Why Should Christians Become Scientists?

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“I believe that any Christian who is qualified to write a good popular book on any science may do much more by that than any directly apologetic work…

It is not the books written in direct defense of Materialism that make the modern man a materialist; it is the materialistic assumptions in all the other books.  In the same way, it is not books on Christianity that will really trouble him.  But he would be troubled if, whenever he wanted a cheap popular introduction to some science, the best work on the market was always by a Christian.”

    -C. S. Lewis, “Christian Apologetics” (1945)

The scientific fields need more Christians. Much of the scientific work and discussion today takes place without a Gospel influence - that’s not good for science or scientists, and it’s not a good witness for the God who made all things and called His creation “good.”

Perhaps you’re considering a career in the sciences, or encouraging a young person you know to become a scientist. (“Maybe after Timmy’s career in fast food, he’d like to be a molecular physicist!”) That’s great, but remember that not everybody is cut out for the way of working that leads to scientific success. There are certain personality traits that suit one well for the vocation of science. Here are a few:

Curiosity - The first quality is curiosity, wonder about the world. If you’re someone who constantly asks, “Why did that happen?” or “How does this work?” you might make a great scientist. Scientists aren’t content to see things happen without investigating behind the scenes or below the surface. They have insatiable curiosity and want to get to the bottom of things. If you have dissected your family’s electric can opener, you might make a good physical engineer. If you’ve dissected your sister’s guinea pig, you might make a good veterinary surgeon (after intensive therapy).

Systematic thinking - A scientist should be able to think in an orderly way - to put things into categories or see how parts fit into a larger system. They often get frustrated with artsy people who flit from topic to topic without stopping to understand how things are connected. A scientist can follow instructions methodically to conduct reproducible experiments or make detailed observations. They can’t be disorganized in their work, or they’ll miss important details (in science you don’t always know what details are important until later). Obsessive-compulsive types often make good scientists, as long as your systematic thinking doesn’t go too far overboard - if you arrange your shirts in alphabetical order by color, you might want to dial it back a little bit.

Openness to new ideas - Good scientists don’t think they have all the answers, and they want to learn what they don’t know. People who are entrenched in their ways of thinking don’t allow themselves to explore other options. This isn’t to say that a scientist can’t have strong convictions - in fact, I believe strong convictions make one a better scientist. But it means that you believe in those convictions strongly enough that you’re willing to test them over and over and see how they stand up to scrutiny. That shows you are open to the truth, whatever it might be. (Except Sasquatch. Don’t bother studying Sasquatch; only Yetis are real.)

Humility - A good scientist has to be willing to be okay with being proven wrong. That’s difficult for most of us, but science is not about promoting people or even ideas; it’s about getting to the truth about physical reality. When a scientist is proven wrong, that means he or she is one fact further in knowledge. But it takes humility to enjoy the truth even when your original ideas aren’t part of it. The hardest part about being a scientist might be swallowing one’s pride in the name of truth. But it’s vitally important. Even I was wrong once, though that was years ago.

Love of the physical world - A scientist who doesn’t love this big incredible universe won’t enjoy being a scientist for very long. It’s not the kind of work you typically do for money or fame; delighting in the act of discovery must be a reward to you, or the work becomes a dull routine. You must be able to see that the universe is incredible.

Focus - It’s somewhat difficult for most of us to think about any one topic for long periods of time. Focus is a skill that you learn through practice and exercise. In this world of distractions, unplanned opportunities to strengthen focus are few and far between. But diligent study is important for mastering scientific knowledge. So, if you love science but are terrible at focus (as I am), it’s time to start practicing the skill of uninterrupted study. Learn to put away the distractions and think about one topic until you understand it on a deep level. Shallow scientists don’t make big discoveries. The cat memes and videos of guys being hit in the groin will still be there when you need a break.

Cooperation - There are no “lone wolf” scientists. Scientific work is done in community, because each must build on another’s work and add to the insights of others. There are some scientists who are so intelligent or insightful that they get away with treating others poorly, because people really want to work with them. Even if you’re smart, don’t be that scientist. Being rude, mean, or selfish doesn’t make anyone a better thinker; these are bad habits to overcome. Learn to work well with others, and you’ll go further in just about any field, but especially in science, where everyone relies on everyone else to keep the enterprise moving forward.

Imagination - Science might seem like the last place you’d need a great imagination, because sceince deals with the cold hard facts of the real world. But it takes vision and creative thinking to picture big systems when you can only see a part, or to come up with hypotheses that explain mysterious events. You have to be able to imagine things you cannot see, whether that’s blood pumping through a heart, atoms making up a molecule, or distant galaxies colliding with one another. The incredible things that make up the real universe are as radical and counterintuitive as what you find in a fairy tale. If you diverted the brain cells you use to fantasize about beating LeBron James in one-on-one toward scientific thoughts, who knows what could happen?

Conclusion

Science is the kind of patient, methodical work that would drive many people crazy. But if it’s something you care about, perhaps you’ve got the personality for it. If the traits above (or several of them) describe you, you might make a great scientist. Get out there and explore God’s incredible creation. Read and research and learn all you can. See what you can contribute to the study of this fantastic universe. This is the best time ever to love science. Science needs Christians, and Christians grow in awe and wonder of God when we explore the universe He’s made.