A scientist, a nonconformist, and a strong believer in God, Michael
Faraday was perhaps the greatest scientist of his time (he was born in
1791, during the French Revolution, and he lived well into the 19th
century). He was also a committed Christian and a member of the London
congregation of the Sandemanians. This was a distinctly nonconformist
denomination that took the "New Testament church" as its model, and whose
members were known for their extremely high level of commitment and
devotion. (He himself was once disciplined for being absent from worship,
for no better reason than that Queen Victoria had "commanded" him to dine
at Windsor!)
Nevertheless, Faraday fit right in; his faith was both simple and deep.
For significant periods, he served as Deacon, Elder, and even Co-Pastor
of his flock. On Sundays he would often preach or "exhort" his people,
and on other days he would visit those in need, providing them with
spiritual oversight and pastoral care -- helping them both physically
and spiritually. Everyone who knew him recognized Faraday as a man of
unusual character; his simplicity, modesty, and humility were deeply
rooted in his Christian faith.
Outside the church, he did not much mix religious discussions into
conversations with his fellow scientists. At the same time, his personal
faith seems to have had a strong influence on his own practice of
science. He approached the study of natural events as a God-fearing
philosopher, and brought his social and ethical principles to bear as he
scrupulously pursued scientific truth.
Eventually, a picture of Michael Faraday was to be displayed in the
study of none other than Albert Einstein, because Faraday had provided
the foundation for Einstein's own scientific discoveries.
No one could have known that the son of a blacksmith would grow up to be
one of the world's best ground-breaking scientists. His schooling was
that of an ordinary English country lad, and only after he went to work
for a bookbinder and bookseller -- as an errand boy at 13 and an
apprentice the next year -- did he have much chance to read and really
learn about the outside world.
But he soon came across a copy of "The Improvement of the Mind," by Isaac
Watts. Having such a book to read, and being in the congenial setting of
a book shop, were probably what made the difference.
Watts -- who had been an exceptionally prolific hymn-writer in the early
18th century -- suggested in his book ways that a person could benefit
from lectures, reading, conversation, and observation.
Watts advised that a "commonplace" notebook be kept; at 18, Faraday began
to keep one. Watts recommended attendance at lectures, correspondence
with persons of similar interests, and participation in discussion
groups; Faraday began to do all these things. And perhaps most important
of all for someone with Faraday's future, Watts offered a philosophy of
learning that emphasized the importance of observed facts and warned
against hastily conceived general theories from too few particular
observations.
Throughout the pioneering scientific career that was to come -- as he
lived and worked at the Royal Institute in London, discovering benzene
and electromagnetic induction, formulating the laws of electrochemistry,
developing field theory and much of the vocabulary of modern physics,
and learning to convert mechanical energy into electric energy -- Faraday
the scientist remained true to the integrity of that philosophy.
He also remained true to the tenets of his faith. His favorite book in
the Bible was Job. Though in his scientific studies he was consciously
seeking to understand the beauty, symmetry, and organization of God's
creation, he also took the lesson from Job that a man cannot find God by
his own reasoning, but must look to the Scriptures for that revelation.
His religious belief was a key influence in Faraday's life. He believed
that a Christian's guide is the word of God, and that a believer must
commit the keeping of his soul into the hands of God. If a mind is
troubled by cares and fears, he said, the place for him to go is to
Scripture, and -- by prayer -- to the throne of grace. At 70, he wrote
to a scientist friend, "Since peace is alone in the gift of God; and as
it is He who gives it, why should we be afraid? His unspeakable gift in
His beloved Son is the ground of no doubtful hope."
Though research activities dominated his working days, worship and prayer
were the centerpieces of his evenings and weekends. A natural workaholic
and a person of a somewhat fiery nature, he nevertheless was seen as a
sweet, meek, and tender person. John Tyndall, who was a friend,
characterized his nature as that of a volcano converted into a central
glow.
Fearful of natural pride leading to sad and ugly consequences, he always
resisted high honors. On one occasion, he explained, "I must remain plain
Michael Faraday to the last; and let me tell you, that if I accepted the
honor which the Royal Society desires to confer upon me, I would not
answer for the integrity of my intellect for a single year."
Thus, the man whose life work was discovering inherent laws within the
natural universe, and who carefully kept his religious and scientific
vocations separate, did not flinch from a dispassionately clear view of
himself, as well.
A scientist's look at "Discovery as Invention: Michael Faraday" is online
at:
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~meg3c/id/id_disc/id_disc_13.html
Want to read "Michael Faraday, Father of Electronics"? You can order the
book from Barnes & Noble:
http://barnesandnoble.bfast.com/booklink/click?sourceid=28922&is_search=Y&title=discovery+as+invention%3A+michael+faraday&match=exact&options=and
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