Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Imagine a precocious, driven, and empathetic undergraduate student. She has discovered a passion and a talent for biochemistry, and wants to apply to graduate school to pursue agronomy, with the goal of returning to her rural community home after graduation. She loves science and nature; she is also a committed Christian. She has a vague sense that these things are connected, but she isn’t sure how. And to be honest, the people around her in college do not always believe these two parts of her identity are compatible. Nevertheless, she plans to pursue graduate studies and hopes her faith will not be negatively affected.

Now, imagine the various types of academic conversations she is likely to encounter in her years of graduate school. Much will depend, of course, on her course of study and the interests and capabilities of her professors, colleagues, and peers. Like many graduate students before her, she is likely to find herself navigating a broad array of sometimes conflicting narratives and perspectives. She may be wondering how to chart a course through it all while remaining true to her beliefs and worldview.

The experiences of this hypothetical student are far from unique: in fact, many elements of her journey are reflected in our own professional and spiritual lives. In seeking to navigate these challenges, we identified a deep and overarching need to better investigate the following questions: how should Christian scholars in the agricultural sciences think about the relationships between their Christian convictions and worldviews and their work as scientists, scholars, educators, and, frequently, entrepreneurs and consultants? What are the various institutional influences, disciplinary avenues, and cultural assumptions that form and shape Christian scholars’ approaches to this question over time? In this piece, we hope to explore these questions and contribute meaningfully to the professional and spiritual growth of other scholars in the field of agriculture.

Comments

Originally published in Hill, John et al. “Cultural Logics in Agriculture: A Critical Christian Perspective - Christian Scholar’s Review.” Christian Scholar’s Review, 23 Mar. 2026, https://christianscholars.com/cultural-logics-in-agriculture-a-critical-christian-perspective/.

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