The Path to Apostasy

I have noticed a disturbing trend. Granted, this is based on a limited set of data and I have not harnessed the resources of Barna, but I think that an alarming number of people who have attended Christian Colleges have turned away from faith. Again, I am basing this on my own experience, but just a little reflection and reconnection with people tells me that there is some sort of problem causing people who go into college as Christians to come out jaded, cynical, and disinterested in the Christian faith. Some of these same people eventually come back around again, but many do not.

It all leads me to ask, “Why?” Why does Christian education have the exact opposite effect on some people than the mission of the school? Why was my faith, though challenged, also bolstered and strengthened while others were lead down the road of apostasy? I am not just talking about my alma matter, Great Lakes Christian College. I know of various other examples from other colleges that parallel these observations.

So again, I put it out there, “Why?” Do you see the same things that I see? Are you one of those people whose college experience produced the opposite effect? If so, I would be interested in hearing your story. Let me know, because I believe the effectiveness of our Christian Colleges hinge on solving this problem.