If there is one thing that I hate more than blaming the victim is when persons, who have a voice in the academy and society, and a predominant one at that, feign victimhood in order to steal the moral highground from their ideological and/or political opponents.
To be honest, after serious reflection, this is my interpretation of Dan Wallace’s beef with so called “theological liberal intolerance.” I personally know students from evangelical seminaries who were driven out because of disputes with faculty over interpretation of doctrinal statements. Is that liberal? Hardly.
Has Wallace ever had his academic work or intellect called into question because of the color of his skin? I do not know about him, but I have, and more so in a masters program by both conservatives and liberals. Ask yourself honestly: are evangelicals really that powerless, or do they have their own subculture in the most powerful nation in the world, enough to make a difference? Are evangelicals able to afford, own and sustain their own educational institutions, as well as serve a market that benefits consumers and scholars who think like themselves?
Anyways, Scot McKnight of Jesus Creed finally responded and he articulated what I was getting at:
“Furthermore, and this one is not as central to me: The reports of bias are often greatly exaggerated and some people are prone to play the “victim card.” Some evangelicals are not admitted because they are not as good, or they are not the right person at the right time, or the school already has enough evangelicals, or … it goes on and on. It is easy at times for evangelicals to say “I’m a victim.” There are all sorts of reasons why someone might not be admitted. Sometimes there is blatant bias but it’s pretty hard to prove.”
To read the whole article, go here.
My concluding thoughts:
If evangelicals take the Bible to be the word of God, they should seriously consider the words of Jesus in the gospels, that there will be persecution, that the persecuted will be blessed. All of this crying over spilled milk and exclusion really is a cry, as in showing a desire for control for all aspects of society (including the academy), and being the blessed and highly favor religion above all others. Wallace’s feigning of victimhood represents a way that persons who view themselves a politically and institutionally powerless (when in reality, there is a large amount of agency on the part of evangelicals). Christians are not supposed to be in some popularity contest, as if becoming the majority will give us the power we need to run the world; being a part of the church is about remaining faithful to the gospel and trusting in God’s sovereignty, and not trying to be number one in the world, but being the last.
….For the first shall be last
Truth and Peace,
Rod
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