Shift!
Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Nottingham, recently asked a probing question: “Do Moral Values Change with the Seasons?” This was the title of a paper published in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences.
Here, we report evidence of seasonal variation in Americans’ endorsement of some—but not all—moral values. … We report evidence that people’s moral values change with the seasons. Analyses of a decade of data (232,975 questionnaire responses from 2011 to 2020) revealed a consistent seasonal cycle in Americans’ endorsement of moral values pertaining to loyalty, authority, and purity (with stronger endorsement in spring and autumn and weaker endorsement in summer and winter).”
How about that? There is a seasonal ebb and flow in our endorsements of moral principles.
The researchers focused on five core moral principles: care (avoiding harm to others); fairness (ensuring equal treatment); loyalty (showing devotion to one’s group); authority (respecting leaders and traditions); and purity (practicing cleanliness and piety). They considered the first two as “individualizing” values focusing on individual rights. The other three—loyalty, authority, and purity—were seen as “binding” values that emphasize group cohesion. It is these latter ones that changed with the weather!
There was a repeatable biannual pattern of allegiance to loyalty, authority, and purity over the decade that was studied. These values peaked in spring and fall, while dipping in summer and winter. This seasonal swing was particularly pronounced in areas with more extreme climate variations between seasons. It turns out your moral compass could shift throughout the year, swinging towards different directions in different seasons.
The scientists suggest anxiety might play a role. Said Dr. Mark Schaller, senior author:
We noticed that anxiety levels peak in the spring and autumn, which coincides with the periods when people endorse binding values more strongly. This correlation suggests that higher anxiety may drive people to seek comfort in the group norms and traditions upheld by [the three] binding values.”
Unfortunately for them (and us), the Originator of the moral principles of the universe does not endorse such varying votes of confidence in his laws. Feeble and friable and flippant fidelity does not make for faithfulness to him.
After all, this God is one who doesn’t change. He is …
The Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1:17
As the songwriter declared:
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)
Yahweh, who may stay in Your tent?
Who may abide on Your holy mountain?
One who walks with integrity,
and one who practices righteousness,
and one who speaks truth in his heart.
He has not slandered with his tongue,
he has not done evil to his fellow,
and he has not taken up scorn against his neighbor.
Despised in his eyes is a reprobate,
but those who fear Yahweh, he honors;
he swears to [his own] calamity and does not change.
His silver he has not put out for interest,
nor a bribe against the innocent has he taken.
One who does these things will not totter, ever.
Psalm 15:1–5
Between an opening pair of questions and a closing declaration, you can spot three positive criteria, three negative criteria (with “not”), then three more positive criteria, and three more negative ones (also with “not”)—criteria that govern who remains in the blessing of God. There is no indication of change here with time, seasons, feelings, circumstances, or opinion.
Nope! Weather ain’t no excuse for not adhering the law of God!
SOURCE: StudyFinds; PNAS
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching.