Religion and Teaching in the College Classroom

One motivation for early settlers of the American colonies was the desire for religious freedom. Religion has been an important influence on American culture and society, and it is linked closely to the history of higher education in the United States. The first colleges were private, were affiliated with a particular religious denomination, and were created to train future religious leaders. Even today, roughly 20% of the colleges and universities in the United States are affiliated with or controlled by a religious denomination. Public colleges and universities, and secular private institutions, may also encounter religion and religious issues, typically in class discussions or assignments.

Both faculty and students at most colleges and universities enjoy the protections of academic freedom, which is designed to foster “robust” discussion ...