Third iteration in my disciple-scholar series. I have already done one on 20th and 21st-century physicist disciple scholars and another one on 19th-21st century mathematician and logician disciple-scholars. 

Once again quotes are from Wikipedia unless otherwise noted. 

George Price

A fascinating case that somebody should make a movie about. (I actually read a whole book about him). Pioneer in game theoretic biology (the “Price equation”) and did a lot of work on how morality evolved and makes sense naturally from a group selection evolutionary perspective, no God required. He was so much of a strident atheist that it affected his relationship with his devout Catholic wife and they later divorced. Afterwards he converted to Christianity and his life took an ironic turn.  

Price grew increasingly depressed by the implications of his equation. As part of an attempt to prove his theory right or wrong, he began showing an ever-increasing amount (in both quality and quantity) of random kindness to complete strangers. In this way, he dedicated the latter part of his life to helping the homeless, often inviting homeless people to live in his house. Sometimes, when the people in his house became a distraction, he slept in his office at the Galton Laboratory. He also gave up everything to help alcoholics; yet as he helped them steal his belongings, he increasingly fell into depression.

He was eventually evicted from his rented house owing to a construction project in the area, making him unhappy because he could no longer provide housing for the homeless. 

Sadly he eventually committed suicide. Like Georg Mendel, his tragic ending probably doesn’t make religious geniuses seem like completely even keeled human beings, but is still inspiring in its own weird way. 

Theodosius Dobzhansky

Devout Russian Orthodox Christian and groundbreaking evolutionary biologist who developed the synthesis between Darwin and genes. Famously wrote that “nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” One of the pioneers for the idea of theistic evolution. 

Gregor Mendel

Catholic priest and pioneer of hereditary math. Contrary to Dawkins on this, by all accounts Mendel was sincerely devout; he wasn’t just in it for the research funds. 

Richard Dawkins

On that note, I’ll put him on this list to be a little contrarian. Yes he’s an anti-religionists and atheist (although he’s toned that down lately, you can tell he’s sort of bored of that and has moved on), but more than anybody else except for Loren Eisely below he communicates the almost worshipful awe for nature that is spiritual in a sense (although he would bristle at me using that term). If you don’t feel a sense of grandeur at nature after reading his popular science books and essays like Devil’s Chaplain I don’t know if you’re capable of those particular feelings. 

Loren Eisely 

Once again, not a traditional religionist, but draws from religious and spiritual themes in his essays on the beauty and power of nature. The Immense Journey is a classic of the genre and is required reading.One of the old school gentlemen scholars that saw knowing Shakespeare and Greek as a piece with organic chemistry. “The religious chord did not sound in him, but he vibrated to many of the concerns historically related to religion.” 

R.A. Fisher

Invented population genetics and more or less founded neo-Drawinism, plus one of the most important statistical pioneers of the century. Devout Anglican who would write for Church periodicals and would comment on the science/religion connection. 

Asa Gray

Founder of modern botany as a discipline. While the agnostic Alduous Huxley later gained the reputation as “Darwin’s bulldog,” Darwin himself considered his good friend Asa as his “best advocate.” Devout presbyterian who was one of the first “actually, Drawinism totally works with religion” types. “Darwin had Gray in mind when he wrote, ‘It seems to me absurd to doubt that a man may be an ardent theist & an evolutionist.’”

Simon Conway Morris

Paleontologist who discovered the Cambrian explosion. A theistic evolutionist who is involved in religion/science discussions. “Conway Morris has contributed articles on evolution and Christian belief to several collections, including The Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion (2010) and The Blackwell Companion to Science and Christianity (2012).” A quote from him: 

The scientist who boomingly – and they always boom – declares that those who believe in the Deity are unavoidably crazy, “cracked” as my dear father would have said, although I should add that I have every reason to believe he was – and now hope is – on the side of the angels.

Robert Bakker 

Major figure in the “dinosaur renaissance,” of the 20th century and an ordained Pentecostal minister. Like many on this list, also involved in discussions about theistic evolution.

Joshua Swamidass

Computational biologist/physician at Washington University who has published over 150 papers. Spends time reconciling biblical accounts with science. Not in a cooky, dinosaur-layers-are-from dinosaurs-fleeing-rising-flood-waters type but by, for example, arguing that a proto Adam and Eve couple could have existed 6,000 years ago, just that they couldn’t be the sole source of genetic material for humanity (i.e. there were a lot of other couples on earth at the time that mixed with their children), a possibility I’m sympathetic to. 

Francis Collins

Almost needs no introduction. Leader of the human genome project and convert from atheism.  Wrote The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Spoke at BYU.