I used to quite enjoy leaving my scientific papers casually scattered on the sofa. This was in part due to my untidiness, but mostly due to the response it elicited from my arts student friends. "You're so clever", they would marvel as they read the long, convoluted, abbreviation–ridden title of the paper I was currently trying my hardest to comprehend. With an inner smugness, but trying hard to muster up some Christian humility, I would say "oh no, not really…"

I may have been able to baffle my arts student friends with technical jargon, but they certainly baffled me just as much. Within their first term, they were seasoning their conversation with that tasty and oh–so–cool term 'postmodernism'. What on earth was postmodernism, why had I never learnt anything about it, and was it of any significance? I then began to learn that both Christians and scientists regard some aspects of postmodernist thinking as pretty dangerous stuff, although in the arts and humanities it is recognised as being both a diagnosis of, and an influence on, our present–day culture.

Most people are familiar with the much publicised science–faith battle. In recent months this battle seems to have intensified in its ferocity, in particular due to Richard Dawkins' contributions such as his TV series The Root of all Evil? and his best–selling book The God Delusion. Many of us would have been asked how our Christian faith can possibly be consistent with all that science has presented and theorised. In particular, we are aware of the contentious nature of the theory of evolution. We might sometimes feel that it's hard to be a scientist and a Christian, and we may sometimes feel pretty alone.

However, I would ask you to spare a thought for your contemporaries studying subjects in the arts and humanities. Certainly, in my experience at University, they encountered a much fiercer opponent of their faith, and, you guessed it… it was called 'postmodernism'. So, what exactly is postmodernism, and why do we, as scientists, hear very little about it?

Postmodernism is an incredibly broad term; perhaps it is best to call it an umbrella term which describes recent changes in the intellectual arenas of philosophy, literature and art as well as a perceptible shift in the way Western society functions. Unsurprisingly then, each of the many books and articles written on postmodernism seems to have a different emphasis and it is difficult to come up with a single accurate definition. What follows is a summary of what I have thus far understood postmodernism to be.

Postmodernism is a reaction to, and in many cases, a rejection of, its predecessor Modernism. Modernity originated in the European Enlightenment in the 18th century and was characterised by rationality, scientific discovery and a belief in human capabilities and advancement over time. Underpinning this was the belief that the universe ran according to certain universal laws making it predictable and knowable. This intellectual climate saw the development of 'modern' science, largely as we know and practise it today. There was a sense of confidence that rational thought was the key to knowing and ultimately controlling the natural world, giving people Godlike powers. Unfortunately, modern times also brought with them the horror of the holocaust, the atomic bomb, two world wars, and neo–colonialism, and had disastrous consequences for the environment. People began to question whether these developments could really be referred to as 'advancements' or 'progress'. Progress for whom, they ask, and on whose terms?

Postmodernism rejects the idea of 'metanarratives' or truths that are universal to all. It insists on the existence not of one truth, but of many truths, which are cultural, local or personal, resulting in an attitude of, "that might be true for you, but it¹s not true for me". Science, by contrast, is concerned with the investigation of an objective reality, while Evangelical Christianity asserts that there is one reality and one truth for all people. Postmodernism rejects both. Thus, in a rare unity, science and Christianity find themselves on the same side when confronted with postmodernism. Both the Christian faith and science acknowledge the existence of a truth that transcends culture. Postmodernism is deeply suspicious of any final claims such as the above, and of anyone claiming to have authority. It is characterised by tolerance of all beliefs, as long as what is true for you does not imply that it is also true for everyone else. At its most positive, postmodernism potentially celebrates difference and gives oppressed and marginalized minorities equality. However, although postmodernists have excelled at deconstructing previously–held thoughts and beliefs, they have not (so far) done much to construct new or better alternatives. Postmodernism is extremely cynical, and unsurprisingly, the art and literature it inspires is often dark, incoherent and without hope.

My arts student friends were immersed in this world. They found themselves doubting anything that claimed to be 'truth', and for those who were Christians, it presented them with some very difficult challenges. In contrast, as a biology student, I was acquiring a very different – and thoroughly modernist – worldview. Within biology, much knowledge has been accumulated which does indeed seem to contribute to a 'metanarrative' describing the natural world. What is more, there is a hope and expectation that we will continue to make progress towards eventually fully understanding it. Science seeks to explain the ways of the universe, and as students, we learn how to take part in that huge, awe–inspiring endeavour.

It would be easy for us to be dismissive of postmodernism as some philosophical fad that is based on not a lot. In fact, when I was trying to explain postmodernism to a scientist friend he asked, "But have they done any experiments to show this?!" I want to encourage you not to be dismissive, but instead to start considering the implications of postmodernism for science and faith.

In fact, discoveries in science and technology have undoubtedly contributed to the development of postmodernism. The new physics stated that the atom was not really the discrete material entity it was once thought to be; instead matter and energy were believed to be different forms of the same thing. Technology has propelled us at breakneck speed into a very different way of life. "Flexibility, diversity, mobility, communication, decentralisation and internationalisation" are hallmarks of today's society. Just consider the impact that the mobile phone has had on the way we organise our lives, enabling us to be far more flexible and constantly on the move. The internet is potentially the ultimate postmodernist medium of communication; everyone has a chance to contribute their point of view and there is no ultimate authority to judge it. Moreover, the public availability of so much information enables us to become our own authority in whatever field we choose, so that we do not, perhaps, hold traditional authorities in as high a regard as they once were. New technologies allow makers of films and even documentaries to seamlessly blend fact and fiction, blurring our perceptions of what is 'true'.

Postmodernism taken to the extreme is hostile to the notion of scientific truth. In reality however, we do not observe a society that rejects scientific truth; on the contrary a sentence beginning "Scientists have discovered…" still holds a lot of power. Perhaps what people are more wary of is whether scientific discoveries actually represent progress. Are these discoveries really desirable or beneficial? The reaction of the general public to technologies such as GM crops has certainly been hostile. The claim of scientists, that this could be the answer to world hunger, does not seem very persuasive to them.

As budding scientists, we no doubt value rational thinking highly, but as Christians, we also have a sense of a transcendent God far greater than our capacity for rational thinking. The exciting thing about the postmodern age is that people tend to be more spiritually open; they are no longer convinced that rationality alone will supply all the answers they are searching for. However, postmodern people mostly look for something offering them a personal spirituality, rather than an organised religion with figures of authority telling them how to live their lives.

The Christian faith (especially in Evangelical circles) is currently expressed in a very modernist way. Consider the way we read our Bibles – we pick apart passages and subject them to careful analysis. Of course, it is important that we can present rational arguments for our beliefs, hence the popularity of apologetics. Christianity was, however, born out of a pre–modern culture, and sometimes approaching things in an overly modernist way can be unhelpful. Followers of Jesus are never going to be postmodernists, because they believe in culture–transcending truth. However, we should be aware of the modernist trappings that we have bestowed upon Christianity, and of how these may increasingly become obstacles to faith for people living in a postmodern age. As the apostle Paul urges us;

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

As scientists, we may have been encouraged to cultivate a Modernist mindset, but as Christians, we should not conform to modernism, postmodernism, or any other "pattern of this world". We need to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us so that we are able to engage with people around us regardless of their particular mindset.

Amy Unsworth, PhD Student, Molecular Biology, Cancer Research UK, London