The problem is murmured in its various forms within the Christian world. The state university, once a civic institution devoted to the dissemination of knowledge, now labors under the weight of its ideological entanglements—its costs rising in direct proportion to the absence of Christ in its curriculum and culture. Meanwhile, the private Christian colleges, those erstwhile custodians of orthodoxy, perform a grotesque liturgical dance—one foot in the sanctuary, the other in the woke salon. And the few that have not succumbed to such frivolities? They are priced beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest. Where are Christians supposed to send their kids to college?
The landscape of higher education, once a theater for the contest of ideas, has become a game of survival, with institutions shuttering their doors at an alarming rate—according to The Hechinger Report, between 2004 and 2021, 861 institutions ceased operations.[1] Despite the bleak picture of state colleges, many Christians habitually assume that mathematics and science education can be done without Christ (Prov. 14:15). It’s thought that the character of STEM education at State U is little different from Christ-based STEM education. By default, then, many Christians are only too glad to find their way into a government university STEM program.
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