An answer most easily offered is that science benefits people. Those who pray, "thy kingdom come" are motivated to be a part of changing our world for the better. Most advances in medicine and other areas which aid people have been inextricably linked to scientific progress. Yet this statement cannot go the other way. All advances in science did not lead to the aid of humanity. Nuclear medicine developed alongside nuclear weapons. Even excepting that rather negative view, I find this answer rather far-fetched. Belief in the abstract ability of science to benefit people in the future does not seem like motivation enough to go back to the lab each day.
Another possible motivation is simply the sheer delight in the natural world as the invention of an incredibly creative and intelligent God. There is a fine line here. The Christian scientist does not merely love the created world, for that would be idolatry. He or she loves the exploration of the natural world because it enables them to see just a bit more clearly how beautiful and awesome is the God who made it. Piper has pointed out that God is glorified when his people delight in him. I agree, and find this answer much more plausible than the first.
Yet I am still troubled by this: the God revealed in the bible is not only a creative and majestic and awesome God; he is also the God who brings good news to the poor and justice to the oppressed. It seems to me that any follower of Christ, including the scientist, must also care about this. So what does this mean for the Christian scientist, or for anyone whose vocation does not directly help the poor or oppressed? I can suggest three possible answers to this question:
- We have to remember that we are not the only member of the church, and trust God that he uses many different people to work in myriads of ways. Surely our creative God does not need to limit all of his people to the same type of vocation. This may be true, but is it a satisfying answer?
- Science is only done with part of our lives; the rest of the time is also valuable time in which God can use us in other ways. Unless my second "answer" above is true, this point makes almost no sense. Even so, it stands on shaky ground. If the scientist can best glorify God by doing science, then why worry about doing anything else? On the other hand, if it is the evenings and weekends that really make a difference in God's kingdom, why bother doing working in the lab in the first place?
- There is a way of living that glorifies God and brings his kingdom on earth that is not limited by a career in science. Perhaps in one small but important sense, it doesn't really matter what career we choose. I am not saying our actions are meaningless. On the contrary, it is what we do all the time - the things we say, the way we interact with people, our priorities, the way that we praise God through our work - these are the things that matter. Surely God could provide opportunities to bring freedom and comfort and justice to those who need it, right in the midst of a scientific vocation.
Interesting thoughts, Bethany—it seems to me that you're thinking quite a bit about the legitimacy of your continuing physics education/career.
ReplyDelete"Belief in the abstract ability of science to benefit people in the future does not seem like motivation enough to go back to the lab each day." It is for me! We know logically that our present esoteric research (Martian geology or condensed matter physics) *may* benefit people in the future, though we may not see how. I always like to point out things like the laser—at the time it was invented it was a solution in search of problems. They may not have had any applications in mind, but think how useful it is in surgery and telecommunications (a way to advance the Gospel!). Do something because it's interesting, I say, and the practical results will follow. Additionally, pursuing esoteric fields with no immediately obvious application has the added benefit that it answers questions we weren't smart enough to ask! That's how Teflon was invented!
I think an unsatisfying aspect to your second of three questions at the end may stem from an unrealistic agreement with Kant's Categorical Imperative: "Act only on that maxim which you can simultaneously will that it be a universal truth." In other words, you seem to be saying that whatever we do in life is all-or-nothin'. I would disagree in that while a physicist glorifies God in her work, she *can* also do other things to build up the Kingdom. God's redemptive plan doesn't involve doing a few things well and neglecting others--it involves doing everything at once, but different people are given different callings to that end. Physicists who make potentially-useful-in-the-future discoveries are just as needed (though in a different way) as the Sisters of Compassion started by Mother Theresa in Calcutta. They're not called to be physicists and you may not be called to directly lift others out of poverty like they are.
Your thirds answer is excellent. I hope you understand, Bethany, that whatever you do with physics or any other God-ordained pursuit will not be in vain. Far from it.
Thanks Kirby, for your comment. I guess I'm not so much doubting my decision to continue studying physics, as trying to understand it a bit better. I really appreciate your taking the time to comment like you did. Your points are good, and your gentle criticism of my way of thinking is helpful. I liked "pursuing esoteric fields with no immediately obvious application has the added benefit that it answers questions we weren't smart enough to ask" - I hadn't thought of it that way before.
ReplyDeleteAlso your third paragraph: you're right that I tend towards that all-or-nothing mindset, even though if I stop and look at my life, I realize that I go in so many different directions, delighting in diverse things. "God's redemptive plan doesn't involve doing a few things well and neglecting others--it involves doing everything at once, but different people are given different callings to that end", that's well said.
time to go listen to a radio special on landing on the moon! :)
Thanks,
Bethany
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteYour writing is like you. I love that so much. I read your blog and it is like talking with you except even more detailed and orderly. It makes me really happy.
When I was in quebec the theme of the week was "creation" especially "the farm." Here at Hochstein this week the theme is "recycling" and "love the earth" and I was thinking, if these camps were at Houghton, the two themes would have been one theme.
That made me miss you.
Love,
Clara