The Invisible Thread: The Influence of Liberal Faculty on Student Political Views at Evangelical Colleges

Abstract

This analysis examines the influences of family background and faculty political views on student political views at Evangelical colleges and universities. While the college-effects literature confirms that student interaction with faculty, peers, and the institution challenges pre-existing perspectives, many American Evangelical colleges are conservative and often reinforce rather than challenge mainstream Evangelical beliefs. Results from this analysis suggest that Evangelical colleges and universities with a greater percentage of liberal faculty influence students to become more liberal, even when accounting for the generally conservative upbringing of students. The net result of a more liberal “invisible thread” is a press against the right-leaning partisanship of American Evangelicalism.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emily Hunt

a

Emily Hunt ([email protected]) is a sociology graduate student at Baylor University specializing in education, culture, and religion. She works as a senior research analyst at the Baylor Center for Community Research and Development.

Phil Davignon

b

Phil Davignon ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of sociology at Union University. His research examines the intersection of human flourishing and religion from a sociological perspective.