Common Grace: A Key to Integrating Faith and Engineering

About Common Grace: A Key to Integrating Faith and Engineering

Abstract

Finding significance in the practice of engineering requires, for Christians, coming to terms with how engineering relates to their faith. Yet, there is little difference between how Christians and those of other faiths or no faith do engineering. The science they apply is the same; their design process is the same; even their design norms and engineering ethics are quite similar. Does this mean that faith is irrelevant to engineering? Or, have Christians in engineering been so little influenced by their faith that their practice is like those of no faith? This paper suggests a different answer, one based on the doctrine of common grace. Common grace refers to the gifts God gives to all humanity and not preferentially to those who also receive special or saving grace. Examples include rain, reason, a moral se e, and engineering. Viewing engineering as a common grace activity explains the similarity of engineering practice amongpeople of all faiths. This explanation offers perspective on certain approaches to integrating faith and engineering and can help Christian engineers to work effectively as part of diverse teams. Common grace also brings about the similarity of engineering ethics among people of all faiths, but the role of common grace is sometimes overlooked in Christian discussions of engineering ethics. While the doctrine of common grace explains the remarkable similarities between engineers of all faiths, it also suggests a distinctively Christian motivation for engineering. It is through common grace activities like engineering that Christians serve Christ as we also serve our neighbors.