era-of-cosmology-evolution-and-the-human-genome-is/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [“...let us recognize that a large fraction of our suffering and that of our fellow human beings is brought about by what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/let-us-recognize-that-a-large-fraction-of-our-suffering-and-that-of/) [Francis S. 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