http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/a-confession-of-liberal-intolerance.html?_r=0
WE progressives believe in diversity, and we want women, blacks, Latinos, gays and Muslims at the table — er, so long as they aren't conservatives. Universities are the bedrock of progressive values, but the one kind of diversity that universities disregard is ideological and religious. We're fine with people who don't look like us, as long as they think like us.
O.K., that's a little harsh. But consider George Yancey, a sociologist who is black and evangelical. "Outside of academia I faced more problems as a black," he told me. "But inside academia I face more problems as a Christian, and it is not even close."
I've been thinking about this because on Facebook recently I wondered aloud whether universities stigmatize conservatives and undermine intellectual diversity. The scornful reaction from my fellow liberals proved the point.
"Much of the 'conservative' worldview consists of ideas that are known empirically to be false," said Carmi. "The truth has a liberal slant," wrote Michelle. "Why stop there?" asked Steven. "How about we make faculties more diverse by hiring idiots?"
To me, the conversation illuminated primarily liberal arrogance — the implication that conservatives don't have anything significant to add to the discussion. My Facebook followers have incredible compassion for war victims in South Sudan, for kids who have been trafficked, even for abused chickens, but no obvious empathy for conservative scholars facing discrimination.
The stakes involve not just fairness to conservatives or evangelical Christians, not just whether progressives will be true to their own values, not just the benefits that come from diversity (and diversity of thought is arguably among the most important kinds), but also the quality of education itself. When perspectives are unrepresented in discussions, when some kinds of thinkers aren't at the table, classrooms become echo chambers rather than sounding boards — and we all lose.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday August 29 2016, @04:22PM
Yes, I was saying I had an ad hoc definition and asking did you have a better one.
Link to this 9-question definition?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @05:14PM
Its funny, he plagiarzed that line [google.com] so he doesn't have a link for you.
I plagiarize stuff all the time because good writing is good writing and as an AC I can't claim credit for anything anyway.
Still its funny.
(Score: 2) by ilPapa on Tuesday August 30 2016, @02:04AM
The Barna Group website doesn't list the actual 9 questions, but they do list these 9 criteria:
Now here's where it gets interesting:
So, you can be a Christian and believe 0 out of 9 of the criteria that make you an Evangelical. I find that interesting.
Oh, and the other important qualifier: You can't be a Catholic. Catholics can never be considered Evangelical Christians, because reasons.
You are still welcome on my lawn.