Should Francis Collins religious beliefs have disqualified him for appointment as Director of the NIH?
I don’t think so, there are a great many scientists who are religious and their beliefs do not interfere with their work. Personally I know several Muslim, Orthodox Jewish, and Christian researchers and their work is above reproach. They were all hired by the institutions they work for because of scientific backgrounds, not their religious beliefs and although Collins’ beliefs were taken into consideration when he was approached for the NIH position, in the end, it was all about his skills as an administrator and scientist, as it should be. His track record is impeccable and if anything, he should be used as an example that a balance of faith in a higher power and in the sciences is possible, it someone wants to achieve that.
