#22: Critical Theories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

My guest in this episode is Dr. Mary Poplin. Several months ago she and I discussed her excellent book Is Reality Secular? As we concluded she mentioned that for the past four decades she has been observing Critical Theories develop in higher education, and was herself an early proponent. For the past three decades she has been working to understand and evaluate Critical Theories from a Christian perspective. Given her background and extensive reflection on this topic, I can think of no one better able to help us understand and evaluate these very popular perspectives reverberating throughout higher education and now our broader culture.Dr. Poplin is a Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emerita at Claremont Graduate University's School of Educational Studies. She has also authored numerous books on Christianity and higher education.In this podcast we discuss:Defining Critical Theory (including Critical Race Theory--CRT)How Critical Theory developed and became dominant in higher educationWhy CRT rejects Martin Luther King’s viewsHer journey into feminism and CRT, and why she began to question her viewsWhat CRT gets right--truths CRT is highlightingWhat CRT gets wrong--errors CRT is promotingHow radical feminism started this movement toward divisionHow Critical Theories are changing the university in fundamental waysBlack scholars CRT excludes from the conversation, and whyDifferent approaches to these issues in the humanities, social science, and sciencesWhy Critical Theories are so popular among some Christians, and whether this is justifiedHow students can reflect well and develop their own conclusions about Critical TheoriesHow students can reflected on and engage CRT in their courseworkHow students can reflect on and engage CRT in campus organizationsResources mentioned during our conversation:Mary Poplin, Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global WorldviewsChristopher Rufo’s short video summarizing Critical Race Theory Oher resources by Christopher RufoJames Lindsey, Race Marxism: The Truth about Critical Race Theory and PraxisJames Lindsey’s website New DiscoursesHellen Pluckrose & James Lindsey, Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity--and Why This Harms EverybodyCarol Swain & Christopher Schorr, Black Eye for America: How Critical Race Theory is Burning Down the HouseStan W. Wallace, “How Should Christians Understand Critical Theory?”