Western civilization sure seems hellbent on raising an entire generation of mollycoddled milquetoasts. University theology students in Scotland are being officially warned that discussions of crucifixion may be graphic and distressing. Jesus now comes with a trigger warning.
The University of Glasgow, part of the elite Russell Group, has introduced the warnings to its theology students studying Creation to Apocalypse: Introduction to the Bible (Level 1).
In one lecture about Jesus, it warned students it “contains graphic scenes of the crucifixion” adding that it would be flagged up to students beforehand.
These are university students. They are chronologically adults. People their age are fighting in wars and administrators are afraid that discussions about historic execution methods are going to irreparably scar their fragile psyche. Not only that, they are assuming that people are entering university completely ignorant of the most basic cultural facts. Are college students actually so uninformed that they will be surprised by one of the most recognizable events in history?
Biblical studies aren’t the only classes to come with a warning.
The same centre has issued warnings to its veterinary students who work with dead animals and those studying Contemporary Society who will be discussing illness and violence.
I’m sure like me, many of you reading this worked with dead animals in middle school science class—without trigger warnings and without grief counselors and therapy bunnies on standby. People who need to be informed that as veterinary students they will have to work with dead animals should not be veterinary students.
People who are unaware that there is illness and violence in contemporary society should not be allowed out of the house without a helmet and a GPS locator tag.
It has defended the move saying it is to protect pupils’ mental health.
If warnings like this are actually necessary, it only proves that the pupils’ mental health has already been sorely abused by politically correct do-gooders.
A spokesman for Glasgow University said: “We have an absolute duty of care to all of our students and where it is felt course material may cause potential upset or concern warnings may be given.”
Forensic science students at Strathclyde University have been given a “verbal warning at the beginning of some lectures where sensitive images, involving blood patterns, crime scenes and bodies are in the presentation”.
At Stirling University archaeology students were given advanced warning that they would be shown an image of a well-preserved archaeological body in case they found it “a bit gruesome”.
It has also told its gender studies students: “We cannot anticipate or exclude the possibility that you may encounter material which is triggering [ie, which can trigger a negative reaction] and we urge that you take all necessary precautions to look after yourself in and around the programme.”
And please tell me, who is going to assume that looking at a “well preserved archaeological body” will be anything other than “a bit gruesome?”
Thankfully, at least someone recognizes how “ridiculous” this all is.
Scottish Tory education spokesperson Liz Smith said it was just “ridiculous”.
“Universities are meant to be a place of learning where concepts are challenged and tricky subjects debated,” she said.
“That will become increasingly difficult if they go too far out of their way to ensure everything survives the politically correct test. Some of the examples set out here are patently ridiculous.”
How badly have millennials been damaged by this impulse to protect their gossamer feelings from the world?
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