Question:When is it appropriate to share your faith with a scientist?

[jbabraham88 (josh abraham)]

I asked the question about “hosting Darwin for dinner” and recorded your responses, thanks so much.

So I won’t be hitting my guest over the head with a gospel presentation.

When and how is it appropriate in the course of a relationship to share your faith with someone in science who has very fixed ideas about theologically traditional Christians?

My friend feared that his dean, formerly of the Baylor science department, was opposed to mainstream teaching about origins. That’s how disconnected my friend was from the culture at Baylor. He heard the term “Christian university” and became afraid and concerned.

I just thought to ask questions that motivated my friend to share and tell stories that hopefully enhance our friendship, and say goodbye till our next get together, hoping he will want to continue relating.

It seems there are two extremes:

1. Ram the Gospel down people’s throats
2. Never share the story of your faith and just hang out

I don’t know best how to articulate a third way. But Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

[jammycakes (James McKay)]

@jbabraham88

When and how is it appropriate in the course of a relationship to share your faith with someone in science who has very fixed ideas about theologically traditional Christians?

When? When it fits naturally into the conversation. Don’t force the conversation round to the subject, but don’t be shy about it either.

How? Just be honest. Share your story. Perhaps talk about people you know through church, or conversations that you’ve had.

What to avoid? Loaded questions. Ulterior motives. Dishonesty.

Some things I wrote here might help:

@jammycakes

I think the main advice that I would give is: demonstrate to them that you take them seriously. For many scientists, their experience of Christianity has been tainted by bad attitudes towards science. There are many Christians who approach science in ways that are condescending, dishonest, suspicious, passive-aggressive, judgmental or even outright hostile, and if you want to persuade a scientist to listen to you, the very first thing you have to establish is that you are not one of them.

Another important piece of advice is: make sure your facts are straight. Scientists (and, for what it’s worth, engineers and anyone else who is scientifically educated) spend their careers working with factual data that is tightly constrained by logic and evidence, and they are trained to be able to work their way through multiple complex levels of reasoning to reach a conclusion. This means that you should never, ever, ever lie to them: they are much more sensitive to falsehood and misinformation than normal people, and also, being naturally sceptical, if they find you’re not being straight with them about one thing, they will start disbelieving everything you say about everything. Be especially careful to avoid ridiculous or easily falsified claims, and if a scientist tells you that you’re wrong about something, don’t keep repeating the same falsehood over and over again. Such things are not just being “odd” or “unintellectual”: they are an insult to a scientist’s intelligence.

Over and above that, ask questions to learn, not to win an argument. Genuine curiosity is always welcomed, but ulterior motives are not. For this reason, asking about their assumptions or motivations is not a good idea unless you’re willing to listen to their answer and to follow up with other questions to clarify anything that you don’t understand. And bear in mind that their answer will almost certainly not be the one you expect. Scientists know a whole lot more about the assumptions that they make, why they make them, and what you need to do in order to challenge them, than you do.

One particularly good question is to ask them to tell you about their research. It shows that you’re interested in them as people and you’re not just treating them as evangelism fodder. However, do make sure that you listen to their response and are prepared to ask follow-up questions as necessary. And don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know what you don’t know. Scientists are for the most part more than happy to explain to you anything that you don’t understand. It’s far better to admit to ignorance than to have it exposed by making a string of nonsensical or untrue claims.

[RichardG (Richard Gillett)]

If people do not know you are a Christian then you are doing something wrong.

There was a song by Extreme called "“more than words”. it was ostensibly about love but it fits here also.

Christianity is a way of life, not an apologetic, or a dogma.

@jammycakes

Don’t force the conversation round to the subject, but don’t be shy about it either.

The point being, if it is noticeable or it creates curiosity, then share, but if it goes unnoticed talking about it will not help.

It is not about preaching or teaching. Even today most people are aware of the basics, they just do not see the relevance. The relevance is in our lifestyle and choices. If those are the same as someone without faith, either they do not need God’s guidance, or you are not the example you should be… Christians still have to live in this world. It is how they cope and move on that is./ should be the difference.

Tell them why you are a Christian not why they should be one.

Richard

[SkovandOfMitaze (Mi)]

There is no best time. It’s depends on you and whoever you are talking too. Even then, they may get mad or don’t care.

I’m very open about my faith to atheists, agnostics, people of other faiths and other Christians. Since I am a Christian and I take my faith seriously it comes up in general discussions all the time. Same thing for veganism and animal rights and my love of the outdoors and nature. Does not matter if they are a pastor, an scientist, or worker at a pizza place or a random person I meet while hiking.

Yesterday while hiking met a couple who stopped to walk down a pier and rest and look out over the delta. As I passed them on the pier coming back I noticed a cotton mouth. Knowing it was in a dangerous spot I scared it back down underneath the decking to its home. As I was doing that the couple was walking back looking at me and I explained to them what was doing and that this snake lives here and I’ve been seeing it for over a year now in this general spot.

The man and woman begin talking to me about snakes and I mentioned I like snakes. Showed them some pics. We ended up talking about different places to go hiking in this area. During the discussion I mentioned one place is next to a church I like to visit when I’m over that way. So I’ll often do on a Sunday. They have a “early riser” service at 6am. So I often go to that service, am out by 7/730am and go hiking to the park that opens up at 8am. They did not respond back in any way other than that’s early. I then mentioned another cool spot to hike is by the black water system and mentioned that in one area there has been 5 horror movies filmed there. They then mentioned horror movies. We talked about seeing one called Lake Jesup “Bonecrusher’s Revenge”. Somehow we got back to snakes and I mentioned hearing that they may have actually evolved in colder weather and only lately moved into warmer areas. That I think the podcast “the common descent” mentioned it.
I’m not a scientist at all. But I do a bit of citizen scientist work with field identification. Natural history is my favorite subject to study. So I pick up quite a bit of local natural history and general evolutionary stories of animals and plants. This has placed me meeting many scientists including some like EO Wilson ( the late world ant expert ) who was raised Christian but became atheist. We talked for about 15 minutes years ago when I was peeling back bark on fallen trees looking for slime mold when this old man, wondered up. We were just talking and he pointed to several ants and mentioned families and species. Then as we went to leave I told him my name and he told me his and I realized I’ve been talking to one of the greatest entomologists. I think he was 80 is what he said when I met him. He wrote the book “creation care” as an appeal to pastors to be stewards.

So just read the room your in and don’t be to pushy but don’t be unauthentic either .

[T_aquaticus]

@jbabraham88

When and how is it appropriate in the course of a relationship to share your faith with someone in science who has very fixed ideas about theologically traditional Christians?

Scientists are no different than anyone else, so whenever it would be appropriate in any conversation or interaction.

@jbabraham88

It seems there are two extremes:

1. Ram the Gospel down people’s throats
2. Never share the story of your faith and just hang out

I don’t know best how to articulate a third way. But Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Something along the lines of, “Hey, if you ever want to join me for church on Sunday let me know.” You could also add that Christianity is an important part of your life, and you could tell him more if he wants.

Just make it a friendly invitation, and don’t push too hard. This is especially true if this is someone you will see a lot (e.g. coworker).

[mitchellmckain (Scientist and Christian)]

When is it appropriate to share your faith with a scientists?

It is appropriate in the right venue. A classroom teaching science or a public event for the purpose of sharing the findings of science are not the right venue. The same goes for any other public event focused on a different purpose, for in such places what is appropriate is to stick to the agenda for which the event was organized and not to hijack it for some unrelated personal agenda (whether it be religious, political, or even scientific). This is something in which neither religion nor science have any special status or privileges. All are bound by the same restrictions of good manners for public behavior.

[T_aquaticus]

@mitchellmckain

This is something in which neither religion nor science have any special status or privileges. All are bound by the same restrictions of good manners for public behavior.

The good ol’ Golden Rule applies here, as it does in most situations. Just ask yourself how you would want to be approached about a religious belief you currently don’t hold (e.g. Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism) and apply that to how you approach others. Personally, I have no problem when Mormon missionaries show up at my door, but it would be a bit troublesome if a Mormon coworker was constantly pushing me to read some pamphlet or attend a church meeting. Just be nice, be respectful, and don’t be pushy.