College Profs Iffy on Evangelicals

Here's a World magazine article that breaks down the results of a not-surprising- but-still- kind-of-shocking survey of nearly 1300 faculty from 712 colleges and universities around the country. A whopping 53 percent of faculty members admitted to having unfavorable feelings toward evangelical Christians.

The survey may simply confirm what many people have already seen firsthand (including some of you). It's even more credible because it was conducted by a Jewish group seeking to track levels of academic anti-Semitism. The study's author found only 3 percent of faculty with unfavorable feelings toward Jews. Evangelicals lead the least-liked list, followed by Mormons (33%), Muslims (22%), and atheists (18%).

How do college professors respond to the survey results? They're not exactly appalled.

Cary Nelson, president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), told The Washington Post that the poll merely reflects "a political and cultural resistance, not a form of religious bias."

Hmmm. A better question might be how evangelical Christian students should respond to the idea that half of all secular college profs have unfavorable opinions of us. It's too easy to become angry, defensive, and eager to mix it up in theological/intellectual campus battles. (And even easier to get hammered by battle-tested unbelievers itching for a fight.) But it's no better to get scared and hide away from secular institutions because we know there's a bias toward a Christian worldview.

Our hope for Christian students landing on college campii around the country this fall would be that you

a) plant yourself deep in a support group of other believers (campus group, church, Christian Greek house, whatever) -- a safe place to honestly wrestle with big issues and prepare a reasonable defense when appropriate;

b) scatter the Galatians 5:22-23 fruit of the Spirit everywhere you go (you know, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) -- especially in classrooms and dormrooms where you're beliefs are belittled;

c) and then be ready to give a reasonable, respectful answer to everyone who asks, "How can you live with so much peace, confidence, and kindness when you know people are mocking what you believe?" (See 1 Peter 3:13-16.) The best evidence for our faith is the change it makes in our ability to love those who like us -- and those who don't.

And if you're heading off to college for the first time this fall, check out Mark's book for freshmen called, um, Freshman. It's all about learning to navigate campus life with wisdom -- and your Christian faith intact. You can get it here.