Prof Blows The Whistle On Religious Studies Blind Spot at ASU

ASU's Religious Studies Department Teaches Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and even Witchcraft. But Not Christianity

Dr. Owen Anderson is a professor, author, pastor, and certified jui-jitsu instructor. He’s also a fearless and often undiplomatic in-house gadfly at Arizona State University, where he teaches philosophy and religious studies. Anderson has sued the school over mandatory DEI trainings for faculty, alleging that they violate state law, and he often uses his blog, “Dr. A’s Substack,” to blow the whistle on what he views as ASU’s “woke” inner workings.

One of Dr. A’s newest posts — which can be read in its entirety here — decried the total absence of a course on Christianity within ASU’s Religious Studies Department. Anderson explains that he was prepared to teach a course on the topic but that it was spiked by the department's dean over phrasing in the syllabus.

Here’s some of what Anderson wrote:

When you look at the Religious Studies classes for the Spring 2025 semester, you'll find multiple courses on Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and even several on witchcraft (notably, ASU Honors Professors promote witchcraft as a beneficial practice for women). But do you know what you won't see?

There are no classes on Christianity at ASU—none at all. Until recently, there was my REL 270 Introduction to Christianity course, but it was canceled after a Dean rejected my syllabus. This same Dean had previously written an article that I critiqued in a peer-reviewed journal (his article was not peer-reviewed). Rather than responding to my critique, he used his position to reject my syllabus, knowing it would result in low student enrollment and the eventual cancellation of the class.

How can the largest state university in the United States not offer any classes on Christianity? This is where ASU's stated values come into question. ASU claims to represent the communities it serves. But do you know what percentage of those communities identify as Christians? And what percentage are practicing witches? The numbers aren't even close, are they?

Anderson later explains why this glaring omission doesn’t just disserve the community at large but undermines ASU’s most important mission.

“As students and parents, it's essential to advocate for balanced educational offerings that genuinely encourage critical thought, diverse perspectives, and robust dialogue,” he writes. “Without this, we miss an opportunity to engage with the foundational beliefs that shape our society.”

Well said, Dr. A. Very well said.

More on Anderson’s background can be found here.

More on ASU’s rejection of his course on Christianity can be learned here.

Here’s a link to Dr. Anderson’s substack page for those interested in reading and subscribing.

Follow this link to learn more about Anderson’s legal case against ASU, which he’s bringing with help from The Goldwater Institute.