University Adds Trigger Warning for "Christian Faith" to Classic Literature

Rev. Dr. Father JJ

just goes to show that people just like to be outraged. all below from bbark.deepforestproductions.com/column/2011/11/21/banned-books-awareness-canterbury-tales/

"it is one of the most banned and controversial books in history. The Canterbury Tales was, and still is, a subject of great debate as it has been censored, challenged, and banned for centuries. Immediate reactions in England were over its criticisms against the Church and for its sexual innuendos."

"Chaucer uses the tales, and the descriptions of the characters, as observations on English society, particularly the Church. This was not taken lightly by Church officials,"

"It was heavily censored by many Colonial authorities when copies first started appearing along with the first waves of settlers, and continues to be subject to challenges in many school systems throughout the country."

"The book was banned from being mailed for years by the U.S. Postal Service as yet another victim of the anti-obscenity Comstock Law of 1873."

people really need to get a grip.

'woke' seriously? bunch of regressive cry-babies

Reverend Paula Copp

I’m a retired English professor. I have read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. To insist on having a warning to students about Christianity being involved in the text is ridiculous! The whole background of the stories is a pilgrimage to the “holy land”!

Pastor Jim

Being offended (or triggered) is a choice... I choose otherwise.

Sunshine DayDreamz

And yet no mention or trigger warning for any of the antisemitic passages. Hmmm.

Colleen McAllister

Totally unnecessary. Anyone reading a 600 year old book should understand that this won't reflect modern thoughts and beliefs.

Jaime Lynn King

Yes, it is necessary. I'm an omnist but have trauma from a some things of Christianity which I no longer accept as my personal faith. I was told by one minister that all pagans are evil and deserve to die after I told her I was now pagan.

Yes!! Trigger warnings are necessary.

David Arthur Lewis

To comment when you have not read the book is academic dishonesty.

Lori-Ann Neeb

There should be no warnings on any college texts no matter what religion or faith is discussed. Institutions meant for learning are meant to dispense knowledge as they find it and let the students form their own opinions if any.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Charity Lace Ann Cason

“Do university students need a trigger warning that a text contains Christianity?”

Yes, they do. Just because one is at university does not mean one is prepared to be alienated or have past trauma triggered (PTSD from religious abuse, for example). Providing adequate information ahead of time allows the student to prepare themselves or remove themselves if necessary. Students at university aren’t just learning materials, they’re learning how to work with them as adults.

The public provides warnings while we drive (eg: turn signals), when we serve food (eg: warning - contents hot), when we buy toys for our children (eg: choking hazard), when we go on walks (eg: private property signs, elevation details, length of a trail, etc), when we are entertained (eg: classification or age rating on movies, games, and music). Providing a warning for a book is no less courteous.

Showing respect and compassion for others is not a joke or a problem, it is the ideal.

Nicholas J Page

Woke again What ever next

Theresa C. Marquess

Really? If you were to pick up a copy of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, what would you expect???

Rev. Rory

Warnings for college students? Young people are not that fragile. It's insulting to be an adult and told that you need "warnings" or you might be insulted. 600 year old literature reflects the culture of that time and should not be a surprise. I laugh when I stream an old movie and in the rating it says that the video includes "smoking." Of course it does. That was popular at the time. I would not stop a young person from watching Casablanca because Bogart had a bad habit.

John P Maher

ITs ALL B S !!!

James Riggle-Johnson

Why would they need to warn them? Have past students had horrible nightmares from reading it? They are college students. This is the time to learn and discover. I don’t get it, but I refuse to say this is woke nonsense. The word has been coopted by a political party.

I do have to point out the people complaining about this are probably the same people who put “Explicit Language” warnings on certain album covers. Lol!

Rev. Mike Eggleston

Perhaps it's a reaction to bible thumpers' demands that there be warnings about other religions.

Amber Fry

I think the wording is not quite clear in this case. I think if they are going to insist on such a warning about Christian Expression then they should be clear it is Expression of the Middle Ages. Religions shift and change and develop over time. There are branches of Christianity today that didn't exist in that time period and a few that have faded away since then. Even some Christians might be a little triggered with some of differences.

Jamie Frost

When we now have the internet in our hands... People can look up something and decide if it's "appropriate" for theirself or not ..... As a victim of CSA, I always check IMDBs parents guide section for possible abuse/ sex scenes.. ..

these are MY trigger.. I have to handle them so others have to handle theirs... . They are NO one else's concern to warning me or others about.

John Doll

The “trigger” warning regarding “expressions of Christian faith” was not meant for students raised in a Christian culture. This warning is highly likely to be in response to complaints from a student, or group of students, adhering to a different faith tradition, who were “offended”. The U of N statement regarding the warning reveals this to be the case. It is hypocritical to be a “champion of diversity”, then negate that proclaimed position by issuing these warnings for the students of differing faiths, or non-faith traditions. It is a soft form of censorship. If the University determines this type of warning is appropriate for the Canterbury Tales, then it should issue similar trigger warnings for any courses or courses material that someone might find “offensive”. If “expressions of the Christian faith” require trigger warnings, the same should be true for the expression of any faith tradition. And while they are at it, issue trigger warnings for any course or course material that includes incidents of violence or mental health issues.

Genevieve Friday Ard

I'm going to go from an adage found in Stand Up Comedy; Know Your Audience! Trust me, Stand Up Comics can tell one joke to an Audience in New York City, and tell that same joke in Montgomery Alabama and one Audience will think its the best laugh ever and the other may lynch you. Chaucer lived in a time and place where soap was evil, warm baths were how the Devil was invited to steal your soul, life was cheap and punishments were harsh. Having done military service for 20 years? A truism is true simply because it is... One generation does not want the Next, their Children, to suffer... so we make things easier, improve our every day lives. The same is true for Religions, First Century Christianity abandoned infants & children on a whim so much so Rome condemned them for their practices, during Chaucer's time Witch Hunters found a Witch or two in every village and burned old ladies to death and charged the village every gold bit they had. I think both are shocking and objectionable and should not be part of any 'religion' ...but, it was, and it is shocking when you find out. Yes, Know Your Audience comes into play here. Do you know if the Woman in front of you lost an infant at birth? Is the Elder Woman in the class unwed, has a few black cats and grows her own herbs to make tea in the class? It might be upsetting to them, they may feel 'called out' and may even quit a class needed for their degree.... BUT, you also do NOT want to single them out with a public announcement about their lives.... So, YES, A Warning IS NEEDED.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Michael Burton

Much ado about nothing.

Donald Anthony Tierney

"We know little of the things for which we pray." Geoffrey Chaucer

Quinn R Amaro

What is not needed is for those who seem to think they are smarter to tell others what they may see or read or do. What needs to be under his that each individual needs to make that choice, decision. How can one possibly grow if someone else is telling them what they can and can't do? What they can and can't read? What they can and can't see?

Christiaan Wagener

To warn a person triggers a reaction. After evaluating the immediate potential danger to the mind or body as to fight or flight, the reaction becomes a curiosity, about the potential danger. The curious and adventurous will continue the examination, thereby preselecting an audience that may become disenchanted by certain warnings. We are all familiar with the fable of the boy who cried wolf too many times. By issuing too many warnings on historical documents, we need to think about the writings of the apostles and the bible and how an immune populace may react to their content.

John Robert Peters

Define "woke". I have seen it used on the Right as a derogatory term for people who respect equality and tolerance and diversity and compassion for fellow beings of all races, sexes, genders, and religions including no religion. In this sense it has engendered the idea of Christian Nationalism, censorship, Christian (Protestant) superiority, White superiority, homophobia, and misogyny. It seems that to be "woke" to them means to be a person who rejects censorship, intolerance, imposition of specific religious beliefs into the law and education of children. This is really not different than forcing a theocracy similar to the Sharia Law and theocracy in some areas of the Mideast.

Personally, I am willing to discuss my religious leanings if asked, but not to attempt to proseletyze them on the unwilling nor to politicize them. The current trend of dramatic, public, and politicalization of beliefs is simply intolerance and bigotry rationalized by a misinterpretataion of the gospel of love taught by Jesus and similar figures in other religions.Chaucer is a beautiful writer and the Tales are a wonderful look into a past era and past beliefs. To create a new Imprimatur is morong and shameful. If you are a true believer and act as such there is nothing that would shake your true belief and so do not censor anything. Love, Tolerance, and Compassion should overcome your concerns. If you don't have them...you have not right to censor anything on the basis of "faith" or "religion".

Russel A. Kester

I remember reading the Canterbury Tales in high school. It wasn't an issue for us at all. We understood it as a product of its time. The university though does show its woke colors by using the term 'problematic'. The concern about the issue of an expressions of Christian faith tells how far gone the educational system in the UK has gone fallen. It's such a shame as it was once a great country. It's the university that is problematic not Chaucer.

Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski

I havent read it yet? Good book suggestion. As with anything in modern religion it is important to keep an open mind. My rule of thumb is if its seems weird, its probably not from God. Take it slow, However anyway anyone Gets to God is the miracle in the making be it media, tv, a book etc. brings you closer to God. There are some books that its good to mention the sensitive information in the context. To agree or disagree is gist for the mil. Rushdie Salman book satanic verses is another such book. Books should have rating systems like movies do in the 21st century.

John Alex Paxson

A trigger warning ... are you kidding me? thank God I do not associate with these "Sensitive" humans.

Keith David Harry

Trigger warnings; are you serious?!?!? We have now created an entire generation of tiny minded little panty waists. Geez , we are doomed.

Amaya Moses

I think trigger warning is a bit extreme. You can mention the genre and the description without a warning label. Similar to Rated R movies and not all are Rated R for the same reason. However, the description usually gives light to what’s going on. The rating gives light to the severity of the content.

Michael Blackwood

Chaucer also takes the Church to task with his insightful satire. There is one legit, humble Church advocate and a number who are reminiscent of modern prosperity evangelists today.

I am surprised that, if they are issuing trigger warnings, why not for the elaborate dirty stories in the fabliauxs.

Patricia Ann Gross

I think that the "warning" was not well worded or this has been taken totally out of context. Considering that it is a book written in Midevial times, it would have been more appropriate to warn them that it was written from the Christian perspective of the time, which was very militant, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim. These perspectives could be very uncomfortable reading for someone who has been subjected to persecution in today's world. My perspective: Is it appropriate to "warn" that it contains Christian content? No. However, warning someone that there could be triggers for certain [specific] content is appropriate. The warning does not indicate everyone will be triggered, but for those who are, it can be a great heads-up.

Henry Gordon. Weed

I believe we all have our own sense to judge what we read and if we are strong in our faith nothing will change it

Clara Ries

I don't know if trigger warnings are necessary for any book used in a college context. Readers should have the ability assess a text before they read it to understand what they are getting into. I would place the responsibility of the reader to research the classes they are taking and the materials used prior to registration. Summaries of The Canterbury Tales are not hard to come by.

I am not sure about the UK, but in the US, all universities that accept federal financial aid, even privates, must provide a book list prior to registration so the student can understand the textbook requirements and costs up front.

In my personal option, if a student can't handle Chaucer, they are going to have even more trouble when they get into ethics, biology, science, and many other courses that may run contrary to their beliefs.

Daniel Lee Weiss

“Expressions of Christian faith.”

will similar trigger warnings be applied for ALL over religions?

doubful.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Tom Herman

I think one issue here is the use of the term "woke." I my mind woke means enlightened, educated, informed or otherwise tolerant to another's view of the world. This is a University setting. It is about learning which is what a University does. On one hand, it may be wise to advise a student the content is now considered controversial. One the other hand, it is English literature written in a time period of revival and renaissance. The reader should understand such. I think we worry too much about offending some people's sensitivity and too little about providing ideas.

Rev, Dr Edward Taylor

I read the Canterbury Tale ever since I was 16 years old, I didn't see anything wrong with it. Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the greatest Medieval English Poets.

Dorothy Hawkins

At the college level, I would assume students are mature enough to come to their own conclusions without being warned about the contents of what they are about to read. Contextually, for a brief summary of the book beforehand, a mention of the themes might suffice. A trigger warning? Doesn't seem necessary to me at the college level of learning.

John Mitchison

If Christianity has to become a cautionary matter when reading ANY historical purely fictional literature, at University level... America has truly lost both its Standards and its humanity.

Rev. Donut

"Trigger Warning" what a laugh.

Trigger warnings are BS.

Grow up and have a life.

Some people, a lot of people, want to be angry and offended by everything, everywhere, all the time.

To that I say, be angry, be offended by everything, everywhere, all the time.

Or, just be offended in general. Tough.

I think purple hair and nose rings are stupid. But I'm not "offended" by them. I just consider the source and move on.

I don't care.

Walter J. Holbrook

I need someone to correct me if I am wrong with what I am about to a say. When is the church or churches going to stop taking minor things and turning them into "the world is about to fall if we don't stop this event from happening." There are more significant problems than this.

Donna Riccardo

Definitely unnecessary. Ridiculous. Let people make up their own minds.

Ari Joseph Bertine

That's pretty silly. After all, we know for sure that Christians would not want a content warning if a book contained Satanic imagery or sentiments.

Stephen Sanchez

It is completely and utterly foolish to either post trigger warnings about, or censor Art. I could make some elegant and salient points, however this is so cut and dry I find even being asked this question repugnant.

MsMari

I don't know, but the picture depicted is a mural by my family member, Ezra Winter, that graces the wall of the Library of Congress in the United States, and you did not give credit at all. Please fix this.

Michael Hunt

For the record, trigger warnings aren't censorship. It's not telling the reader they can't consume the material. It's simply a warning to those who may have trauma responses to the particular subject so that they know what to be prepared for.

Ruthann Adamsky

Trigger warnings sound silly, until the day you wind up seeing something that brings back a horror you've been trying to keep suppressed. And yes, some may sound trivial, unless it's YOUR bête noir. For excellent examples of proper warnings, check out fanfiction, where unpaid authors are very careful to make sure readers don't suddenly meet something they would have wanted to avoid.

Curtis E Coe

Trigger warning are useless and simply are a way to sell more junk

Rudolph M Garza

I am sure the administration of the University of Nottingham have their reasons and I doubt that neither the students nor instructors will spend much time about the warning and simply move on to more important matters such as the
curriculum.

The University of Nottingham is governed by the Council and Senate. The Chancellor of the University is Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey while Professor Shearer West is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Nottingham She grew up in a small town in south-west Virginia, where her father was a factory floor supervisor and mother a high school teacher, and was the first in her family to attend University.

Reference from several sources. I trust they would meet with everyone’s approval. LOL

Rudolph M Garza

I am sure the administration of the University of Nottingham have their reasons and I doubt that neither the students nor instructors will spend much time about the warning and simply move on to more important matters such as the
curriculum.

The University of Nottingham is governed by the Council and Senate. The Chancellor of the University is Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey while Professor Shearer West is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Nottingham She grew up in a small town in south-west Virginia, where her father was a factory floor supervisor and mother a high school teacher, and was the first in her family to attend University.

Reference from several sources. I trust they would meet with everyone’s approval. LOL

Tung Nguyen

Dam if these student only knew about the many ways religion are played in such things as adult films to gore movies. They’d realize this wouldn’t even qualify to be rated PG

David Buck

If you can't read Canterbury Tales (which is about a bunch of Christian pilgrims going to Canterbury cathedral to pray at the shrine to Thomas a Beckett) without needing a trigger warning that there may be Christianity involved, you are: a. too stupid; and b. too much of a snowflake to be allowed out without a keeper. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with kids these days?

Pastor George Day

I believe this policy highlights the extent of our disconnection from reality. Those who advocate for 'wokeness' now hold sway, fostering a culture of 'sensitivity' that places emotions on a pedestal above all else.

Pastor George Day

I still haven't heard what Lionhear thinks about trigger warnings of this kind!

Tony Zoltai

The content is determined by its era and culture. Yes, some people who might read The Canterbury Tales may well have been traumatised by a Christian upbringing. By the same token, some people reading Homer's Odyssey may well have been born into an overbearing and bullying pagan family. Are we going to issue trigger warnings on everything that anyone ever could have a psychological reaction to? I fear we would never actually get to read the content itself, given the amount of plausible trigger warnings that could possibly be appropriate.

At some point, we need to rely on grown-up people being resilient, as much as we need to be ready to catch them if the material offered pushes them beyond their resilience.