The University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom is facing backlash after the school warned students that studying events in Scripture, including the crucifixion of Christ, can be “triggering,” and thus, the study of them should be avoided by some.
The Universities placed the “trigger warning” on the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—claiming, without explanation, that the events leading up to the death of Christ depict “graphic bodily injury and sexual violence.” The same label was also placed on the book of Genesis for its account of Cain and Abel.
The Daily Mail, which received details of the advisory under the Freedom of Information Act, called the guidance to students “bizarre” and highlighted the voices speaking out against the university’s actions.
“Christians and historians last night said the warnings were ‘misguided’, ‘absurd’ and incompatible with discussions about morality,” the Mail stated, noting that experts were “at a complete loss to explain the inclusion of ‘sexual violence’ in the warnings.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, pointedly called out the university for its gross mischaracterization of Scripture and steps to discourage the study of God’s Word.
“Applying trigger warnings to salvation narratives that have shaped our civilisation is not only misguided, but absurd,” William stressed. “Singling out the Bible in this way is discriminatory and deeply ill-informed. To suggest that the crucifixion story involves ‘sexual violence’ is not just inaccurate, it’s a profound misreading of the text. The account of Jesus’s death is not a tale of trauma, it is the ultimate expression of love, sacrifice, and redemption, central to the Christian faith.”
The university has defended its actions, calling the warning a “standard academic tool” and insisting it is simply “preparing students who might find such [graphic] details difficult.”
Though many academic institutions have God-honoring roots, universities have come under intense scrutiny for vigorously pushing students toward an anti-Biblical worldview.
Answers in Genesis Founder and CEO, Ken Ham, emphasized the damage of sending young adults to secular colleges. Ham recently highlighted studies that show that “70-88%” of those who grew up in an evangelical home no longer consider themselves Christians after they graduate.
Ham points to multiple factors that are contributing to this trend—a lack of a truly Biblical foundation given to young people by their parents and pastors, and the overtly atheistic agenda permeating schools. Universities in particular have become extremely hostile to Christians and Biblically based morality.
“Sadly, as our culture drifts further from the foundation of God’s Word, we are only going to see an increase of this suppression of viewpoints that don’t correspond with the prevailing narrative,” Ham further warned. “But no matter what happens in our culture, our imperative as Christians remains the same. Proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15). Do the business of the King (Luke 19:13). Contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Defend the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15). Make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39). Obey God’s commandments (Matthew 28:20). Eagerly look forward to His return (Revelation 22:20)!”
Harbinger’s Press is a division of Harbinger’s Daily News Media.
