Liberty University: A Billion-Dollar Edu-Religious Powerhouse Under the Lens

Liberty University, a self-described bastion of Christian values and conservative education, is today one of the richest and most politically entangled institutions of higher learning in the United States. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual revenue and almost $4.2 billion in assets, the university has grown from a modest Bible college into a vast nonprofit empire. But behind its polished image lies a history marked by ideological extremism, financial opacity, political manipulation, and a disturbing legacy of abuse and betrayal.

Liberty University's tax return is here. 

The institution’s roots reach back to televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., who founded Liberty University in 1971 as Lynchburg Baptist College, with a vision of creating a “West Point of the Christian Right.” Falwell’s project was never merely educational—it was explicitly political. He intended Liberty to serve as a training ground for young evangelicals to take control of the culture and the government.

Falwell’s ambitions were not only spiritual; they were geopolitical. During the 1980s, Falwell Sr. emerged as a vocal supporter of Ronald Reagan’s Cold War foreign policy, especially in Central America. He used his media platform and church networks to defend U.S. military and CIA-backed interventions in Nicaragua and El Salvador, where right-wing authoritarian regimes and paramilitary groups were engaged in brutal counterinsurgency operations. Falwell denounced leftist movements like the Sandinistas as Marxist threats to Christianity and Western civilization. At the height of Reagan's Contra war in Nicaragua, Falwell called on American Christians to “stand with freedom fighters” and backed White House efforts to funnel money and arms to the Contras—despite their involvement in civilian massacres, drug trafficking, and terror campaigns. In this Cold War theater, Liberty University wasn’t just a college; it was a pulpit for Reagan-era militarism cloaked in religious moralism.

Just as controversial was Falwell Sr.’s willingness to partner with the Unification Church of Rev. Sun Myung Moon—a religious sect many evangelicals labeled a cult. Despite deep theological differences, Falwell accepted at least $2.5 million in the 1980s from Moon-affiliated organizations to help keep Liberty University solvent. The money reportedly helped the school avoid bankruptcy during a critical period of expansion. In return, Falwell softened his criticism of Moon and collaborated on conservative media projects such as The Washington Times. The alliance revealed a core truth about Liberty’s founding ethos: that power, not purity, was its guiding principle.

The compromises didn’t end with Falwell Sr. His son, Jerry Falwell Jr., took the university’s politicization to new heights. In 2016, he broke ranks with traditional evangelicals to endorse Donald Trump—then a thrice-married reality television mogul known more for casino deals than church attendance. Falwell Jr.'s early support helped legitimize Trump among conservative Christians. In exchange, Liberty received access to the Trump administration, and Falwell was appointed to a federal education task force. Trump gave a commencement speech at Liberty in 2017 and repeatedly praised the school’s commitment to “America First” values.

During Falwell Jr.’s tenure, the university became deeply enmeshed in right-wing politics. Leaked emails revealed how administrators suppressed dissent on campus, promoted partisan messaging, and used institutional resources for political purposes. Meanwhile, Falwell and his allies engaged in shady real estate deals and personal enrichment schemes. His fall from grace in 2020, following revelations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse, and financial irregularities, did little to slow the machine. Liberty continues to function much as it did before—flush with cash, shielded by nonprofit status, and politically aligned with the far right.

Equally disturbing is the university’s systemic mishandling of sexual violence. In 2021 and 2022, ProPublica and other outlets revealed a pattern of institutional cover-up. At least 22 women filed a federal lawsuit accusing Liberty of punishing survivors instead of abusers. Under the school’s strict moral code—“The Liberty Way”—students who reported sexual assault were often blamed for violating university policies on sex, alcohol, or being alone with members of the opposite sex. Some were threatened with expulsion. These cases were not aberrations—they revealed a culture of control and fear designed to protect the university’s brand at all costs.

In the most recent financial filings from 2023, Liberty reported nearly $343 million in grants paid, over $1 million in lobbying expenses, and a $5 million NASCAR sponsorship. Football coach Hugh Freeze received nearly $3.8 million in total compensation, while basketball coach Ritchie McKay earned over $1.4 million. These figures are more typical of a major corporate entity than a religious nonprofit. And yet Liberty continues to benefit from tax exemptions, federal grants, and student loan funds—money that flows into a university that openly mixes religion, nationalism, and political propaganda.

Liberty’s massive online education system has helped it reach students across the U.S. and beyond, bringing in billions in federal aid dollars. It is arguably the largest conduit of taxpayer-funded Christian education in the country. With that reach comes extraordinary power—and a growing obligation for public scrutiny.

Liberty University was built on contradictions. It preaches righteousness while taking money from cult leaders. It promotes purity while covering up abuse. It denounces government overreach while feeding off public funds. It claims to be apolitical while functioning as a partisan training ground.

At the Higher Education Inquirer, we see Liberty not as an outlier, but as a warning—a blueprint for how higher education can be weaponized in the service of power, dogma, and wealth. It is a university in name, but in practice, it is a deeply politicized enterprise built on Cold War propaganda, moral compromise, and an unholy alliance between religion, capitalism, and state violence.

The question remains: how many more Liberties are out there, hiding behind tax exemptions, and operating with near-total impunity?

Publishers Refuse to Print Ryan Walters’ Election & Religion‑Infused Curriculum

Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has drawn national scrutiny for issuing new social studies standards that embed Trump-aligned conspiracy theories and Christian nationalist narratives into K–12 curricula.

The standards, adopted in December 2024, direct teachers to question the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election using thoroughly debunked claims: late-night ballot drops, “illegal” mail-in votes, and suspiciously high turnout. Walters also inserted language suggesting COVID-19 was likely engineered in a Chinese laboratory and mandated that students learn the United States was founded explicitly as a Christian nation rooted in “Judeo-Christian principles.”

But when the Oklahoma Department of Education tried to find publishers willing to produce textbooks that match the new standards, they were met with silence—or polite refusals.

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Textbook Publishers Say No

According to reporting by LGBTQ Nation, major educational publishers—including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt—declined to produce materials conforming to the new standards. Two smaller publishers also reportedly turned down the request, citing concerns about the accuracy, ideological slant, and commercial viability of such textbooks.

As one publisher put it, Oklahoma’s K–12 market is too small to justify rewriting and potentially damaging the integrity of their materials for national distribution. Another privately said they would not "print lies.”

This puts Oklahoma teachers in a bind: either use outdated materials, create their own lesson plans that conform to politicized standards, or face potential disciplinary action from Walters’ office.

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The Bigger Agenda

The state’s new standards were developed behind closed doors by a group of far-right activists, including PragerU founder Dennis Prager, Project 2025 architect Kevin Roberts, and pseudo-historian David Barton. Their vision aligns with broader Christian nationalist efforts to reshape public education—and ultimately public life—by teaching a distorted version of U.S. history and civics.

In fact, the standards are so extreme that Walters’ own advisory group suggested adopting PragerU Kids videos and other ideologically driven content in classrooms, effectively privatizing parts of the curriculum with unaccredited, partisan material.

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What It Means for Higher Education

These developments in Oklahoma are not isolated—they are part of a national movement to reshape public education from kindergarten through college. What’s happening now in K–12 has ripple effects in higher education, including:

• Erosion of Academic Standards: Students taught disinformation in high school may enter college ill-prepared for evidence-based inquiry.

• Politicization of Education: Public education is increasingly divided along ideological lines, with colleges caught in the crossfire.

• Chilling Effect on Educators: K–12 and higher ed instructors alike are facing new political pressures, including book bans, curriculum censorship, and loyalty tests to partisan ideas.

• Curriculum Segregation: As some states embrace fact-based education while others embrace political indoctrination, a two-tier education system is emerging—deepening inequality and distrust.

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Will Oklahoma be OK? 

Walters’ campaign to institutionalize misinformation in Oklahoma classrooms has hit a critical obstacle: publishers won’t print it. This quiet but firm resistance from the educational publishing industry stands in contrast to the state’s increasingly aggressive posture toward teachers, schools, and dissenters.

It also raises a critical question: if public institutions are compelled to teach lies, who will tell the truth?

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Sources

• Owen, Greg. “Textbook Publishers Ignore Far-Right Education Chief’s Demands to Print Trumpian Lies.” LGBTQ Nation, July 25, 2025. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/07/textbook-publishers-ignore-far-right-education-chiefs-demands-to-print-trumpian-lies/

• Walker, Chris. “New Oklahoma School Curriculum Requires Students to Learn the ‘Big Lie’.” Truthout, March 18, 2025. https://truthout.org/articles/new-oklahoma-school-curriculum-requires-students-to-learn-the-big-lie/

• Rivas, Yunior. “Oklahoma Set to Teach Trump’s Election Lies in Public Schools as Parents and Teachers Push Back.” Democracy Docket, June 28, 2025. https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/oklahoma-set-to-teach-trumps-election-lies-in-public-schools-as-parents-and-teachers-push-back/

Camp Mystic: A Century of Privilege, Exclusion, and Resilience Along the Guadalupe

Nestled along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, Camp Mystic has been a summer rite of passage for generations of elite white girls since its founding in 1926. Created by University of Texas coach E.J. “Doc” Stewart, the camp was envisioned as a Christian retreat that mirrored its brother camp, Camp Stewart for boys. With a blend of outdoor adventure, spiritual practice, and deep-rooted tradition, Mystic became one of Texas’s most exclusive—and enduring—summer institutions.

At its core, Camp Mystic was always more than a camp. It functioned as a social filter, reinforcing class, race, and regional identity. Founded during the Jim Crow era, the camp operated within a system of de facto racial segregation. While no known documents explicitly stated that Black, Mexican American, or Indigenous girls were barred, the overwhelmingly white makeup of campers, counselors, and alumni for decades makes its exclusionary nature clear. Like many private institutions in the South, racial exclusion at Mystic was enforced through unspoken rules, legacy admissions, and the economic barriers of wealth and connection.

The legacy of that segregation lingers today. Camp Mystic remains a predominantly white, upper-class space. The cost of attendance alone is prohibitive to most. A single 30-day session now costs more than $4,300—often closer to $5,000 once flood-related infrastructure and safety fees are added. A $300 to $400 deposit is required up front, and most campers are enrolled years in advance, often the children and grandchildren of Mystic alumnae.

Over the decades, the camp has grown to encompass 725 acres of Texas Hill Country, including historic cypress cabins, a blufftop chapel, and a sprawling recreation hall. Campers are divided into two tribes—Kiowa and Tonkawa—borrowing names from Native peoples with no meaningful cultural ties. They compete in games, attend daily devotionals, and participate in long-standing rituals like Sunday fried chicken dinners and end-of-session vespers. Phones and electronic devices are banned, preserving an air of rustic purity and nostalgic Americana.

Mystic’s leadership has passed through generations of wealthy Texas families. After Stewart sold the camp in 1937, the Stacy family took over, maintaining control even during its World War II closure, when it was leased to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a convalescent facility. From 1948 to 1987, Inez and Frank Harrison—“Iney and Frank”—ran the camp with an old-school Christian ethos. The third-generation owners, Dick and Tweety Eastland, continued the tradition of preserving the camp’s conservative values and cultural uniformity.

The camp’s alumni list reads like a who’s who of Texas society. Laura Bush once served as a counselor. Children of governors, oil executives, and business magnates have long walked the same trails and sat at the same river’s edge. For many, Mystic is as much a symbol of legacy and identity as it is a summer destination.

And yet, the question lingers: what does it mean to sustain a place like Camp Mystic in the 21st century?

While many of its practices seem quaint or charming to supporters, others see a more troubling story—of a camp that has functioned as a training ground for white privilege, Christian nationalism, and cultural insulation. Its use of Native American tribal names, its refusal to modernize its traditions beyond symbolic gestures, and its high economic barrier to entry make it a time capsule of exclusion. Even now, diversity at Camp Mystic appears limited, its brochures and social media reflecting the same demographics it always has.

Today, as Texas faces widening inequality, increasing climate risks, and sharp political divides, Camp Mystic remains perched on a precarious edge—both literally and figuratively. It is a camp shaped by floods and fire, faith and legacy, and a deep belief in preserving “the way things used to be.”

For some, Camp Mystic represents a magical place of lifelong friendship, tradition, and spiritual growth. For others, it is a stark reminder of how privilege and exclusion are often disguised as nostalgia.

Sources:

• Texas State Historical Association, Camp Mystic
  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/camp-mystic

• Wikipedia, Camp Mystic
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Mystic

• Reuters, Floodwaters swept through elite Texas camp (July 5, 2025)
  https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/some-facts-about-camp-mystic-where-texas-floodwaters-swept-away-dozens-girls-2025-07-05/

• ThePricer, How Much Does Camp Mystic Cost?
  https://www.thepricer.org/how-much-does-camp-mystic-cost/

• Houston Chronicle, Texas floods threaten Hill Country camps (July 2025)
  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/texas-deadly-flood-guadalupe-river-20422503.php

• Reddit, r/sanantonio threads on Camp Mystic pricing and culture (2024–2025)

Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center and the Battle Lines of a New American Divide

As the United States continues to fracture along political and cultural lines, Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center (SFFC) is not just observing the divide—it is actively working to widen it. Positioned at the vanguard of Christian Nationalist thought, the SFFC promotes a vision of the nation where faith is law, politics is pulpit, and pluralism is cast as a spiritual threat.

In recent years, the center has ramped up rhetoric that casts the American culture war as a righteous struggle between biblical Christians and a “godless elite.” Nowhere is this more evident than in its escalating campaign against Planned Parenthood, which the center presents not just as a healthcare provider, but as the embodiment of neoliberal moral decay.

From Cultural Critique to Wartime Rhetoric

The SFFC has turned its media platforms into a moral war room, producing daily content that frames modern American politics in biblical terms—light versus darkness, good versus evil, Christians versus cultural Marxists. The center regularly targets institutions like public universities, Hollywood, and Washington bureaucracies as complicit in the erosion of Christian civilization.

A recent SFFC campaign, for example, lambasted Planned Parenthood with claims that it is not merely offering reproductive services, but “profiting from death.” Referencing the organization’s most recent annual report, the center emphasized that Planned Parenthood had performed over 402,000 abortions in a single year while pulling in more than $2 billion in revenue—a “record-breaking” number, according to the SFFC.

The Anti-Abortion Crusade as a Flashpoint

In SFFC messaging, this abortion data is used not just to critique Planned Parenthood, but to indict the American system as complicit in mass murder—what it describes as a “death movement” funded by taxpayers. The center argues that federal support for Planned Parenthood indirectly subsidizes abortion, even if laws technically prohibit direct funding for the procedure.

“This organization,” an SFFC statement reads, “which has long received hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars annually, can sustain itself without public funding. Yet it continues to benefit from the federal trough while expanding its abortion services.”

The center draws a direct connection between this funding and what it sees as a systemic betrayal of America’s moral core. By painting Planned Parenthood as both a “political and cultural powerhouse” and a “merchant of death,” the SFFC not only undermines trust in public institutions—it rallies students and followers to view America’s future as dependent on destroying these institutions altogether.

Indoctrination, Not Education

While most university-affiliated think tanks encourage debate and pluralism, the SFFC operates more like an ideological factory. Its leaders are unapologetic in their intent to raise up a generation of “culture warriors” who will go into politics, media, and ministry with a mandate to reshape society in a narrowly defined Christian image.

The anti-abortion campaign is also used to collect data and recruit young activists. On the SFFC website, readers are invited to respond to a poll:

Do you think young people are becoming more conservative?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Email Address: ___________

A disclaimer informs users that “completing this poll entitles you to receive communications from Liberty University free of charge,” and that by participating, they agree to receive ongoing messaging rooted in the SFFC’s worldview.

Christian Nationalism and the Call for a Parallel America

By centering its messaging on abortion, gender identity, religious liberty, and “globalist control,” the SFFC is laying the ideological groundwork for a future in which two Americas coexist uneasily—or collide outright. One America, in this vision, is neoliberal and secular, ruled by technocrats and activists. The other is God-ordained, led by a “remnant” of faithful patriots.

This worldview leaves no room for compromise. It promotes defunding Planned Parenthood not as a policy choice, but as a moral imperative—a “necessary step toward reclaiming the soul of our nation.” Any opposition to this vision is treated as treasonous, immoral, and aligned with “demonic forces.”

The University’s Role in Civil Conflict

In past decades, higher education was viewed as a site for civic formation and critical thinking. But with institutions like Liberty University turning their academic platforms into partisan strongholds, the American university system is becoming a battlefield.

The Standing for Freedom Center is not merely part of the conversation—it is actively inciting a form of civil conflict. Its campaigns seek to delegitimize not just opposing arguments, but entire political structures. And in doing so, they push the country closer to a clash not just of ideas, but of identities.

Conclusion: Toward a Theology of Division

By promoting a view of the United States as a nation under siege by secular forces, the SFFC turns policy debates into spiritual warfare. Whether on abortion, education, or civil rights, every issue is recast as a battle for the soul of the country.

This theology of division, dressed in the language of liberty and moral clarity, may resonate with young evangelicals who feel alienated from mainstream culture. But its long-term effect may be the erosion of the shared civic space that makes pluralistic democracy possible.

As the 2026 election cycle accelerates, and as institutions continue to splinter, the question is no longer whether Liberty University is shaping the culture war—it’s how much longer the country can avoid the kind of civil fracture the Standing for Freedom Center seems eager to see fulfilled.

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Do you have information about educational and religious institutions shaping political conflict? Contact the Higher Education Inquirer confidentially at gmcghee@aya.yale.edu.

The Rise of Christian Cybercharters: Profit, Indoctrination, and the Dangers of Faith-Based Online Education

As online education becomes an ever-expanding force in both K-12 and higher education, a disturbing trend has emerged with the rise of Christian cybercharter schools and online academies. While these institutions promise faith-based education and an alternative to secular public schooling, they also raise serious concerns about indoctrination, the commodification of education, and the profit-driven motives of their for-profit operators. For many families seeking an education aligned with their Christian values, these digital platforms offer an attractive solution. However, as the lines between faith-based learning and corporate interests blur, the question remains: what are we sacrificing in the pursuit of religiously guided education?

The Growing Influence of Christian Cybercharters

Christian cybercharter schools are part of a broader trend in which private, for-profit companies deliver education to students via online platforms. These schools, often designed to serve as alternatives to secular public education, integrate Christian teachings into core subjects such as history, science, and literature. While these schools may offer a semblance of flexibility for students in rural areas or families dissatisfied with traditional schooling, their model poses unique challenges.

Cybercharter schools are, by definition, public schools that operate entirely online and are funded with taxpayer dollars. Yet, the rise of Christian cybercharters, run by private companies, complicates the traditional understanding of education. These institutions, rather than simply providing secular education, often incorporate Christian teachings into all aspects of learning. Students may study math, science, and history through a Christian lens, learning creationism instead of evolution or receiving a heavily filtered view of history. In some cases, controversial issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive health are taught in ways that align with conservative Christian values, potentially ignoring or dismissing broader social, legal, and ethical considerations.

While these schools may appeal to parents seeking religiously grounded education for their children, concerns about the quality of education and the potential for indoctrination are mounting. Instead of offering an objective, well-rounded academic experience, these institutions may turn into ideological factories, promoting a singular worldview at the expense of critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and open-mindedness.

James Loewen’s Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong serves as a cautionary tale when examining the educational landscape shaped by these faith-based online programs. In his book, Loewen critiques the sanitized, biased versions of American history often taught in public schools—narratives that ignore uncomfortable truths about racism, inequality, and colonialism. This phenomenon is mirrored in some Christian cybercharters, where history is frequently reinterpreted to promote a specific religious or political agenda, potentially leaving students with a distorted, incomplete understanding of the world. The difference here, of course, is that rather than the state pushing a particular narrative, these programs are driven by religious agendas that prioritize faith-based views over academic rigor and historical accuracy. Just as Loewen critiques the "lies" of public school textbooks, one could argue that these Christian educational platforms sometimes present a faith-filtered version of reality—one that aligns more with ideological conformity than intellectual exploration.

The Profit Motive: Corporations, Private Equity, and the Business of Faith-Based Education

At the heart of the Christian cybercharter movement is a growing involvement of private equity firms and publicly traded companies eager to profit from the expanding online education sector. Venture capitalists have increasingly poured investments into education technology companies, including Christian online platforms. As a result, more and more online education providers—particularly Christian cybercharter schools—are becoming businesses in the traditional sense, with financial returns prioritized over educational outcomes.

Much like other for-profit charter schools, these Christian cybercharters face the same pressures to maximize revenue. While proponents of this model argue that parents should have the option to select an education aligned with their values, critics argue that profit-driven motives overshadow educational quality. In many cases, the companies running these online schools are more focused on expansion, enrollment, and financial performance than on fostering critical thinking or providing a rigorous, well-rounded education.

In the case of for-profit Christian cybercharters, this business model often leads to a corporate agenda that prioritizes market share rather than genuine educational development. Whether or not these schools offer the best or most effective education is secondary to their role as vehicles for profit. Furthermore, because many of these institutions are delivered through online platforms, the lack of direct teacher-student interaction and oversight further diminishes the opportunity for intellectual debate and inquiry.

Indoctrination vs. Education: The Risks of Religious-Based Learning

One of the most significant concerns with Christian cybercharters is the potential for indoctrination. Unlike secular education, where students are encouraged to explore various ideas, form their own opinions, and critically engage with the material, Christian cybercharters often deliver content that aligns solely with religious teachings. In many cases, students are not encouraged to question or challenge the material they are given, but rather to accept it as the unquestionable truth.

For example, in science courses, students may be taught creationism in place of evolution or may receive instruction that contradicts widely accepted scientific principles. In history classes, there may be a deliberate effort to present historical events through a Christian lens, prioritizing religious interpretations and avoiding broader, secular understandings. This framing can affect the way students understand the world and interact with it, teaching them to see things in a way that aligns with specific religious views, rather than providing them with the tools to critically evaluate the world around them.

Loewen’s Lies My Teacher Told Me warns of the dangers of sanitized history education. The same critique can be applied to some Christian online academies. Just as Loewen highlights how mainstream textbooks gloss over the uncomfortable truths of American history—such as the treatment of Native Americans or the legacy of slavery—Christian cybercharter schools may whitewash history to fit a specific theological or political narrative. Students may learn that America is a "Christian nation," without an in-depth exploration of the diversity of belief systems that have shaped the country, or the ways in which Christianity’s role in history has been contested and debated. The problem arises when children, instead of being equipped to navigate complex historical realities, are taught to passively accept an ideological version of the past.

When education becomes synonymous with religious indoctrination, the line between objective knowledge and belief becomes dangerously blurred. Students are taught not to think critically about their beliefs or values but to accept them as fact, leaving little room for exploration, dialogue, or intellectual growth. The digital environment, where much of the learning takes place through pre-recorded lessons and automated grading systems, exacerbates this issue by limiting opportunities for meaningful teacher-student interaction.

The Corporate Takeover of Higher Education: Robocolleges and Faith-Based Learning

The influence of private companies and venture capital isn’t just limited to K-12 education. As online education expands, the model of faith-based learning is also infiltrating higher education. Many institutions are now offering Christian-based online degree programs, promising students a “Christian worldview” in subjects ranging from business to theology. While these programs may appeal to individuals seeking a religiously informed education, they raise concerns about the quality and breadth of education students receive.

The rise of “Robocolleges”—virtual universities run by corporations that offer online degrees—is another manifestation of the growing corporate control over education. These online programs, often funded by investors looking for high returns, can prioritize cost-efficiency and marketability over rigorous academic standards. In the case of faith-based online institutions, the goal can shift from providing a comprehensive education that challenges students to think critically about the world, to creating a narrow ideological framework where students are encouraged to see the world solely through the lens of Christianity.

In this environment, the rise of “Robostudents”—individuals who navigate education through algorithms and automated platforms—further deepens the risk of creating a generation of individuals who are highly specialized but lack the broad intellectual and social competencies needed to thrive in a diverse world.

Christian Robokids: The Future of Digital Indoctrination

A particularly concerning aspect of the rise of Christian cybercharters and online academies is the emergence of Christian Robokids—students who, in addition to receiving a faith-based education, are increasingly immersed in a highly automated, digital, and corporate-driven learning environment. As Christian cybercharters adopt more sophisticated AI and data-driven learning platforms, children may begin to engage with content not only through pre-recorded lessons but through AI-powered tutors and personalized learning paths that adapt to each student's “progress.” While this may sound appealing in theory, it opens the door for a future in which students are not only learning religious doctrine but are also being trained to conform to predetermined educational frameworks, shaped more by corporate interests than intellectual freedom.

Christian Robokids would navigate a digital education system where their learning is increasingly controlled by algorithms designed to maximize efficiency and profitability. These students could interact with content tailored to reinforce a singular religious viewpoint, with little to no exposure to diverse perspectives. In a world of Robokids, students might not engage in real discussions with teachers or peers, but instead follow rigid, automated curriculums. Their development into “robostudents” is further cemented by the complete absence of opportunities for face-to-face interaction, debate, and critical engagement with differing worldviews.

Moreover, the lack of teacher oversight in an entirely virtual system means that students may miss out on developing social and emotional intelligence, important for engaging in the complex, pluralistic world beyond the screen. The robotic nature of learning—where students become passive recipients of information rather than active participants—poses long-term risks to the intellectual and social development of children in these environments.

The Biggest Christian Online Academies

Several major Christian online academies are leading the charge in this digital faith-based education landscape, offering K-12 programs that blend academic rigor with Christian values. These academies not only cater to homeschool families but also serve as alternatives to public school systems, providing religiously grounded curricula that focus on both intellectual development and spiritual growth. Some of the largest and most well-known Christian online academies include:

1. Liberty University Online Academy – This academy offers a comprehensive K-12 online program with a strong focus on biblical teachings alongside standard academic subjects. Liberty University, a major Christian institution, has established a reputation for delivering accredited programs that combine faith and learning.

2. BJU Press Online Academy – Known for its biblical integration and classical Christian education approach, BJU Press offers a fully accredited K-12 online program that focuses on a Christ-centered worldview while delivering high-quality academics.

3. Alpha Omega Academy (AOP) – A significant player in the Christian homeschooling space, AOP’s online academy offers a customizable, accredited K-12 curriculum. Its flexible approach allows families to integrate Bible-based teachings into core subjects.

4. The King’s Academy – A Christian online school that blends academic excellence with spiritual development, providing a biblically integrated curriculum from kindergarten to high school.

5. Veritas Scholars Academy – Known for its classical Christian education model, Veritas offers online courses with a focus on critical thinking, intellectual development, and biblical integration for students in K-12.

These online academies reflect the growing demand for faith-based education in the digital era, offering flexible options for families who prioritize both academic excellence and spiritual growth. However, as these institutions scale and continue to integrate new technologies, the risk of further corporate influence and educational homogenization grows, raising questions about the long-term impact on students' ability to think critically and engage with a diverse world.

The Danger of "Garbage In, Garbage Out" in Faith-Based Education

A worrying byproduct of the corporate-driven Christian cybercharter model is the “Garbage In, Garbage Out” phenomenon. Just as for-profit companies may prioritize profits over educational outcomes, so too does this model risk producing students who are poorly prepared for the real world. If the content students are being fed is biased, ideologically driven, or scientifically flawed, the result will be a generation of graduates whose knowledge is narrow, incomplete, and disconnected from the realities of an increasingly diverse and complex world.

Christian cybercharters, while offering a religious alternative to public schools, risk leaving students unprepared for intellectual challenges and social engagement. Without the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives or develop critical thinking skills, students may find themselves ill-equipped to navigate the broader society or the ever-changing workforce.

Conclusion: The Future of Faith-Based Education

As the trend of Christian cybercharters and online academies continues to grow, the future of faith-based education remains uncertain. Will these digital platforms provide students with the academic rigor, critical thinking skills, and social understanding they need to thrive in a complex world, or will they become vehicles for ideological conformity and corporate profit? As parents and educators, it is critical to carefully evaluate these programs, balancing faith-based values with a commitment to fostering intellectual independence and a well-rounded education that prepares students for life beyond the classroom.

Liberty University Med Students Visit El Salvador

Students from the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine will be visiting El Salvador from March 22-29, 2025. Liberty University has had a troubled history history in Latin America. Its founder Jerry Falwell Sr. was involved in questionable actions in Latin America during the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan. More recently, the Trump Administration has discussed shipping US prisoners to El Salvador, a nation that has experienced systemic oppression according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Christian University Students Celebrate After Trump Wins Election

Students at two of America's largest Christian universities had boisterous public celebrations as Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States. This first video is from Phoenix, Arizona, home of Grand Canyon University.

 

 

A similar celebration occurred at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

 

Grand Canyon University and Liberty University are schools with more than 100,000 students apiece. Both are bolstered by their online robocolleges, which have an enormous national and international presence.