The American conception of academic freedom, which is derived from 18th century Germany, is traced, and the issue of the right of academic freedom for religion professors at church-related colleges is explored. A committee of 15 American professors in 1915 proposed a "Declaration of Principles" that endorsed academic freedom but reflected the view of the German professor Friedrich Paulsen who argued that: religion is a subjective experience that only a believer can understand and teach well; and, in order to perpetuate themselves, religiously supported institutions have a right to require that religion professors conform with official dogma. It is claimed that the first argument fails because of confusion between the subject (or observer) and the subject matter (or religious experience). Subjects can formulate objective, or valid, conclusions about beliefs that are foreign to their own immediate experience. The argument from the right of self-perpetuation stands unless the institution attempts to control teaching and research in a selective manner. It is recommended that the American Association of University Professors retract their 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom clause that permits institutions to use their religious aims to limit academic freedom. (SW)