From Seminary to Surrender- The Fall of America’s Universities

Universities, Unsplash

In the age of confidence failing in America’s universities and colleges, it makes one ask why people still support the very institutions that have been teaching values and ideologies that are in opposition to the Christian principles America was founded upon. From LGBTQ to climate change, the anti-Christian activists are alive and thriving on college campuses, but that could be changing. 

Just last month, according to Reuters, “U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness on Wednesday to settle for $500 million a legal fight with Harvard University over $2.5 billion in funding his administration canceled over accusations it allowed antisemitism and promoted diversity policies.” 

Governor Gavin Newsom shot back, touting on X: 

You don’t work with Donald Trump — only FOR Donald Trump.

Looks like Harvard has chosen to surrender.

Alan Garber must resign.

An absolute failure of leadership that will have demonstrable impacts to higher education across our country. He should be ashamed.

CALIFORNIA WILL… https://t.co/jZ6Yb88zpu

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 12, 2025

Harvard certainly surrendered years ago. Beginning in 1636, Harvard started off as a seminary school. In its Charter of 1650, Harvard acknowledged God as its source of benevolent blessings: 

“Whereas through the good hand of God many well devoted persons have been and daily are moved and stirred up to give and bestow sundry gifts legacies lands and revenues for the advancement of all good literature arts and sciences in Harvard College in Cambridge in the County of Middlesex and to the maintenance of the President and Fellows and for all accommodations of buildings and all other necessary provisions that may conduce to the education of the English and Indian youth of this country in knowledge and godliness.” 

In a document considered the “oldest printed account” of Harvard university dated September 26, 1642, Harvard this purpose was affirmed: “advance learning, and perpetuate it to posterity, dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust.” 

Fast forward to 2025, and Harvard has their own Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department (DEI), describing itself on their website as, “The Office for Community and Belonging works to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and pluralistic culture at Harvard Chan School.” 

The word “pluralistic,” means people of different religions. National voices such as Governor Gavin Newsom are correct, only in one way: Harvard did surrender, but no when he claims they did. His view is that Harvard gave up its mission by caving to Trump; but the school is being required to pay a penalty for going against its own mission, dating back nearly 400 years. 

Harvard is not the only school that fell into this trap. Numerous colleges and universities started off as schools that were founded with the purpose of preaching the gospel of Jesus: 

Harvard University (founded 1636) – Originally established to train Puritan ministers. 

Yale University (1701) – Began as the “Collegiate School,” created to educate Congregationalist ministers. 

Princeton University (1746) – Founded as the College of New Jersey, with a strong Presbyterian orientation to train clergy. 

Columbia University (1754) – Founded as King’s College, with close ties to the Anglican Church. 

Brown University (1764) – Established by Baptists, intended to train ministers while remaining relatively open to other denominations. 

Dartmouth College (1769) – Originally created to educate Native Americans as Christian missionaries, along with training ministers. 

It is one thing to claim these colleges as if they re-created them into something they were not intended to be, a vision that is entirely opposed to the strong spiritual roots of universities like Harvard. But to claim the school has surrendered, as if Harvard settling on a punishment for being too “woke” is a step away from its original mission, demonstrates ignorance about the history of America’s most esteemed educational institutions.  

Rather than pushing DEI policies that teach students how to view humanity through a lens of color, these universities should go back to their old ways of teaching virtue, critical thinking skills, and most importantly, the word of God. Education itself has been twisted into something it never was. Modern education teaches acceptance and toleration, all the while doing the opposite of those things if someone disagrees.  

Noah Webster, known as the Father of American education and author of the famous Websters 1828 Dictionary, defined education as:  

“The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.” 

Webster was clear that if the parents or legal guardians neglected the duty of teaching religious education, that “immense” responsibility fell on someone else. Founders of the ivy league schools in America understood this and did everything they could to start a legacy of education, fostering an environment of spiritual and intellectual prowess that would ripple across the planet. Regrettably, those very same schools have stepped back from that vision in the last two centuries, graduating students in the year of our Lord, 2025, with the belief that men can be women, and if you are white, you are born racist.  

It’s impossible to know exactly what Gavin Newsom really knows in his heart about these institutions and their Godly heritage. We only know they are bent on ripping it apart at all costs, no matter what. Thankfully, not everyone is buying what Governor Newsom is trying to sell. One X user replied:  

California is $1.6 trillion in debt because of your refusal to face reality.

Wokeness is wrong. Illegals are criminals. And DEI is unconstitutional.

Your failure to acknowledge these truths is why California is collapsing.

You imported millions of illegal for their slave…

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) August 12, 2025

By the grace of God, there are still great universities in America. Hillsdale College and Liberty University, just to name two. Education is crucial to the future of America, and it must be equipped with virtue and dignity, both of which are attributes of God. Americans seem to have fewer choices as the years go on regarding the educational institutions they can choose from. President Trump canceling funding is a step in the right direction, which may cause them to think twice.  

What we do know, is that nothing will change until the right people oversee the ivy league universities and colleges. In the meantime, you might consider sending financial support to the colleges that are teaching good things. 

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