Episode 179 “Hostile Environment” with George Yancey

On April 20, 2024, Dr. George Yancey will deliver a lecture at the Lanier Theological Library.  He stopped by “The Stone Chapel Podcast” to talk about that lecture and a book he published in 2015. 

His lecture will present his research on the anti-Christian bias. He will discuss the hostile environment for American Christians. And he will offer a few ideas on how to deal with it. 

Who is George Yancey?

George Yancey is a professor of sociology at Baylor University.  He is an African American Christian sociologist.

He says he faces more hostility in academia because he is a Christian than because he’s black. Thus, he has spent a good bit of time investigating anti-Christian bias on a societal level. 

Hostile Environment

In 2015 Dr. Yancey wrote a book entitled Hostile Environment: Understanding and Responding to Anti-Christian Bias. It was published by Intervarsity Press.  

His research indicates that anti-Christian bias in the United States is real.  And those who have this bias are more likely to be wealthy, powerful, well educated, and white. 

It is, he says, every bit as real as Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.  He often uses the term “Christianophobia” to describe this phenomenon. He realizes that some prefer anti-Christian bias. 

In this podcast we discuss how anti-Christian bias in America is different than anti-Christian bias around the world. 

There is less risk of physical harm, and more of societal harm in the workplace, in the media, in the arts, and in higher education. 

The bias, he believes, can be addressed, but it will not be corrected quickly.  It is a long term project. 

What Scholars say about “Hostile Environment”

Here is what Kelly Monroe Kullberg says about his book:

“Yancey urges us to get in the war in an honorable way, adding our courage and insight for cultural survival and renewal.  At times we’re to fight fire with fire. 

That might mean calling out bigotry and hate where you see it.  Love speaks.  Love tells the truth.  Love risks.  Love does not fail.”

Resources

For a transcript of this podcast, click here.

Yancey is the author of a number of books including So Many Christians, So Few Lions: Is There Christianophobia in the United States?

And Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism

More Resources

Want more Stone Chapel Podcasts on some great topics? Just click here.

You can get information on upcoming lectures at Lanier Theological Library by clicking here