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No more Jesus at the University

12/5/2012

10 Comments

 
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A new report released by a publication that focuses on institutions of higher learning asserts that universities nationwide are waging war on Jesus by leaving him out of their religion courses.

College Fix says that it conducted a survey of 316 religious courses from 12 universities across the country and found that only three courses centered on the life and teachings of Christ.

“Jesus Christ is – without question – the most influential figure to ever walk the Earth, but professors clearly prefer to offer electives on much more obscure matters,” the publication writes.

“[J]ust because a class is on Christianity does not mean it will give much, if any, consideration or weight to the person of Jesus Christ or his teachings,” researchers stated. He might get a lecture or two, … but many course descriptions on Christianity classes don’t even include the word ‘Jesus’ at all…”

Those who conducted the study said that there are also notable differences in how Christianity is analyzed compared to other religions. They explained that words such as “understanding” are using for courses relating to Islam, but the phrase “critical analysis,” for example, is used in class outlines surrounding Christianity.

They explains that, in comparison to the three courses that did center on Jesus, there were also two classes on witchcraft and shamanism, three on sex and religion, five on mysticism and twelve on women and religion. College Fix also outlines that some of the course titles were so obscure that it had no idea what kind of material would be discussed.

“University of Colorado at Denver’s 40-plus religious studies classes include ‘whores and saints,’ ‘theories of the universe,’ ‘Freudian and Jungian perspectives in dream analysis,’ and ‘spirituality and the modern world,’” it writes. “No electives focused exclusively on Jesus, however.”

“Arizona State University’s 50 religious studies classes run the gamut from ‘anthropology of material culture’ and ‘ritual, symbol and myth’ to ‘what is religion’ and ‘gender and peace.’ Again, no Jesus electives,” the publication continues. “In fact, the only religion class at Arizona State focused exclusively on Christianity is called ‘lost scriptures/lost Christianities,’ and zeros in on the ‘wide diversity of early Christianity and its suppressed and lost texts, which have been found in modern times.’ But rest assured, the campus offers four classes on Islam and two on Stalinism.”

It states that although three of the classes centered on Jesus, other historical — or even non-existent — figures headlined course electives as well, such as Mohammed, Martin Buber and “The Brothers Karamozov.”

Additionally, College Fix said that the three classes that were focused on the life of Christ apparently all dealt with what others have to say about Him, not who Jesus said He was or what He taught.

“Take Georgia State University at Atlanta’s ‘Jesus Inside and Outside the Gospels’ course,’” the publication said. “It’s a ‘comparative study of portrayals of Jesus as they have evolved over the past two millennia … and visual depictions of Jesus in modern media such as film, television and the internet.’”

“The University of Hawaii’s ‘Life and Teachings of Jesus’ class is a ‘critical study’ of Gospels and of extra-Biblical sources,” it continued. “And the survey’s third and final elective solely devoted to Jesus comes from Butler University in Indiana. Called ‘Historical Jesus,’ it offers a ;close look at Jesus of Nazareth, focused on sources and methods of knowledge about Jesus as a historical figure. Attention will also be paid to historical and cultural context, and to beliefs about and depictions of Jesus in early Christian literature.’”

At the end of the study, researchers concluded that there is an outright hatred for Christ on the vast majority of college and university campuses nationwide.

“[I]f this survey highlights anything, it’s that [students are] not even given the option [to study the words of Christ],” they stated. “Meanwhile the classes that do focus on Jesus or Christianity sidestep his message and teachings in favor of historical context and critical analysis.”

“Bottom line,” they declared, “universities across America show an outright disregard and disdain for Jesus Christ.”

For the original post, click here.

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10 Comments
Billy Birch link
12/5/2012 00:38:58

I remember Bart Ehrman admitting that when students came into his New Testament classes at UNC Chapel Hill, they came in with the assumption that the Bible was the (inspired) Word of God. He then spent the entire semester rigorously dismantling that belief in their minds.

I've heard him speak, personally, and have talked with him face to face. I know firsthand how winsome he is, how convincing and passionate he is on convincing others that the Bible is hokum at best, and an intentionally overt, politically-motivated, misogynist, homophobic art of deception at worst.

One wonders why these same scholars spend such obvious little time trying to dismantle the claims of Islam regarding the Koran, or Hinduism regarding the Bhagavad Gita. Why the personal hatred of Christianity and the Bible in particular? Why the respect -- the proverbial tip of the hat -- to most other religions?

Reply
Kevin Bullock
12/5/2012 01:37:47

" But rest assured, the campus offers four classes on Islam and two on Stalinism.”

Man that is interesting. Why would a "liberal institution" be willing to introduce students to what are arguably the two most dehumanizing belief systems in the world?

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drwayman link
12/5/2012 08:39:08

Kevin - Right on. Doesn't make sense :-)

Reply
Anthony
12/5/2012 06:21:21

Christianity is the status quo here, of course. That's why few people teach it (see the need to). Most people on college campuses hate Jesus because while living in America, Jesus is thrown at us all the time and people get sick of it.

"Meanwhile the classes that do focus on Jesus or Christianity sidestep his message and teachings in favor of historical context and critical analysis.” Yes, college classes are for teaching, not evangelizing.

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Billy Birch link
12/5/2012 08:00:13

"Yes, college classes are for teaching, not evangelizing."

Tell that to Ehrman, who evangelizes and catechizes his students contra scriptua :^) Yes, no evangelizing there.

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drwayman link
12/5/2012 08:37:16

BB- Absolutely. Evangelism is not limited to Christianity. Evangelism can occur in many different ways.

drwayman link
12/5/2012 08:34:43

Anthony - You say, "Yes, college classes are for teaching, not evangelizing." You totally missed the point of this post. This is not about evangelizing. It is about sidestepping the thrust of someone's teaching yet emphasizing the thrust of other's teachings. It is blatant censorship and brainwashing. I encourage you to read the post again and point out where you saw the word evangelizing. The authors of this study are saying if we are going to level the playing field, let's level for all not just one.

You also say, "while living in America, Jesus is thrown at us all the time..." I would say that is debatable. Sociologists are saying that American society is post-Christian and that even our society is post-modern. Neither of those qualify for for what you are stating. Maybe what is happening is that God is putting Christians in your path. Maybe God is trying to tell you something :-)

I know that we are talking about American society, but if you want to see religious oppression, where a religion is being thrown at you "all the time," I would encourage you to travel to a Muslim country. American "religious oppression" pales in comparison. For example, Karyn and I were in Morocco over Christmas and every morning at approx 0500, there were loud blaring prayers over the loudspeakers. It was impossible to sleep thru. This occurred at least 4 times a day. Also, there, men were it. Women had to dress very conservatively, experienced genital mutilation and had zero rights, especially in comparison to men. All this is the name of Muhammed. Also, BTW, if this was a blog in a muslim country and you were talking about Muhammed the way that you are talking about Christ, you would be dead. Yet, Christians believe in freedom of speech and desire that you worship according to your convictions even if they believe that your convictions are wrong.

So, you have a hard time convincing me that "Jesus is thrown at us all the time and people get sick of it." Maybe what it is, is that God's Holy Spirit is convicting you of your lifestyle and He wants you to acknowledge Him.

Did you see the post from two days ago? I thought you might want to comment on that one as well since these three posts are about academic oppression...

Reply
bjw
12/5/2012 23:02:03

We dig our own graves.. all we have is dirt, then. Jesus came to bring LIGHT and LIFE ! Try it.. I think everybody enjoys CHRISTMAS, if they're honest. And you know Who that centers around..

Reply
Kevin Bullock
12/6/2012 02:15:02

It has been my experience, that "most" people don't hate Jesus even at the liberal campus at the school I attend.
Christianity has been so successfully vilified that "most" believers stop just short of apologizing for adhering to Christian belief for fear of being ridiculed.

Reply
Martin
12/7/2012 02:38:41

I can certainly understand Anthony's point. It is most certainly true that our society has a better understanding that Christianity, and perhaps more courses on other religons are in order. However, there's correction, and then there's overcorrection. If Christianity is so basic in society at large, then all the more reason to understand it properly. That doesn't justify ignoring it or undercutting it. I am fine with Christianity being treated equally with other religons. But that is not what is going on here Tony.

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