Once regarded as bastions of intellectual discourse, universities have shifted into ideological battlegrounds—with Christianity being caught in the middle. At Arizona State University (ASU), Dr. Owen Anderson, a seasoned professor of philosophy and religion, is now on the frontlines of this conflict.
For over two decades, Anderson taught Introduction to Christianity as part of his regular course rotation. But when ASU began updating its general education requirements—a process that typically rubber-stamps long-standing classes—his course was singled out and denied.
“I was told by the Religious Studies Department that my class was too Christian,” Anderson recalled. “They said I shouldn’t use the phrase Old Testament because that implies a Christian view of the Torah. But of course, that is the interpretation of Christianity.”
The Religious Studies Department at ASU’s main campus criticized his syllabus for being “too Christian” and objected to the use of the phrase Old Testament, claiming it implied a Christian lens on the Torah. Anderson pushed back, noting that the course is explicitly about Christianity, and that his framing is consistent with the Christian tradition he’s teaching. Other objections raised red flags for Anderson: the department insisted he incorporate topics like slavery and decolonization, issues that fall outside the scope of the course.
“They said I needed to deal with issues like slavery and decolonization, which I don’t focus on much. It was clear they were just looking for a reason to undermine my class and prevent me from teaching it.”
Without a general education credit, the course lost its appeal to students. Enrollment dropped to just a few names on the roster, far below the university’s minimum of 20 students to keep a class open.
“My enrollment dropped drastically. The following semester, only three or four students signed up. The university requires at least 20 students to keep a class open.”
Anderson points to a clear double standard. While Christianity is pushed to the margins, other religious and ideological courses are allowed to be taught unimpeded. A telling sign as to the heart of the university’s stance.
“As of now, my class isn’t being offered. I checked the ASU course catalog for the fall—there’s only one class with Christianity in the title, while there are multiple courses about witchcraft.”
Despite the university’s claims of neutrality, Anderson says the pattern is clear: “neutral” simply means “not Christian.”
“We’ve wrongly accepted the idea that institutions are 'neutral.' All that really means is that they’re not Christian.”
The course rejection isn’t the only battle Anderson is facing. He’s also locked in a legal fight with ASU over mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training—training he says is ideologically driven and discriminatory. Represented by the Goldwater Institute, Anderson filed suit. ASU responded by hiring Perkins Coie, one of the most politically connected law firms in the country.
“The good thing about going to court—and the reason ASU wants to avoid it—is that we get to put administrators under oath,” Anderson explained. “Their strategy from the beginning was to claim that DEI training doesn’t exist or that it doesn’t contain the content I say it does.”
His case is advancing, despite ASU’s repeated attempts to shut it down. But Anderson says the real issue is much bigger than one class or one lawsuit—it’s about the future of Christian students in American higher education.
“A huge number of students enter college as Christians and leave their faith behind. But the opposite isn’t true—you don’t see students going to university and suddenly becoming Christian.”
When asked if Christians still have a place in these institutions or if they should seek an alternative, he urged Christian parents to count the cost and to consider other options before sending their children to universities.
“There are some jobs that require a degree, but there are plenty of careers where you don’t need a four-year degree in gender studies.”
Anderson’s experience is part of a growing national pattern. As secular ideologies tighten their grip on universities, Christian educators are being silenced, and faithful students are being left behind.
Whether his legal fight ends in a courtroom or in the court of public opinion, Dr. Anderson’s case is part of a much larger debate over faith, free expression, and the future of higher education. For Christians navigating the shifting ground of academia, his experience is a powerful reminder: silence is not neutrality—and neutrality is rarely what it claims to be.
