When Freedom is Under Siege
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” —John 8:32
Attacks on universities are now well underway.1 This administration has decided that the free exchange of ideas—the very lifeblood of higher education—is a threat to its power. Research grants are being withheld, faculty are being silenced, and students are being warned that their words could cost them their future.2 In an era where loyalty is prized over integrity, the message is clear: Speak freely, and you will pay the price.
Historian and scholar of fascist and authoritarian leaders, Ruth Ben-Ghait recently noted:
Authoritarianism is a political system built on a logic of betrayals: betrayals of others and betrayals of self. It cultivates, and rewards, a state I call moral deregulation: a rolling back of civic and ethical norms against defrauding, silencing, bullying, and physically harming others. Democratic societies inculcate such norms in schools, religious spaces, workplaces, and other social institutions and networks. Authoritarian takeovers mean such norms are discredited and dismantled.3
Authoritarians have always feared education. They know that knowledge liberates, that questions disrupt, and that critical thinking exposes the cracks in their manufactured reality.4 That is why, throughout history, oppressive regimes have sought to control what can be taught, who can teach, and which ideas are allowed to flourish.
This is not just an assault on academic freedom. It is an attempt to weaken the very foundation of democracy itself. The ability to think critically, to debate ideas, to challenge assumptions—these are the skills that create an informed and engaged citizenry. Without them, we are left vulnerable to propaganda, to fear, to the slow erosion of our most basic freedoms.
Scripture is filled with stories of those who refused to be silenced. The Hebrew prophets spoke truth to kings and were exiled for it. Jesus challenged the religious and political establishment and was crucified for it. The early church defied the empire by proclaiming a gospel that declared no earthly ruler could claim ultimate authority over human souls.
Walter Brueggemann reminds us, “The prophetic task is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the dominant culture.”5 That is precisely what universities—at their best—have always done. They cultivate an alternative consciousness, a way of seeing beyond the immediate propaganda of those in power. To dismantle universities in this way is to wage war on the very notion of an informed society.
This is a moment for courage. For students, for faculty, for all of us who value the pursuit of truth and freedom of speech. We must refuse to let fear dictate our silence. We must stand with those who are being threatened, support those whose work is being defunded, and resist the slow creep of authoritarian control.
The truth does set us free. But first, it asks something of us: a willingness to defend it.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where do you see attempts to control knowledge and silence dissent in your own community?
How can you support those—students, teachers, researchers—who are standing up for free speech?
What spiritual resources give you the courage to resist fear and hold fast to what is right?
A Prayer for the Day
For Those Who Speak Truth in Dangerous Times
God of wisdom and courage,
You created us with minds to think, hearts to question,
And spirits that long for truth.
Be with the students who are afraid to speak,
The professors whose words are monitored,
The administrators forced to choose between integrity and security.
Strengthen those who stand against oppression.
Let their voices be steady and strong,
Not for the sake of power, but for the sake of what is right.
Remind us that truth is not fragile,
That knowledge cannot be erased,
That even in the shadows of fear,
Your light cannot be dimmed.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Learning as Resistance
Take time to engage with an idea, a book, or a conversation that challenges you. Read a work by a thinker who has been silenced or marginalized. Listen deeply to the voices that authoritarian systems seek to suppress.
Then, take it a step further. Share what you’ve learned. Discuss it with a friend. Support independent journalism. Speak up in defense of education and free thought.
Knowledge is not just power. It is liberation. In times like these, the pursuit of truth is not just an intellectual exercise—it is an act of faith, an act of hope, an act of resistance.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
March 18 and 25, 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are hosting a Lenten series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” Our first session was with modern mystic, Mirabai Starr. Andrew Harvey was our second guest. The amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder on March 18! Father Adam Bucko on March 25! REGISTER HERE! (recordings are available)
April 1, 2025, 12pm ET - Rev. Damien Lake and I are collaborating on hosting a cohort for new congregation developers that will meet monthly. Ecumenical. Interfaith. Free. Join us.
April 1, 2025 - Rabbi Benjamin Ross and I are collaborating on a new leadership program called “All Together Now: A Collaborative Cohort for Jewish Congregational Leadership Teams.” You can read about the program here.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only one spot left!
August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will be hosting a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
September 4, 4:30pm ET - I will be collaborating with the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology to host a conversation with Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational theology. It’s a FREE event. Register here.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Register here!
I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism-palestine-israel-9c209ce040e4b60d2702b40b9c2fb321
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/g-s1-53831/dei-universities-education-department-investigation
https://bookshop.org/p/books/prophetic-imagination-40th-anniversary-edition-walter-brueggemann/14448818?ean=9781506449302&next=t
I’ve always appreciated your reflections. I agree that truth and academic freedom are crucial for democracy, and authoritarians fear the free exchange of ideas. My daughter, a PhD candidate at Emory, told me that her NIH postdoc scholarship may be canceled because she received it through the DEI program. She’s always been outspoken, even at Brandeis, and very progressive. We used to have lively debates on politics and religion (I’m a UCC pastor; she’s agnostic). I’ve heard that some professors at liberal colleges have biases, and I think she might have been influenced by them. However, I’ve noticed she’s becoming more “center-left” in graduate school. I strongly support academic freedom and the importance of speaking truth to power. Universities should foster these values, not biases.
Debate comes with a price attached. In the season of Lent, we walk with Jesus back towards and into Jerusalem one more time. He knows the darkness and cost that is coming. He continues his debate into Holy Week (Matthew 21:12 and 13). The cost can be high. John 15:13 tells us this. Yet have courage dear friends. Here in Canada we are watching closely to see what is next. I was privileged to have very heated debates. We had biblical literalists who would line up against those of a social gospel persuasion. We challenged each other and then went for coffee together. Or had lunch together. Fear and hate are four letter words. So is love. Be encouraged, there are those of us praying hard for you and your situation.
Rev. Scott Brown, Canada.