As this school year wraps up, many parents are discussing their children’s college acceptances and the excitement surrounding this new chapter in their lives. As someone who teaches at a university, I can really relate to that sentiment. For Christian parents, guiding their children to graduate high school and move on to college is a significant responsibility.
Yet, there are questions that often go unasked among Christian parents. Like, why are we sending our kids to schools that contradict the very beliefs we’ve spent years nurturing?
In class, I frequently notice professors criticizing Christianity, labeling it as an oppressive ideology that needs to be dismantled.
No one openly states this, but the conversations often revolve around, “I found a really good campus, and there’s also a strong Christian group there.”
Let me clarify: these groups can be invaluable. I’m genuinely thankful for them. But take a moment to reflect on what that mindset suggests. You are essentially expecting a Christian community to flourish outside the university’s mission. You hope your child can find refuge in what might be a challenging environment.
In essence, rather than directing your child to a place that supports their beliefs, you are instead sending them into a tumultuous atmosphere and hoping for the best. And it’s likely that you’re spending a significant sum of money to do this.
This situation is even more concerning when you consider that it hasn’t always been this way. Institutions like Princeton, Harvard, and Yale were originally founded with clear Christian intentions. Their goals were to foster faith, train ministers, and impart knowledge of God to their students.
The vision of universities has changed over time. Their conception of truth has evolved.
Today’s universities are not neutral. They are built around ideologies that undermine Christianity while cloaked in a sense of moral superiority. Think of the ideas of Michel Foucault, for example. Students often learn, albeit subtly, that truth is constructed, not discovered. In this model, knowledge is tied to power, and what prior generations accepted as “truth” is merely the perspective of those who succeeded.
Then, there’s Paulo Freire, whose educational philosophy has become foundational in teacher training. He argues that education is about liberating the oppressed rather than seeking truth. The narrative divides the world into oppressors and the oppressed, training students to challenge the former.
So, where do you think Christianity fits in this framework?
Add to this the continuous push for “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” along with concepts like intersectionality. These ideas redefine truth as tied to identity, assigning moral authority based on personal experiences, with differing viewpoints often seen as harmful.
Under this lens, the Bible is no longer perceived as divine scripture. Instead, it’s viewed as a cultural artifact that historically perpetuated systems of oppression.
This isn’t framed as an attack on Christianity; that seems all too evident. At least, that’s what I believed a decade ago. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for professors to openly criticize Christianity as an oppressive colonial force needing deconstruction.
And this criticism is often delivered under the guise of compassion and empathy for students—because that’s what justice looks like, right? “That’s not fair!” is a passionate stance for a college student.
Young people have a strong sense of fairness. When they encounter the idea, “That’s not fair,” they tend to withdraw. Yet, we seldom recognize that the very idea of fairness itself is quietly being redefined.
Dissent is recast as malevolent, hierarchies become unjust, and truth transforms into a tool wielded by the powerful. The Bible is labeled a construct of patriarchal society aimed at preserving power.
Initially, there’s disorientation: “Everything I learned as a child is being called into question.”
Then comes social pressure—they may say, “If you don’t agree, you’re part of the problem.”
This leads to isolation. You might find that you have fewer Christian friends and enlightening discussions, while encountering more messages where “love is love” is invoked to justify questionable desires.
Next, internal changes occur. Doubt begins to feel like a sign of intellectual growth.
Eventually, you may face retreat or compromise. Some may entirely abandon their faith; others might keep the label of “Christian” but redefine it to fit comfortably within an ideology that once challenged their beliefs.
Parents often remain unaware of these shifts. They tend to view education as neutral. Sure, there have always been atheistic professors and the occasional outlandish leftist, but those individuals were merely anomalies.
Now, what once felt extreme is normalized, while sanity, holiness, and faith seem to be sidelined. Don’t assume that merely connecting with a good group will ensure your child’s well-being.
This isn’t a neutral landscape—problematic ideas can sow confusion. The environment is designed with a particular perspective in mind, albeit with sporadic pockets of resistance. The Christian groups that one might admire serve more as fortresses than as solid foundations.
So, what can parents do?
First, beyond checking if your children will thrive academically or professionally, ask whether they will remain true to their faith in Christ. Equip them with the armor of God, as outlined in Ephesians 6.
Second, bolster your own understanding. They need to grasp not just what they believe but also why and how their beliefs contrast with the ideologies they’ll encounter. Teach them the Bible and the traditions of Christianity.
Third, help cultivate a genuine faith in Christ. This goes beyond intellect; instill in your children a love for Christ and trust in His salvation alone. When they truly know God as their Savior and rely on His promises, they’ll stand strong when spiritual battles arise.
Next, expose them to opposing viewpoints early on. Can you discuss thinkers like Foucault, Freire, and the premises behind DEI before they encounter them in class? If your kids have already been prepared with counterarguments, they’ll be more equipped to address those challenges.
Lastly, remain engaged. Investigate what professors are teaching. You can find information about professors on university websites; their bios might not label them as “anti-Christian radicals,” but their published work and presentations can give insight into their views.
Above all, abandon the notion of neutrality. We’re in a spiritual battle between good and evil.
The real issue isn’t just whether college will influence your child’s beliefs—it absolutely will. The key question is whether we will recognize that influence and equip our children to hold fast to the truth.
If Christ embodies all truth, then no institution can undermine Him under the pretense of “advancing social justice.”
Every parent should prepare their children for this reality. These college professors are after your child’s soul.
