The ‘Harvard of Christian schools’ just went woke

Wheaton College, renowned for its academic excellence, is often compared to Ivy League institutions as the “Harvard of Christian Schools” and counts among its alumni influential figures like Billy Graham and Dan Coates. However, the college has recently been adopting practices that deviate from its traditional Christian foundations, including the prohibition of specific biblical terminology and the incorporation of modern theories on race and gender into its curriculum.

The institution’s move towards modern academic trends includes embracing critical race theory and altering its approach to gender identity, a significant shift given its repository of works by revered Christian authors like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. This change is part of a longer trend, with the college previously showing openness to Marxist ideologies and religious syncretism.

A controversial aspect of Wheaton’s curriculum involves instructing students to replace the term “service” with “sacrificial co-laboring,” to avoid connotations of power imbalance. This decision raises questions about the college’s adherence to traditional Christian teachings that emphasize service as a core value exemplified by Jesus Christ.

Further, the college’s stance on gender identity, suggesting that deviations from one’s biological sex are not moral failings but rather challenges to be managed, marks a departure from classical Christian doctrine on the creation order.

These developments at Wheaton College reflect broader debates within academia about the balance between upholding traditional values and adapting to contemporary societal norms. The college’s evolution might prompt introspection on the part of its community and alumni about the direction it is taking and its alignment with foundational Christian principles.