The The Builders Guild:

Exploring How Biblical Theology May Transform Ethical Decision-Making in STEM and Construction Trades

Abstract

It is a common experience for faith and ethics to be disconnected from the “real world” of science, technology, engineering, math and construction trades (STEM & CT). Related to this phenomenon, Neil Postman uses the term “technopolies” to describe societies that are dismissive of religion and tradition and instead submit culture to the “sovereignty of technique and technology” (Postman, 1993, p. 59). Despite assumptions made by “technopolies”, customs and belief systems serve essential functions in helping people to know their history, form identity, and navigate ethical challenges. Foltz and Foltz argue that, “To destroy belief systems is to lose the very resources needed for a meaningful democratic society” (Foltz & Foltz, 2018, p. 4). STEM & CT education does not escape technopoly’s grip and, reflecting its very ethos, modern STEM curriculum generally exalts “technical” subjects while discounting “soft” subjects such as religion and ethics. It is not uncommon even for STEM educators within Christian higher-education institutions to isolate faith from technical disciplines. After collecting and modeling surveys from 2,074 faculty representing 55 institutions from within the Council of Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), Kaul et al. found that: “The results of the Discipline model suggest that, on average, faculty from the field of religion and philosophy are more likely to integrate faith and learning, whereas faculty from both the hard or applied sciences and humanities are less likely to integrate their faith into the classroom” (Kaul, Hardin, & Beaujean, 2017, pp. 172–187 & 183).

To address such challenges that face people who work in STEM & CT, I developed and facilitated a short course—known as “The Builders Guild”—as one component of my Doctor of Ministry thesis-project. The Builders Guild explored the integration of Biblical theology with ethical decision-making, emphasizing a Biblically transformed virtue ethic as a preferred alternative to the more commonly emphasized ethical frameworks of deontology or utilitarianism.

This article addresses some of the core highlights of my thesis-project, including participants’ increased confidence in understanding and applying Biblically transformed virtues of courage, temperance, justice, prudence, and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. At the conclusion of the Builders Guild course, participants also expressed increased desire to integrate their religious faith into ethical decision-making. Findings also suggest that integration of theology into ethics education is not only viable but deeply meaningful for practitioners who seek to navigate theological and ethical complexities inherent to vocations in STEM & CT.

DOI:  https://zenodo.org/records/18664493