Part of it is that people confuse information with concepts. You can know a bunch of facts, but not tie them together coherently. And too many don’t bother to inform themselves of “counterfactuals” or items that may refute their cherished opinions.

Normal people get to do that. But when you’re willing to stand up in front of a class and pontificate on matters outside your expertise, you’ve erred. Seriously.

I DON’T mean merely a “side opinion” that an instructor happens to toss out on the way to something else. Students can, and should, give that opinion exactly the same weight they would give to a side opinion from any other person, i.e., not much, unless it makes sense to them.

But too many profs use their professorial authority to pretend that their “side opinions”, far outside their expertise, are some kind of received wisdom.

Some of us (like me) choose to blog to give our thoughts on the world, but don’t spend much or any class time on them. Some profs, sadly, make it an actual part of the course.

Which may be why Dennis Prager has a standard question he asks when someone says something really stupid to him:

“Where did you go to graduate school?”

Here’s a movie I recommend: http://www.indoctrinate-u.com/intro/

It tells a sad story about the state of American higher ed.

That’s because all these topics are being seen through the lenses of deconstruction, of “feminist readings” of sources, of “diversity,” of “power relationships,” etc.

Every professor thinks he or she should be king… or at least Prime Minister.

Here is an interesting quote from the article referenced above: “Requiring commitments to ideologies such as diversity and climate action is not protected by the AAUP provisions for religious aims, yet neither the AAUP nor the CAUT believe it poses a threat to academic freedom.”

And another: “Many colleges and universities profess a commitment to academic freedom but at the same time espouse social and political doctrines that subvert it.”

I think that Christian colleges loose their bearings when they begin to view the accolades of the secular world with envy. There was at one time an accrediting organization (maybe Western Association of Christian Schools) that gave a seal of approval to Christian schools. That quickly became inadequate for many Christians who were climbing the secular social latter – particularly in academics. Soon the accrediation from any Christian organization became an embarassment. Here is a list from APU’s current website on their accrediations:

Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). [THIS IS NOT A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION!]

-The School of Nursing’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
-The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
-The Doctor of Psychology Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the
-Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
-The School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the
-School of Business and Management is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
-The School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the
-Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
-teacher education programs approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Licensing (CCTC) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), AUTHORIZING elementary and secondary school teaching. The
-American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) is accredited by the American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP).

Nowhere is there listed anything accredation that looks any different from the secular world. It’s not that these organizations are inherently evil, but they are not even reomtely interested in Biblical truth.

Oh, and lest we forget, “Azusa Pacific University held its place for the second year in the most prestigious category of the U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009, ranking in the third tier of the national category. Additionally, for the first time, APU ranked ninth among the best up-and-coming national universities. Previously, APU was ranked in the top 25 schools within the Western Universities-Master’s category, enjoying prominent placement and recognition for outstanding first-year and service-learning programs.” And who better to tell us how great we are than the prestigeous U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT?

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Having said all of this, I probably come across as ‘holier than thou’ yet these are the same struggles I deal with daily. Will my faith get in the way of my popularity? Will I be willing to give up my job, my community standing, my professional standing or anything else for the sake of Jesus Christ and Him crucified? When I don’t see other Christians doing that it is very hard to stand alone. I find myself keeping silent where I should not, quite often. God forgive me.