Research in the humanities and social sciences is different. Professors gain prestige for themselves and their universities by presenting papers at meetings of academic trade associations and writing articles for the journals such groups establish. In past years, I've been to the annual conventions of five such groups -- Modern Language Association, American Sociological Association, American Historical Association, American Studies Association and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication -- and can offer Baylor a message from personal observation: You cannot serve both God and academic bigotry.

Along these lines, a look at the schedule of the American Sociological Association's 98th annual meeting (Aug.15-19, 2003) is suggestive. One of the official highlights is a section on "Marxist sociology," but paper and roundtable titles like "Queering Reproduction and Reinforcing Heteronormativity" or "Female Solidarity in the Sex Industry" suggest the radical fixation that is at the heart of much of today's academic sociology.

I'm not against studies of subcultures, movements and pressures. I could sink my teeth into annual meeting topics like "Defining a Good Steak: Global Constructions of What Is Considered the Best Red Meat." I'm even curious about the research findings to be unveiled in "‘Just Like the Boys'? Gender Negotiation in the Skydiving Community." But I have seen how writing that says God is in charge receives ridicule among those who glorify their own neuroses.

Baylor will find Christian humanities and social science professors who can be excellent in both teaching and real research only if it ventures outside the normal academic channels. That may translate into lower academic prestige in the short run, but the university will have to make hard choices, as it now must do concerning its sports program.