Neil Shenvi on Critical Theory and Christianity

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason interviews Neil Shenvi on the worldview implications of Critical Theory and how it relates to Christianity.

#StandtoReason #Apologetics #Christianity

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[noshoes]

Thank you for your work! There must always be an authority. God is the only righteous authority.

[ezyx]

One minute in and Greg just hit the nail right on the head for me. As a Social Psychologist, I have been involved in the study and application of Critical Theory and this is exactly how I've been feeling: that my field of study is vastly different at best, and even hostile at worst, to my faith. I have been struggling to find my footing between my faith and my career, and at one point considered just leaving my academic career for good.

[Ancel]

God is the source of goodness.
When God isn't with someone, degeneracy of mind and body follows.

[silversadie]

I work for a Government building in Canada.

We are now mandated to do online classes on Critical Theory except they call it Foundations of Cultural Differences. Right now anti black racism is the focus but its heavily mixed with CRT.

The tenants in my workplace’s document on the Pilar of anti black racism (45 pages) is full of watered down rhetoric that to you see on BLM mission statement (that was taken down). It’s about dismantling every “norm”, even the idea that heterosexuality is the norm because it’s offensive/discriminatory to the the LGBTQ community. Don’t get me wrong, it also highlights things we need to look at.

I was doing the mandatory online “class” but couldn’t pass the one slide that asked me what I had most problem with and because of my Christian world view, I couldn’t honestly answer because one of the answers they wanted me to choose.

I was not allowed to skip it. In order for me to proceed, I would have to give an answer that was a lie and not reflective of my beliefs.

I told my boss this made me feel uncomfortable and I won’t lie just in order to finish this. I told him I am 💯 on board with examining what’s going on in our organization...if hiring processes need to be different etc. I’m 💯 on board with listening to my black coworkers and learning about what they have been experiencing and how we can make things better. I told my boss I want to comply with all this but I draw the line when my worldview and thoughts are now being dismissed and I’m being forced to lie and affirm this other world view.

This is very serious to me and I’m a bit nervous of what is ahead . I know full well What’s ahead. So I am preparing to give a loving, informed answer as to why I am against all oppression and at the same time, also against CRT being the worldview which we measure everything by.

In my organization I am seeing Christian voices trying to be silenced and any voices against crt being shamed. I am seeing censorship under the guise of Social Justice. I see the halt of free speech and open dialogue because it’s not in line with the narrative. This really concerns me. We are basically told that the reason we think like this is because of our white privilege. In other words, White people do not have insight and other races have this knowledge or ethnic gnosticism that Whites do not have. There is no individuality...just group think.

Btw, my boss was ok with me not continuing. He left it up to me. He is very supportive. I’m am preparing for higher management to confront me one day.

I’m not alone in this. I told my boss that one day I’ll probably need to have this discussion with the higher ups because there are others that have the same view as me.

I’ve lost sleep over this. It’s very important for me to acknowledge oppression and injustices but only from God’s perspective. I’m not down with dismantling what is in God’s word.

I’m setting up a meeting with my pastor. He’s part Jamaican and he’s familiar with racism. He also rejects CRT. I need my eyes to be open more and I’m hoping for more insight.

I have long been interested in Christian apologetics and Identity Politics/Critical Theory. And here I am now.

Pray for me please. I have a feeling I’m going to be a voice at work. I can’t stop thinking about it. I am confident that God will prepare me for this and give me the words and in the meantime, I’m using resources such as this to get all my details in line.

Thanks 🙏

[deezynar]

Violence is the behavior that reveals the decadence of a group's thinking.

[bibluver]

This is excellent!!!

The problem arises when one has shown they love people and they hate racism, but the observers believe their ideology over their viewable observations! Ideology / false doctrine trumps experience.

This is why our primary defense isn’t our experience it is the Scriptures. God has spoken on this issue of the oppressed and oppressors. What He says however is not what the flesh wants to hear! Pick up your cross and follow Him!

[LynnBaber]

Love hearing this discussed! Critical Legal Theory has transformed western cultures since the last 1980s. The movement and its effects are chronicled in the book, "Fifteen Minutes into Eternity-The War Between the Human Spirit and the Holy Spirit."

[nwaikikai]

If oppression is often expressed in standards and the imposition of those standards upon sectors of a society, or upon a society entirely, how is the standard "You shall not oppress" itself not a form of oppression? I mean, if simply being a standard to which people ought to conform constitutes being oppressive, then one cannot urge others to cease their oppression without being oppressive oneself. This reminds me of the Buddhist who desires to eschew all desire, or the person who says there is no absolute truth.

[guidosalvetta]

it's been 2000 years we've been told of Him, and what the many churches believe Him to be has already shaped most of western history and beyond, sometimes for the best (like, accidentally, with art and music, made by artists often more penniless than faithful) but mostly for the worse (predation over Nature taken as a heirloom from Him and to our disposal, incessant crusades in His name, and the destruction of all cultures standing in His way). So, whether He got misunderstood, manipulated, failed to exist or, worse, didn't care, I don't think we can reasonably expect any positive change from Him or any-One divinely related. Can't say we didn't try though. Let's believe in ourselves (collectively) for a change, shall we ?

[oneunitednation]

إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انفَطَرَتْ
When the sky breaks apart
2
وَإِذَا الْكَوَاكِبُ انتَثَرَتْ
And when the stars fall, scattering,
3
وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ
And when the seas are erupted
4
وَإِذَا الْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ
And when the [contents of] graves are scattered,
5
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ
A soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back.
6
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ
O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous,
7
الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ
Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you?
8
فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ
In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.
9
كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِالدِّينِ
No! But you deny the Recompense.
10
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ
And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers,
11
كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ
Noble and recording;
12
يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
They know whatever you do.
13
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ
Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure,
14
وَإِنَّ الْفُجَّارَ لَفِي جَحِيمٍ
And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire.
15
يَصْلَوْنَهَا يَوْمَ الدِّينِ
They will [enter to] burn therein on the Day of Recompense,
16
وَمَا هُمْ عَنْهَا بِغَائِبِينَ
And never therefrom will they be absent.
17
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ
And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
18
ثُمَّ مَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ
Then, what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
19
يَوْمَ لَا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِّنَفْسٍ شَيْئًا ۖ وَالْأَمْرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلَّهِ
It is the Day when a soul will not possess for another soul [power to do] a thing; and the command, that Day, is [entirely] with Allah.

[rstora]

Maybe a lack of understanding in the two natures of God distorts thinking. A belief that God is patient kind and loving is easy to accept.
However, a God of wrath, anger, hatred and vengeance; Well, I rarely hear anything discussed about that.

[michaelg]

I actually disagree with the guests. These people won’t listen to you because they say your speech is equal to physical violence and they must oppress you. They oppress while at the same time claim to be the oppressed. How to rationalize with irrational people?

[vKaran]

Biblical justifications for slavery

Luke 12:47-48
The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.

Exodus 21:20-21
Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property

Colossians 3:22
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-9
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Leviticus 25:44-46
Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.