On Hillsdale College and Christianity

I love Hillsdale College.

I am a proud alumnus.

I maintain regular contact with former teachers at Hillsdale. I’ve since met faculty hired long after I left. Through the Acton Institute’s Emerging Leader’s Program, I’ve had the privilege of continuous contact with Hillsdale students for fifteen years.

Since 2002, when I arrived as a student, Hillsdale College appeared to be a Christian school. The largest student organization was Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. I was on the board of Catholic Society. I spent an inordinate amount of time complaining, explaining, and arguing about religion. That was a mistake. As Albert Jay Nock said best, “Never complain, never explain, never argue, and you will get more fun out of life.”

I also spent a lot of time reading, questioning, listening, and praying. I should have done more. I read the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, too much modern theology, not enough historical theology, and a sensationalist speculative paperback called Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation that I picked up at Volume I Books for $1.00.

The Lord works in mysterious ways!

The religious life at the college was bottom up and organic. Faculty advised religious student organizations, taught Bible and Catechism studies, and frequently served as—if not formal spiritual directors—spiritual mentors. There was also a college chaplain who led students in morning prayer according to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. He had great taste in jazz.

Was it an “according-to-Hoyle” Christian school? Hillsdale College was founded by Free Will Baptists in 1844 but as a non-sectarian institution. The College did require its Presidents and trustees to be Free Will Baptists until 1907.

Was it a Christian college in 1844? Did it stop being one in 1907? I have no idea.

I just know I felt the Spirit there:

“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)