University of North Georgia Student Criticizes Textbook Labeling Christianity
Kelby Murphy, a senior at the University of North Georgia, expressed her dismay after discovering that a textbook assigned in her international public relations course categorized Christianity as a “white supremacist organization based in the United States.” She mentioned that she spent around $100 on the textbooks.
The offending passage appeared in chapter 8, which includes various “modifiers” such as corporate, sexual, and racial, alongside the claim that Christians are tied to white supremacy. “They listed several marginalized groups but just labeled Christians as white supremacists,” Murphy shared in a conversation. “It’s alarming that this book has been circulating since 2007.”
Murphy, who was baptized just a few months ago, wants to defend her faith. It’s interesting, actually—I mean, she really feels she can’t just let this pass without saying something. “We wouldn’t want anyone unfamiliar with Jesus—and who Christianity really is—to take this at face value and associate Christians with a hate group,” she added.
Interestingly, Murphy mentioned that this particular text has gone unquestioned for nearly two decades, indicating a need for a reassessment in academic materials. “I believe, perhaps, that American academia really needs to take a good look at what’s in these textbooks,” she stated.
In response to the concern raised by Murphy’s viral TikTok video about the textbook, university officials reached out, apologizing for any offense. The university later clarified that the text refers to “extremist groups that exploit Christian symbols to promote hatred,” rather than Christianity itself.
Murphy, looking towards her future, aims to work with special needs students and is developing her capstone project around this theme. She has experience interning at a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities in Georgia. It’ll be interesting to see how she applies her experiences, especially after facing challenges like this.
