Neil Shenvi: Two Views

The Man Behind Evangelicalism’s War on Critical Race Theory

Dr. Neil Shenvi is a typical culture warrior. Turning from a Princeton and UC-Berkeley education to embrace religious radicalism, Shenvi was a largely unsuccessful theoretical chemist until his interests took a sudden and presumably much more lucrative turn. Though he is virtually unknown outside fundamentalist circles, he is the man at the center of a web of fear-mongering, pseudoscholarship, and alarmism that has come to characterize evangelicalism’s views of critical race theory.

Despite having zero formal training in CRT, Shenvi rose to prominence as a “go-to” source for information about the esoteric legal discipline. One of his first lectures on critical theory was delivered in 2018. In that talk, he claimed critical theory was developed by theorists at the Frankfurt School, who later “[incorporated] Marxist social analysis with cutting edge research into artificial intelligence” to become “the largest supplier of military computer systems.” Unbelievably, he delivered similar talks at two flagship evangelical seminaries in 2019 and 2020, this time claiming that “Social ‘justice’ is a postmodern Marxist, fascist, GLOBALIST… conspiracy.” (Later talks would open with slide after slide of Donald Trump’s grinning visage, no doubt an homage to the former president’s anti-CRT executive order).

MAGA evangelicals ate it up. After the murder of George Floyd, traffic poured into Shenvi’s website, which he purchased in 2019, just in time to cash in on the anti-CRT hysteria sweeping the country. Shenvi’s Twitter audience grew into the tens of thousands. Interview requests poured in. But who was funding the so-called “research”? Who was actually writing the book reviews? It didn’t really matter as long as the grift continued to pay dividends, both monetary and social.

Eventually, scholars responded. A prominent critical theorist debunked Shenvi’s shoddy scholarship, insisting that Shenvi’s descriptions “read… as caricature” and that they “simplify and obscure.” Others chimed in, deeming Shenvi’s work “problematic” and “basically thrown together.” All to no avail. Shenvi’s audience had found the red meat they wanted.

But as interest in critical race theory waned, Shenvi’s tactics changed. The Jan. 6th insurrection turned America’s attention to the dangers of Christian nationalism and Shenvi again rushed into the fray, assuring evangelicals that all was well. He dismissed groundbreaking sociological work on Christian nationalism –work written by actual experts, not pseudo-intellectuals with a blog– as “[casting] too wide of a net and [failing] to grapple with even basic questions of political theology” accusing the authors of “leveling imprecise attacks against nebulous targets.” In Feb. 2022, tens of thousands of eager listeners heard him insist that real academics raising alarms about growing Christian nationalism were “just throw[ing] out this label to impugn us.”

But the story doesn’t end there. It seems that Shenvi has evolved again. No longer content to downplay the real threat of American theocracy, the chemist has begun incessantly promoting Christian nationalism to his growing audience. He began his review of Dr. Stephen Wolfe’s The Case for Christian Nationalism by chastising readers who believe “that the book is ‘racist,’ or ‘fascist,’ or ‘white supremacist.'” He then continued to praise the “positives” of the book, including its use of “historic Protestant Political Theory,” its “desperately needed” challenge to liberalism” and its “defense of cultural Christianity.” Shenvi, like Wolfe, apparently believes that “[Christians] should pray that God would raise up [a Christian prince] from among us: one who would suppress the enemies of God and elevate his people.”

But Shenvi’s enthusiasm for theocracy has only grown. As of the writing of this article, Shenvi has posted no less than TWENTY-EIGHT tweets highlighting the work of Christian nationalist Andrew Isker. Shenvi’s breathlessly cites statements like “the public school is the incubator of the bugman. It is the paideia of globohomo…children are having puberty disrupted or even their genitals removed without their parents knowledge or consent.” His review extols Isker’s “attitude towards sin” as “absolutely right.”

How did a washed-up theoretical chemist become a leading expert on critical theory and an avid proponent of Christian nationalism? Sadly, it appears to be another story of ignorance, outrage, and greed. The world needs fewer chemists-turned-far-right-demagogues and more real scholars.

The “Man” Behind Evangelicalism’s Capitulation to Critical Race Theory

Dr. Neil Shenvi is a typical #BigEva sycophant. Studying theoretical chemistry first at Princeton University and then at UC – Berkeley, Shenvi spent years learning to ingratiate himself to progressive elites. But his interests took a sudden and presumably much more lucrative turn. Widely known for providing cover to theological liberals, he is the man at the center of a web of compromise, sophistry, and effeminacy that is characteristic of evangelicalism’s capitulation to critical race theory.

Despite having zero formal training in CRT, Shenvi rose to prominence by soothing legitimate evangelical fears over this poisonous worldview. One of his first talks on critical theory was delivered in 2018. In that lecture, he devoted an entire section to “The Strengths of Critical Theory” praising it for recognizing that “oppression is evil” and that “hegemonic power exists.” Unbelievably, he delivered similar talks at two flagship evangelical seminaries in 2019 and 2020, doubling down on his claims that “critical theory helps to explain many phenomena.” He devoted entire sections to stoking White guilt, piling on stories upon stories of lynching, race riots, and discrimination. (Later talks would include multiple slides quoting from progressive media darlings like Robin DiAngelo and Ibram X. Kendi).

Woke evangelicals ate it up. After the death of George Floyd, traffic poured into Shenvi’s website, which he purchased in 2019, just in time to cash in on the anti-White hysteria sweeping the country. Shenvi’s Twitter audience grew into the tens of thousands. Interview requests poured in. But who was funding the so-called “research”? Who was actually writing the book reviews? It didn’t really matter as long as the grift continued to pay dividends, both monetary and social.

Eventually, conservative evangelicals responded. Discernment sites called attention to Shenvi’s vicious attack on pastor Voddie Baucham and the radical progressive agenda behind his constant mealy-mouthed third-wayism. But, for many, the mask finally fell off after Shenvi offered glowing praise for the SBC’s Resolution #9, calling it “careful, charitable, and nuanced.” Shenvi’s efforts at backpedaling were to no avail. His real intentions had finally been exposed for all to see: Marxism now, Marxism forever.

But as interest in critical race theory waned, Shenvi’s tactics changed. The election of Biden convinced evangelicals of the need for more Christian political engagement and Shenvi again rushed into the fray. He embraced a radically woke sociological analysis of Christian nationalism –an analysis written by Democratic operatives– and effused that it revealed an “undeniably… real, dangerous form of religious belief which syncretizes patriotism with Christianity.” He accused conservative Christians of harboring racists who would be “not at all comfortable if [their] daughter married someone who is black.” In Feb. 2022, tens of thousands of eager listeners heard him insist that “there are people out there advocating a fusion of Christian and American identity.”

But the story doesn’t end there. It seems that Shenvi has evolved again. No longer content to downplay the existential threat of wokeness, the chemist has begun incessantly denouncing Christian political engagement to his growing audience. He began his review of The Case for Christian Nationalism by arrogantly pontificating that “Christians should not embrace the “Christian nationalism’ label… and should not embrace this book as its standard-bearer.“
He then continued to denounce the “negatives” of the book, raising a series of irrelevant and tendentious claims about its various failures. Shenvi, like most progressives, believes that “Christian nationalism” is associated with “the QAnon Shaman, Ku Klux Klan marches, and the Handsmaid’s Tale.”

But Shenvi’s enthusiasm for Marxism has only grown. As of the writing of this article, Shenvi has posted no less than TWENTY-EIGHT tweets denigrating the work of Christian nationalist Andrew Isker. Shenvi’s slanders Christians nationalists as aligning with “Neo-pagans and Nietzscheans” and compares their hatred of sin to “Various alt-right groups [who] hate Jews,” “Pharisees [who] hated Jesus,” and “Judaizers [who] hated the gospel.” His review blasts Isker’s work as being “unlikely to persuade” and offering a “truncated” vision associated with the “woke right.”

How did a washed-up theoretical chemist become a leading proponent of critical theory and an avid opponent of Christian nationalism? Sadly, it appears to be another story of cowardice, approval-seeking, and greed. The world needs fewer chemists-turned-far-left-demagogues and more real Christians.

Concluding Reminder

“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” – Prov. 18:17

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