When Christians Are Too Afraid to Hear Ben Shapiro Speak
“The school’s statement … claims that ‘our decision to cancel Shapiro’s speaking engagement is not a reflection of his ideologies or the values he represents, but rather a desire to focus on opportunities that bring people together.’ But de-platforming is inherently divisive. It’s an explicit rebuke and rejection of the (many) people who wanted to hear Shapiro speak.” - National Review
“too afraid” — ?
Why do we Christians have to accept the latest right-wing Golden Child? (I would say “Golden Boy” but that’s sexist…)
Personally, I cannot stand Ben Shapiro (as well as some other right-wingers, e.g., Ann Coulter) — I would never think badly of a Christian institution of higher learning not allowing Shapiro to speak. In fact, I would think more highly of them.
I don’t necessarily disagree with Shapiro, but his lack of experience and arrogant demeanor is enough to turn me off — and I’m sure I’m not alone.
It’s not fear, it’s just good taste.
"Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason."
[GEaston]“too afraid” — ?
Why do we Christians have to accept the latest right-wing Golden Child? (I would say “Golden Boy” but that’s sexist…)
Personally, I cannot stand Ben Shapiro (as well as some other right-wingers, e.g., Ann Coulter) — I would never think badly of a Christian institution of higher learning not allowing Shapiro to speak. In fact, I would think more highly of them.
I don’t necessarily disagree with Shapiro, but his lack of experience and arrogant demeanor is enough to turn me off — and I’m sure I’m not alone.
It’s not fear, it’s just good taste.
Agree. Why bring that nonsense onto the campus when you don’t have to? It does not do a bit of good and only causes more people to dislike each other. If you were going to bring on someone that was more of a conservative scholar and less of a vapid rabble rouser, that would be fine.
The above comments focused on the speaker and didn’t address the author’s main points: The Evangelical “political witness” is a “mess”, especially in higher education where more & more Christian colleges are seeking approval (because of fear) from the wider culture, which is not interested in giving approval but only interested in silencing. Leave the concerns about the particular speaker aside and you have a stinging indictment of many of today’s Christian colleges.
Wally Morris
Huntington, IN
….I count myself as fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear controversial speakers while on campus, people like Tom Wolfe and Naomi Wolf. And nothing against the notion of not having certain people come; I do, however, think it’s suspicious when someone is uninvited. Courage of their convictions, and all that.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
He is well-mannered and very knowledgeable. It takes a lot to do what he does. Christians should not be sissies. They come across like that when they do this sort of thing.
P.S. I’d rather listen to Ben Shapiro than Russell Moore or David Platt any day.
Dr. Paul Henebury
I am Founder of Telos Ministries, and Senior Pastor at Agape Bible Church in N. Ca.
….it would seem that my alma mater, in choosing the specific speakers I heard, did in fact throw me to the wolves. (boo, hiss) Seriously, there were others, and suffice it to say that there were more speakers than that, but those were the ones I remembered.
Another notable speaker who I did not hear was when Salman Rushdie came out of hiding by speaking at the University of Colorado. There is a careful balance to be had between stimulating thought and avoiding giving a podium to bomb-throwers.
The most obnoxious speakers on campus are,in my view, graduation speakers of little reputation or notoriety who feel the need to show their erudition by quoting obscure philosophers, using horrendously bad translations to do so.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
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