Christian universities without Christ: A growing trend
By Easton Martin | March 19, 2026
A recent Iftar dinner at Baylor University is drawing attention to the priorities within modern Christian higher education.
Administrators held this event at the Spiritual Life Center to celebrate the breaking of the Ramadan fast for the Muslim student population. The university claims these gatherings foster a sense of belonging and educate the student body about diverse religious traditions, but these efforts simply seem to represent a desire to appear welcoming in an increasingly pluralistic society.
A Christian university should exist to promote the Gospel and form students in the image of Christ as its primary mission. Hosting a formal celebration for a different faith suggests that the school views all spiritual paths as equally valid for its community, something that is antithetical to the very idea of a Christian university. This approach essentially serves to prioritize secular diversity goals over the unique spiritual mandate of a “faith-based” institution. A school that sponsors the rituals of other religions sends a confusing message about the exclusivity of its own foundational beliefs. This is the kind of thing a secular university does, not one that calls itself Christian.
Likewise, Texas Christian University commonly faces similar criticism for its growing list of secular initiatives. Alumni have used the nickname “Texas Creedless University” to describe the school’s drift from its religious roots. The administration faced significant backlash for preventing a detransition activist named Chloe Cole from speaking on campus last fall. This decision happened even as the school continues to advertise and host LGBTQ Pride events for its students throughout the year.
These institutions are simply prioritizing the values of the secular world over the mandates of their own faith. They are trading their heritage for a generic brand of inclusivity that makes them indistinguishable from state schools.
