On March 19, 2024, Dr. Owen Anderson, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University (ASU), filed a lawsuit claiming the university’s mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training violates Arizona state law. The cited law prohibits using public funds for training that assigns blame based on race, ethnicity, or sex. Represented by the Goldwater Institute, Anderson argues the training infringes on his constitutional rights to free speech and academic freedom. ASU disputes these claims, stating the lawsuit is "without merit" and asserting there is no university-wide DEI training requirement.
ASU’s DEI training reportedly contains content critiquing "whiteness" and promoting concepts such as "decolonizing the classroom." Anderson argues this imposes an ideological framework that vilifies Western perspectives—particularly those rooted in Christian traditions. The “decolonization” narrative in question goes to great lengths to paint Christianity as a primary driver of historical oppression, diminishing its contributions to education, human rights, and moral philosophy.
For Christians in academia, this narrative has created an environment that is in opposition to that of the gospel. Expressing the Christian worldview on issues like abortion and gender identity puts students and faculty members at risk of being labeled as oppressive or exclusionary, leading to marginalization. As the expectation for conformity to progressive norms increases, the ability for Christian faculty and students to participate in meaningful dialogue is being curtailed.
Dr. Anderson’s challenge, if successful, could set a precedent for pushing back against compelled ideological training in public educational institutions nationwide. Christian faculty members find themselves in the line of fire daily, with their worldviews frequently clashing with the prevailing woke narrative curated by campus administrations. This tension is nothing new to believers on campus. However the increasing institutionalization of DEI initiatives amplifies it, forcing Christians to choose between professional advancement and fidelity to their beliefs.
Christians who have long contributed to intellectual discourse in academia, have dwindled in their presence on school grounds. Recent studies show that Christians are now drastically underrepresented in faculty roles at many elite institutions. A 2007 study by the Biblical Archeology Society Library found that only 6.1% of college faculty members agreed with the statement, “The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word.”
When Christian faculty members have found their voices silenced, existing Christian students lose access to the few mentors who share their worldview on campus. This fosters an environment where Christian students are isolated or pressured to conform to an anti-gospel rhetoric, undermining the very diversity that DEI initiatives claim to champion. According to Pew Research, 66% of college graduates claim to be Christian with only 21% claiming they are Evangelical Protestant. Universities have become breeding grounds for anti-Christian rhetoric, with the larger evangelical movement choosing to concede the ground that once belonged to the kingdom. Once the battleground for ideas, collegiate campuses have become dens of disbelief of the gospel, shaping the minds of the next generation of scholars.
Christian’s nationwide should see Dr. Anderson’s fight in the courts as a signal flare that the battle for higher education is not yet over. Though the current situation is dire, Christians united cannot lose heart in the face of adversity. Now more than ever, America’s universities are in need of the light of the gospel regardless of the opposition we believers face for the sake of the gospel. As G.K. Chesterton once said “The one perfectly divine thing, the one glimpse of God's paradise given on earth, is to fight a losing battle - and not lose it.”
Dr. Anderson’s legal battle should not be seen as simply resisting DEI training. It is a stand for the right of Christians to participate fully and authentically in academic life without fear of marginalization. As this case unfolds, it will serve as a litmus test for the commitment of public universities to intellectual freedom and true inclusivity.
Christians—and all who value free thought—will be watching the results as this case unfolds. This case's outcome will shape not only the future of Christian scholarship but also the broader trajectory of higher education in America and its role in influencing the culture. For those who believe that faith and reason can coexist, now is the time to defend both.
