This article is part of the series Scientific Virtues and the Fruit of the Spirit. Find other articles in the series here.
At the end of my bachelor’s degree, my answer to the age-old question of ‘what are you doing when you graduate?’ was : “I’m doing a PhD”. This provokes a plethora of responses, depending on who asked – ranging from “What’s that then?”, “Is that a one-year course?”, to “Really! Are you sure you want to put yourself through that?”.
The last response is probably an acknowledgment that academia is sometimes synonymous with its fierce and fiery culture. “Publish or Perish” is a phrase that is often used in research: there can be immense pressure on academics, postdocs, PhD students, as well as masters and undergraduate students to perform and produce (meaningful) results.
If done well then you can be incredibly successful and have a great career, being able to make significant contributions to a specialism you really care about (whether for you that’s dairy cow nutrition, veterinary virology, astrophysics, chemical structures of organic compounds or some other niche area!) – but all too often you hear horror stories of when things aren’t so rosy.
Whether you’re in the lecture hall or lab, you will most certainly experience some of this competitive and pressured environment. How can we as Christians embrace gentleness over competition, and what would that mean for our work?
The Bible talks about gentleness when Paul speaks about the ‘fruits of the Spirit’; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23).
I would argue there are three key aspects to consider when considering the biblical attribute of gentleness:
1. Gentleness to others
2. Gentleness when things go wrong
3. Gentleness with ourselves
Gentleness can be transformative at university and in research careers. Gentleness is much more than just being ‘calm and kind’, it's about becoming more Christ-like in our interactions with others and ourselves.
Gentleness to others
Working with others can be rewarding but also challenging, especially in academic environments. There have been times when I have been in group settings and tensions have risen over the direction of the work. It can be hard to know how to respond in a way that doesn’t add any more stress or undermine those who think so passionately about an idea.
We are called to do good work and it is good to want to do things well. However we must also remember to be gentle in our approaches, remembering Colossians 3:12: 'Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience'.
The pressure of high stress situations can sometimes, over time, result in aspects of people’s character becoming critical or damaging, to themselves or to others. It’s then not surprising that one in two PhD students experience symptoms of depression or anxiety (Boulter et al., 2023) and 16% of undergraduate students report a mental health condition whilst at university (Sanders, 2023).
As Christians, we are not immune from these things, but we do have a hope that God has plans to “give us hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). We can then take on the role of ambassadors of Christ, showing gentleness and compassion to those around us, particularly to our friends who may be struggling.
Christ-like gentleness in science requires humility, patience and wisdom.
It's not all that bleak, I promise! It is however so important to consider how our character can reflect that of Christ's gentle nature and influence the environment around us.
We should always consider how we can be gentle in what can sometimes be a fierce and competitive workplace. It’s more than just being kind with our words, or “creating a positive research culture”. Christ-like gentleness in science requires humility, patience and wisdom – incorporating this in our daily lives helps us to meet people where they’re at, loving our neighbours and helping one another to navigate difficult times.
We should be careful with how we use our words, not being overly critical in our feedback and making time for others. Our demeanour matters and we are to “be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:2). As a secondary effect, this may also make us more personable and attractive for collaborations, improving our work and research impact.
Gentleness when things go wrong
‘Failure’ (although I’m not convinced this is always the right word to use) in science is inevitable and that’s kind of the point. You cannot claim to have learnt or discovered something if you haven’t also shown where or how something doesn’t work. But no one likes to fail or face challenges, especially when you’re working on something you care about. Having a gentle approach in the face of challenges and adversity can help build our resilience and subsequently help to develop our work.
There are many examples in the Bible where Jesus was gentle, calm and measured when things didn’t quite go to plan (I’m thinking of the calming of the storm in Mark 4:35-41 but there are many more).
We have a choice over our response to situations. Gentleness channels that power and helps us to humbly remember that God’s ways are higher than our own.
The disciples never planned to get themselves into tricky situations, however as it turns out they were quite good at i! And so are we – our research or studies will never be plain sailing, but making sure we are not quick to accuse others or act out of measure helps us to reflect Christ’s character. “I’m right and you’re wrong and there’s nothing you can do about it” isn’t usually a good collaborative approach! (Mrs Trunchbull, Matilda Film, 1996)
Academic integrity is the core of being a good scientist, but unfortunately the ‘symptoms’ of a high-pressured environment can include students (or researchers) feeling like they must fabricate data, falsify existing results, or plagiarise work to meet the expectations or deadlines set for them.
Our words and actions have influence over others, and as such we can respond to situations in a way that can either help or hinder. We all have a choice over our response to situations. Gentleness channels that power and helps us to humbly remember that God’s ways are higher than our own. We most certainly won’t get it right, but the good news is there’s plenty of God-given grace to go around.
Gentleness to ourselves
Finally, it’s important to recognise the need for self-compassion and gentleness towards ourselves in demanding fields of scientific research or study.
Lots of us recognise the need to be accepting and positive towards others, whilst often being crippled by self-criticism and perfectionism. Not only does this impact on our productivity and mental wellbeing, but it also comes into conflict with the love that God has for us. Setting boundaries and knowing when to stop reading or leave the lab and go home can be challenging (especially when you’re a busy and keen student), but practicing spiritual disciplines such as Sabbath rest can help us to be more productive and, more importantly, develop our relationship with Christ.
Lots of us recognise the need to be accepting and positive towards others, whilst being crippled by self-criticism and perfectionism.
We were made to work, but also to rest: we must remember to be gentle to ourselves. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says: 'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me [Christ], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls'.
In all our work, whether academic or not, we should follow the greatest commandment, loving God with all we are, and loving others as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). At times showing this love in a Christ-like gentle way may cost us an opportunity, but the reward for following Christ’s example is greater than any earthly thing.
References
Boulter, J., Orozco Morales, M. L., Principe, N., & Tilsed, C. M. (2023). What is Kindness in Science and why does it matter? Immunology & Cell Biology, 101(2), 97–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12580
Sanders, M. (2023). Student mental health in 2023. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/student-mental-health-in-2023.pdf
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