Denominational Higher Education during World War II

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Introduction

   • John J. Laukaitis

   Pages 1-4

3. Staying “On the Beam”: Pepperdine College During World War II

   • Loretta Hunnicutt

   Pages 5-31

4. “In War as in Peace, Culture for Service”: Sioux Falls College and the Successive Crises of Depression and War

   • Stephen Jackson

   Pages 33-66

5. “The Charity of Christ Urges Us”: Women, War, and the Four Freedoms at the College of Mount St. Joseph

   • Peter M. Robinson

   Pages 67-91

6. Service, Faith, and Race: North Park College During World War II

   • John J. Laukaitis

   Pages 93-145

7. “Bulwark of Democracy”: Optimism and Identity at Sterling College in the War Years

   • Daniel T. Julich

   Pages 147-185

8. Noncombatancy and Patriotism: Walla Walla College in World War II

   • Terrie Aamodt

   Pages 187-203

9. Huntington College, Liberal Education, and the Struggle for “Christian Democracy” in the World War II Era

   • Jeffrey B. Webb

   Pages 205-232

10. More Than One Kind of Blitzkrieg to Resist: Houghton College’s Response to World War II

    • Andrew D. Mullen

    Pages 233-257

11. World War II Comes to Whitworth College

    • Dale E. Soden

    Pages 259-283

12. Spiritual Values of a New Civilization: World War II and the Transformation of Mississippi College

    • Patrick L. Connelly

    Pages 285-307

13. Struggling for Survival: Louisiana College in World War II

    • Scott D. Pickard

    Pages 309-333

14. The World at Our Gate: Wartime Sanctuary and Foreign Detention at Montreat College

    • Benjamin Brandenburg

    Pages 335-356

15. Back Matter

    Pages 357-363

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This book examines how World War II affected denominational colleges who faced a national crisis in relationship to their Christian tenets and particular religious communities and student bodies. With denominational positions ranging from justifying the war in light of the existential threat that the United States faced to maintaining long-held beliefs of nonviolence, the multitude of institutional positions taken during World War II speaks to the scope of religious diversity within Christian higher education and the central issues of faith and service to God and country. Ultimately, Laukitis provides a particular lens to analyze the history of higher education during World War II through an examination of denominational institutions. The relationship between higher education, faith, and war offers depth to understanding the role of denominational colleges in articulating theological interpretations of war and their sense of responsibility as Christian liberal arts institutions in theUnited States. 

• Christian denominational colleges
• World War II
• theological interpretations of war
• liberal arts colleges
• North Park College
• conscientious objectors
• reserve programs

• North Park University, Chicago, USA

  John J. Laukaitis

John J. Laukaitis is Assistant Professor of Education at North Park University, USA.

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