Does the Bible Need a Trigger Warning?

Does the Bible contain “graphic bodily injury and sexual violence”?

That’s the warning students at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. are receiving during an English literature lesson featuring readings from the Bible, including the crucifixion of Jesus. The university insists the trigger warnings are standard protocol for potentially sensitive topics, but critics are decrying it as "wokeness" run amok. 

It’s “misguided” and “absurd,” they say, to slap content warnings on the Bible as if it’s some racy paperback or violent thriller and not the sacred text of Christianity.

Does the Bible really need a trigger warning?

Is the Bible Violent?

One of the lessons prompting a warning is on Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. In Genesis, Cain slays Abel, which displeases God, who curses Cain to live a transient life in the land of Nod. Though the story directly deals with Abel’s murder, the story is hardly graphic, and Abel’s death is described in scripture plainly, with little detail.

Another story read by students is the crucifixion of Jesus. Again, the story of the crucifixion is told with great restraint. Rather, the scripture focuses on Jesus’ suffering and redemptive death, rather than the gory details.

RELATED: University Adds Trigger Warning for Christian Faith

“Absurd” and “Mystifying”

While these two stories feature violence, they aren’t exactly violent themselves. Many were baffled – and even outraged – at the idea that adults need a trigger warning before reading them.

"Neither the Gospels nor Genesis give explicit accounts of Abel's murder or Jesus' crucifixion, and what the 'sexual violence' label refers to is mystifying," stated Angus Saul, the Christian Institute's Head of Communications.

"While Christians and unbelievers alike can be profoundly moved by the powerful and enduring words of scripture, such passages are far less explicit than many of the set texts English Literature students come into contact with."

"Applying trigger warnings to salvation narratives that have shaped our civilization is not only misguided, but absurd. Singling out the Bible in this way is discriminatory and deeply ill-informed," said Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre. “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."

Are Trigger Warnings Necessary?

Amid the backlash, the university says the whole thing is being taken out of context. In a statement, a spokesperson for the school said these warnings are standard for any course with sensitive content, and even if the texts themselves aren’t graphic, class discussions may lead down graphic rabbit holes.

A spokesperson explained:

"A content note is a standard academic tool used to signpost when sensitive or graphic content will be discussed. Its purpose is to ensure subjects can be highlighted and discussed openly and critically, while preparing students who might find such details difficult.

Even for well-known texts, academic study requires a level of detail that can often reveal more intense or challenging material than students' everyday knowledge of the story suggests."

In short: the university says it’s not censoring scripture – it’s just giving students a heads-up.

Given the ubiquity of these warnings, it seems fairly clear that this is a “cover your butt” move on the part of the school. But critics allege that slapping a trigger warning on the Bible shortchanges the stories within, trading out the emotion and impact of its tales for cheap labels. 

What do you think? Does the Bible really need a content warning for graphic violence and sexual content? Or is this a case of higher education taking things a step too far?