Update on my Intro to Christianity class

The Bible is too dangerous

I let you know that ASU Religious Studies Department was blocking my Introduction to Christianity class syllabus from getting the new general education requirements. The outcome of this will be that students do not take the class because it does not meet their needs for graduation. It is a way to censor my teaching because they don’t like my content or perspective without coming out and overtly censoring me.

Their first step was to send over a list of demands for my syllabus. These included not using the phrases “Western Civilization,” or “Old Testament,” and adding in material on slavery and colonization. I addressed their concerns by making sure the portion of the syllabus that will be used by all instructors does not have anything they consider controversial. I kept the content for how I teach the course which is my academic freedom as a subject expert.

They rejected this and sent over their own syllabus that they wanted me to approve instead. The funny part was that while it didn’t use “Western Civ” or “Old Testament,” it also didn’t do the other things they wanted me to do. And not only did it not say “Old Testament” it completely left those books out. No Genesis. No Abraham. No Moses. No David. No Psalms. No Prophets. And yet, guess who Jesus and the disciples quote?

So at this point they are refusing to approve my syllabus although no part of it will require them to teach the course like I do. And here is the consequence: no students are signing up for my Spring 2025 Intro to Christianity class. It does not look like it will get the minimum needed students to be kept on the schedule.

The ASU Religious Studies Department successfully censored the one conservative Christian teaching religious studies at Arizona State University. They showed they will silence those they disagree with even if those persons are supposedly protected by academic freedom and are experts in their fields (I’ve far out published most/all of the Religious Studies professors).

“Anderson, is that the end, is it all over, did they win?” If you know me, you know that’s the not the end and you can guess at what is next.