Russell Moore’s Newsletter Explores Blasphemy Laws and Academic Doublespeak

Russell Moore’s newsletter, adapted for Christianity Today, argues that blasphemy laws themselves constitute blasphemy and uses a historical anecdote to illustrate how theological language can mask power struggles.

The piece recounts how, around sixty years ago, a young Old Testament professor named Ralph Elliott was reprimanded by his mentor after publishing a Genesis commentary that questioned the factual reliability of the Bible’s first book. Elliott’s mentor blamed the controversy on Elliott’s poor communication, while Elliott countered that his trouble stemmed from communicating too clearly, stating what others usually expressed in coded "doublespeak."

Elliott observed that some professors mastered doublespeak, speaking differently in academic settings and revival meetings to appease both conservative and liberal audiences, and noted that such language often served organizational power rather than truth. He also reflected that during the controversy, people shifted allegiance depending on which side seemed to be winning.