Why Does It Matter?
I am currently a tenured full professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University where I have been teaching for 25 years. During that time, I have seen many humanities professors who claim to be wise but who cannot even teach their students what is good. They lie to these students and say that their classes and degrees will help them get a job better than other, much more useful degrees. I wrote this Guide to help you choose a professor. Choose wisely.
If you’re planning to study philosophy, religion, literature, or history, you’ll be taking humanities classes. Even if you don’t major in these fields, you’ll still need to take general education courses in the humanities to graduate. A good humanities class should teach you about the human condition—questions like: What is good for a human? What does it mean to be wise? However, there is a big problem at ASU and similar state universities. Many professors in these classes don’t know how to teach what is good or what it means to be wise.
“They promised to prepare you for a job, but they couldn’t even teach you what is good.”
When you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on your education, you want to make sure it’s worth the cost. In some fields, this is easy to see. A degree in pre-med, engineering, or business often leads directly to specific career paths. But what about a degree in the humanities? How does it prepare you for life? To do so it would have to teach you what is good for a human life.
What you will discover is that the humanities professors are teaching their students about the benefits of witchcraft, why polyamory is a good life choice, that there are 52 genders, and “whiteness” and “heteronormativity” are the biggest problems in our world. All that after you have paid them tens of thousands of dollars. But you can avoid those professors and those classes.
This guide will help you decide which humanities professors to choose—or avoid. By following these simple steps, you can avoid wasting your time and money in classes taught by professors who don’t understand what is good or how to become wise.
The humanities include subjects like philosophy, religion, history, and literature. Unlike career-focused fields, they aim to help you think deeply and grow as a person. Humanities classes claim to teach critical thinking and wisdom. At their best, they explore the human condition, address life’s big questions, and guide us toward understanding what is truly good for humanity.
Choose Wisely
How can you tell if a humanities degree is worth your time and money? At ASU and many other universities, humanities departments now claim their degrees will help you get a job by teaching you to “think critically.” This is a shift from their original goal—helping students understand what is good for a human life. Instead of answering big questions about life’s purpose, these departments now focus on promising better job prospects and higher earnings.
But choosing a degree isn’t just about future paychecks. If it were, a humanities degree might sound appealing. However, there’s more to consider. At universities like ASU, humanities classes are often shaped by radical leftist philosophies. Thinkers like Marx, Freud, Kinsey, Money, Freire, Foucault, and Kendi influence nearly every subject. Since these philosophies are built on false ideas, they won’t help you become wise.
Above All, Get Wisdom
What is wisdom? Wisdom is understanding the highest good and knowing how to live your life in a way that helps you reach the good. What is good for a person depends on human nature. For example, what is good for a horse is based on the nature of a horse, which is different from what is good for a rabbit. In the same way, the humanities focus on human nature and what is truly good for a human life.
The highest good is the ultimate goal we aim for in everything we do. We might have smaller goals along the way, but those are just steps toward something greater. The final goal, or chief purpose, is something we want for its own sake, not because it leads to something else. Being human means we can reflect on our choices and think about what we truly want out of life. This search for meaning is essential to being human. Without it, life can feel empty and unbearable.
The Knowledge of God
Most philosophers agree that the ultimate good for a human is to know God. Thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, and Locke all point to this idea in their work, even if they describe it in different ways. Even philosophers who don’t use the word “God” often still believe that knowing the highest reality—whatever they call it—is what makes life truly good for a person.
We use reason to figure out what is good. Reason helps us tell the difference between what is good and bad, what is human and not human, and what is God and not God. It allows us to form beliefs and create arguments, always aiming for arguments that prove what is true. But if a professor doesn’t understand the truth about God or human nature, they can’t help you use reason to discover the truth.
Philosophers don’t always mean the same thing when they talk about “God.” Once someone explains what they think the highest good is, it’s important to ask, “What do you mean by ‘God’?” or whatever term they use. Asking questions like this is a way to practice critical thinking—an essential skill that humanities classes should help you develop.
But what if today’s humanities professors reject the idea of a highest reality or claim it can’t be known? What if, instead of encouraging students to explore meaning, they teach that truth is just a tool of power? Professors like this offer only skepticism (the belief that we can’t know the truth) and nihilism (the idea that nothing is clear to reason, and everything is about power). They focus on complaints about suffering but can’t help students find meaning in it—because they don’t know what is truly good.
What can you do? Here are three simple steps:
Step 1: Identify and avoid the skeptics and nihilists.
You can often figure out whether a professor is worth your time by checking their profile page, the topics they write about, and the syllabi for their classes. This information can reveal their intellectual approach and whether they focus on meaningful topics or promote unproductive ideas like skepticism and nihilism. Professors who embrace skepticism (the belief that truth cannot be known) or nihilism (the belief that nothing has inherent meaning) are not only unhelpful in guiding you toward wisdom but also fail to prepare you for life after graduation. In many cases, state university professors teach that the satisfaction of any sexual desire you have is what is good. They will want you to join in their “activism” to “advocate” for their “causes.”
Such professors lack the critical thinking skills they claim to teach. Instead of fostering clear, logical thought and competence in the use of reason, they perpetuate a cycle of doubt and relativism that leaves students unequipped to tackle real-world challenges. This deficit in critical thinking and problem-solving will be obvious to employers. Students who graduate from programs shaped by these professors often struggle to apply clear reasoning in their work, leaving employers disappointed with their ability to contribute meaningfully. In some cases, this could even jeopardize their long-term career prospects.
One easy way to identify a professor who claims to be wise, but is not wise, is by observing whether they resort to ad hominem personal attacks. Such behavior is common in systems that blame others for their own failures. Nothing external to you can prevent you from seeking the good or becoming wise. Yet, you will find that the majority of humanities professors teach philosophies that shift responsibility to others and engage in race blame, religious blame, and gender blame. This behavior reveals that such a professor was not even wise enough to protect their own mind from these falsehoods, and as a result, they will not be able to help you.
Another way to identify such professors is by examining the causes they advocate. Are they involved in radical movements that promote sexual perversion or conflict theory? While it is rare for a professor to openly declare hatred for God, their actions often reveal hostility toward everything associated with God, the Bible, and Christianity. This is evident in the way they label these things dismissively—as patriarchal, oppressive, or bigoted. If a professor uses such language or assigns readings that promote these views without offering any alternative perspectives, it is a clear indication to approach with caution or avoid this professor altogether.
A professor who doesn’t understand the good or how to reason toward truth is doing a disservice to her students. As you review your course options, prioritize professors who value clarity, truth, and wisdom—qualities that will not only enrich your education but also set you up for success in life and your future career. By taking the time to research your professors carefully, you can avoid investing in classes that waste your time, money, and potential.
Step 2: Ask potential professors what they believe is good.
When approaching a professor, do so respectfully—either before enrolling in their class or on the first day when you can still make changes to your schedule. Don’t settle for vague or circular answers that don’t explain anything, such as, “The good is living well.” Statements like this are just another way of saying, “The good is living the good,” which doesn’t provide any real insight. Instead, ask for clear, specific answers. This will help you determine whether the professor truly understands the concept of “the good.” You can also find this information on the university’s web page under that professor’s bio. This is a good place to start your research.
If they give an answer like “happiness,” don’t stop there. Follow up with questions like, “What do you mean by happiness? Is there a difference between temporary happiness and lasting happiness?” The good, by definition, must bring lasting happiness. Many things people pursue—such as money, fame, or physical pleasure—may offer temporary satisfaction but fail to provide lasting fulfillment. The causes these professors advocate for can reveal a great deal about their view of the good. Are they primarily focused on advancing radical ideologies, promoting sexual perversion, or endorsing extreme measures, such as amputating healthy limbs as a supposed solution to gender dysphoria?
Similarly, concepts like love, charity, empathy, and faith are not the ultimate good; they are means to help us move toward it. For instance, if you love someone, you naturally desire what is good for them. However, if you don’t understand what is truly good, your love is incomplete, lacking direction and purpose. A thoughtful professor should be able to articulate the distinction between fleeting pleasures and the path to genuine, lasting happiness. By seeking this clarity, you can ensure that you’re learning from someone who is capable of guiding you toward wisdom and a deeper understanding of life’s ultimate purpose.
Step 3: Find a professor who knows what is good.
Look for a professor who can guide you toward wisdom. An excellent professor worth your time will understand what is good and how to find meaning in life, even during times of great suffering. They will help you make sense of your experiences, giving you a better understanding of yourself and the world around you. Most importantly, they will help you discover what it takes to be reconciled to God. This kind of mentorship is priceless in a humanities education.
At the same time, don’t settle for indefinite but impressive answers like, “Leaving the world a better place than you found it.” The word “better” is just another way of saying “good,” so this doesn’t really explain anything. Ask follow-up questions like, “What do you mean by a better world?” At universities like ASU, the answer is often practical, focused on reducing suffering or improving health and material quality of life. These are valuable goals, but they are not the ultimate good. A person can be healthy and wealthy but still feel empty if they don’t know what is truly good—leaving their life without real meaning.
Where can you find this information?
It might be hard to know where to start. Waiting until the first day of class can be too late. The first thing to do is go on the university’s web page and look at the professor’s bio. This will tell you where they studied, what topics they study and teach, and the titles of their books and articles. You should also be able to see what kinds of conferences and events they attend or put on. This alone will let you know if they subscribe to the radical left’s philosophical assumptions. You might ask, “But don’t they all?” Yes, to a degree. But some are much more egregious than others and some can separate their personal opinions from their professional work. Humanities professors have the hardest time doing this. Your goal is to find one that assigns many different perspectives and does not let his personal political and sexual opinions shape the class.
Education Improves Character
Following these three steps will help you determine if a professor is wise and capable of teaching you wisdom. A wise professor understands what is truly good, can explain it clearly, and can guide you in applying this knowledge to your life. They won’t settle for whatever is the latest academic fad or for scholarly clichés, but instead will encourage you to ask deeper questions and seek meaningful answers. They will challenge you to think critically, helping you grow not only in knowledge but also in character.
It’s important to avoid professors who don’t know what is truly good. These professors may rely on trendy ideas, vague philosophies, or outright skepticism, which will leave you feeling confused and directionless. They push their “causes” for “advocacy” and “activism” that involve conflict theory, critical theory, sexual perversion, and anti-Christian assumptions. Instead of providing clarity and guidance, they often promote doubt and relativism, which can hinder your intellectual and personal growth. Instead of teaching you to reason and know God, they teach you to satisfy whatever sexual desires you have. They are blind guides.
The good news is that you can still graduate without taking their classes. Universities typically offer multiple options for fulfilling humanities requirements. Look for professors who are serious about helping students explore the big questions about life, meaning, and purpose. By choosing wisely, you can ensure that your education is not only academically valuable but also meaningful for your personal development. Remember, the goal of the humanities is to teach you about the human condition and guide you toward wisdom—don’t settle for anything less.
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This guide is just the beginning. For more insights into choosing the right professors, a Christian professor in the secular university, and living a meaningful life that glorifies God, subscribe to my Substack. Get exclusive content, resources, and guidance to navigate your educational journey. And please share with other who you believe will benefit from this content.
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Recommended Resources:
Intellectual Predators: How Professors Prey on Christian Students (DVD) (mp3) (mp4 Download)
Can All Religions Be True? mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
How Can Jesus be the Only Way? Mp4, Mp3, and DVD by Frank Turek
Dr. Owen Anderson is a Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, a pastor, and a certified jiu-jitsu instructor. He emphasizes the Christian belief in God, human sin, and redemption through Christ, and he explores these themes in his philosophical commentary on the Book of Job. His recent research addresses issues such as DEIB, antiracism, and academic freedom in secular universities, critiquing the influence of thinkers like Rousseau, Marx, and Freud. Dr. Anderson actively shares his insights through articles, books, online classes, and his Substack.
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