Pensacola Christian College

{{christianity}}{{Bronze}}
'''Pensacola Christian College''' (or '''PCC''', '''Pensacola Communist Correction Institute''', or '''PCCI'''{{efn|Their website is pcci.edu}}) is a 
diploma mill
 
cult
 [[conservative]], [[independent Baptist]] [[fundie school]] founded in 1974 by minister Arlin Horton and located near the former [[Dinosaur Adventure Land]] in Pensacola, [[Florida]]. Because of their fundamentalist beliefs, the school operated for many years as an [[academic accreditation|unaccredited institution]], but was accredited in 2013 by the [[TRACS|Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]] to award associates to doctoral degrees.<ref>[http://tracs.org/TRACS_Members_all.html Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Members] at tracs.org.</ref>

PCC explicitly details their firm adherence to [[biblical literalism]], [[young earth creationism]], [[rapture|pre-Tribulation eschatology]], and other typical fundie beliefs, in their Articles of Faith.<ref name="faith">[http://www.pcci.edu/spirituallife/articlesoffaith.aspx Articles of Faith] at pcci.edu.</ref> Their educational philosophy rejects "what has crept into much of American education since the middle of the last century," i.e., "[[progressive]] notions with a focus on [[humanism|humanistic]] views of a child’s nature." Thus, [[liberal]]s are bad, secular humanism is worse, "naturalistic and relativistic" thinking is an abomination, and tolerance is to be avoided at all costs.<ref>[http://jhchristianacademy.org/files/ABBPhilosophyOfChristianEd.pdf A Beka Book Philosophy of Education] at jhchristianacademy.org. ''Based upon naturalistic and relativistic thinking, most of the popular education ideas today are built upon progressive notions with a focus on humanistic views of a child’s nature. The resulting paradigm is characterized by an emphasis on experience, attention to student needs and desires, facilitation by teachers, a natural (permissive) environment, collaborative learning, and the clarification of values emphasizing tolerance.''</ref> Sadly, as is the case in many strict fundamentalist institutions, criminal acts such as [[rape]] and stalking are ignored and [[victim blaming|blamed on the victim]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171214110754/https://www.xojane.com/issues/samantha-field-pensacola-christian-college-rape-stalking I Was Told I Needed To “Repent” For Being Raped At My Christian College] at xojane.com.</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2014/03/11/guest-post-god-is-done-with-you-pensacola-christian-college-and-sexual-violence/ ‘God is Done with You’: Pensacola Christian College and Sexual Violence] at patheos.com.</ref><ref>[https://rewire.news/article/2014/04/03/christian-colleges-sexual-assault-problem/ Christian Colleges Have a Sexual Assault Problem] at rewire.news.</ref>

==The PCC Ecosystem==

Pensacola Christian College is part of a broad ecosystem of fundamentalism. In addition to the college, the Hortons own and control many related businesses:

*'''A Beka Book,''' a 
propaganda mill
 publishing house providing 
sermons
 textbooks to Christian [[homeschooling|homeschoolers]]
*'''A Beka Academy,''' a distance-learning program for homeschoolers
*'''Joyful Life Sunday School,''' publisher of fundamentalist screeds for Sunday Schools
*'''Pensacola Christian Academy,''' an elementary, middle and high school for indoctrinating young minds into a fundamentalist worldview
*'''Pensacola Theological Seminary,''' the college's graduate level component
*'''The Crowne Centre,''' an independent Baptist church located on the PCC campus
*'''Rejoice in the Lord,''' a weekly television broadcast
*'''Rejoice Radio,''' a network of over 40 FM radio stations spreading the creationist plague to at risk people.

==The rules==
{{cquote|After what I’ve seen at PCC, – the rules, the “court,” the staff bickering, the nonsense of it all, and what really goes on and is just ignored, it’s just not real to these people. So maybe none of this is real. As long as everything looks OK on the outside, that’s what counts to them. Appearance, just appearance, that’s all. I just don’t care anymore. It doesn’t matter what you are like inside, just be sure you dress right, speak properly, keep the rules – just “fit in” and you’ll be a fine Christian. That’s not for me.|||A former PCC student<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044855/https://www.svarchives.com/?page_id=161 A Father's testimony] at svarchives.com.</ref>}}

PCC follows [[Christian sharia]], a "morally sensible" and "educationally efficient" policy of gender segregation.

Any physical contact between members of the opposite sex is strictly forbidden.<ref name="standards">[http://www.pcci.edu/pathway/StudentResponsibilities/CollegeStandards2.aspx College Standards] at www.pcci.edu.</ref> To help students conform to this, all stairwells and elevators on campus are segregated by gender. Patronizing movie theaters, watching television, visiting the dormitories of the opposite gender, use of profanity, listening to any music other than pre-approved Christian music,<ref name="standards" /> having hair of the wrong length, and off-campus meeting of members of the opposite sex are grounds for disciplinary action, up to expulsion.<ref>[http://www.pcci.edu/pathway/StudentResponsibilities/CodeOfConduct.aspx College Code of Conduct] at www.pcci.edu.</ref> Additionally, protests and petitions are expressly forbidden,<ref>[http://www.pcci.edu/pathway/StudentResponsibilities/GeneralResponsibilities.aspx General Responsibilities] at www.pcci.edu.</ref> as is possessing, distributing, writing, or reading "unauthorized literature."

The eerie similarities between their policies and those of authoritarian regimes like [[North Korea]] is ironic as ever, since it is a given that they go to bed at night worried about atheist [[communist|commies]] conspiring to take away their "[[Irony|freedom]]".

==Academia==
PCC offers bachelor degrees in over 15 majors in nine departments, including [[Bible]], [[Engineering]], and Nursing.<ref>[http://www.pcci.edu/Academics/Divisions/ PCC Divisions] at www.pcci.edu.</ref><ref>[http://www.pcci.edu/Academics/Courses/Default.aspx Course list] at www.pcci.edu.</ref> Pensacola Theological Seminary, the college's graduate level component, offers Master's Degrees in Divinity, Ministry, Biblical Exposition and Languages, Church Music, and a Doctorate of Ministry to prepare "servant-leaders for full-time Christian work."<ref>[https://pts.pcci.edu/ Pensacola Theological Seminary] at pts.pcci.edu.</ref><ref>[https://pts.pcci.edu/Academics/Degrees/ Degrees offered at Pensacola Theological Seminary] at pts.pcci.edu.</ref>

Sometimes credits from PCC can be transferred to secular or non-secular colleges or universities, which may or may not be accredited, but many institutions will not accept credits from PCC.<ref group=note>See also our article on [[academic accreditation]]. Most regionally accredited institutions will not transfer credit from PCC, because PCC's national accreditation from [[TRACS]] is considered to be based on inadequate standards.</ref>

===Coursework===
As a college of "true" Christians, PCC does not include any coursework that could conflict with a strictly literal reading of Genesis - it teaches [[Young Earth Creationism]] and the [[Global flood|Great Flood]]. PCC is not forced to teach subjects such as [[evolution]], though students are generally given an idea of what evolution is (from a [[straw man|creationist viewpoint]]). PCC teaches a literal seven-day creation by God of the universe approximately [[Young earth creationism|six thousand years ago]]. PCC also denies [[Sigmund Freud]]'s work on psychoanalysis. Their [[Biology]] program states:

{{quotebox|At PCC, you’ll study biology through a biblical lens. As you deepen your understanding of the Creator, you’ll be equipped to research current issues within a Christian context, be prepared to defend your faith, and be ready to meet the need for Christians in the science industry.<ref>[https://www.pcci.edu/academics/natural-sciences/biology.aspx PCC Biology], Retrieved on December 16, 2023.</ref>}}

==Abeka==

{{cquote|Between the [[Fall of man]] and the [[Global flood|Flood]] of [[Noah]]'s day... [[God]] allowed man to live by the dictates of his conscience, without the restraining force of [[government]]. Because man did not have the authority to put murderers to death during this time, acts of violence and passion grew to such dimensions that God mercifully sent the Flood to destroy all of mankind but one believing family. After the Flood... God established civil government by ordering the death penalty ([[capital punishment]]) for murder. In establishing this first foundational civil ordinance, God again taught man the sanctity of human life...|||Bad [[pseudohistory]] from ''World History and Cultures In Christian Perspective, 2nd Ed.'' (A Beka Book, 1997), a 10th grade history text.<ref>[http://wonkette.com/482983/fun-with-christianists-things-you-can-learn-in-a-christian-world-history-cultures-textbook-part-1 Fun With Christianists: Things You Can Learn in a Christian ‘World History & Cultures’ Textbook (Part 1)]. Wonkette, September 2, 2012.</ref>}}

'''Abeka,''' formerly known as '''A Beka Book''', named after Rev. Horton's wife, Rebekah, supplies a full range of educational materials written from a conservative, Christian fundamentalist perspective. In 1996, A Beka Book asked for financial relief from millions of dollars of unpaid taxes requested by state and federal governments. The taxpayers ended up paying the bill.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/doc/263178754.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul%2007%2C%201996&author=PETER%20WALLSTEN&pub=St.%20Petersburg%20Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=Taxpayers%20foot%20religious%20school%27s%20tax%20tab Taxpayers foot religious school's tax tab]. Tampa Bay Times, July 7, 1996.</ref>

A Beka Book's textbooks are typical of the genre of educational materials supplied by religious fundamentalists. They are notable for a stunning display of religious intolerance,<ref>[http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/voucher_report/v_into162.shtml Teaching Religious Intolerance] at rethinkingschools.org. ''To say that Christian fundamentalist textbooks portray Roman Catholicism and non-Western religions in a negative way is to understate the case by several orders of magnitude. All the texts are imbued with an arrogance and hostility toward non-Western religions that is truly breathtaking.''</ref> [[right wing]] [[conservative]] politics, and harsh criticism of contemporary culture.<ref>[http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/voucher_report/v_god162.shtml With God On Their Side...] at rethinkingschools.org. ''In A Beka's world history textbooks, the term "liberal" is tied to, among other things, the belief in evolution - and both are thoroughly castigated.''</ref>

Some highlights from the catalog include the following:

* ''Science of the Physical Creation in Christian Perspective''. ([[Special:Booksources/836585161X|ISBN 836585161X]]). The geology section includes a "refutation" of the "principle of uniformity" and other ideas of evolutionary philosophers.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Science-Physical-Creation-Christian-Perspective/dp/836585161X Science of the Physical Creation in Christian Perspective] at amazon.com.</ref>

* ''Science: Order and Reality''.  ([[Special:Booksources/0813631041|ISBN 0813631041]]). A middle school level "biology" "textbook".  Published 1993, written ca. 103.  Every chapter opens with Bible verses.

* ''Physics: The Foundational Science''. The highlight of this text is its wealth of lengthy historical essays on ''Men of Science, Men of God''; physics takes a real back seat.

* ''Vocabulary, Spelling and Poetry'' series. Besides learning words useful in reading the King James version of the Bible ([[King James Only|which PCC believes is the only good translation]]),<ref name="faith" /> students are treated to lengthy essays on how, ''e.g.'', the "descriptive" school of dictionary writers are spearheading a [[Satanic panic|satanic]] [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] bent on making "evolutionists" out of English speakers.

* ''Economics: Work and Prosperity''. Ostensibly an economics text, actually an anti-[[communism|communist]] tract, although apparently the news of the Soviet Union's collapse passed the author by. Not surprising, since he is [[Russell Kirk]], who not only died in 1994, but was not an economist even when he was warm. However, the authors of real economics texts could take a hint from Dr. Kirk's ''writing style''.

* ''Sex, Love and Romance: Sex Education from the Bible''. Probably the only [[sex]]-ed book that contains more references to ''Satan'' than to ''semen''. A must-read for aspiring [[Misogyny|misogynists]] and writers of religious-themed erotica.<ref>[https://wonkette.com/501703/sundays-with-the-christianists-sex-education-from-people-who-think-youre-all-filthy-perverts Sundays With The Christianists: Sex Education From People Who Think You're All Filthy Perverts]. Wonkette, February 17, 2013.</ref>

* ''Bible Doctrines for Today''. A Bible course text that may also double as bad science fiction.

* ''A Healthier You''. A book on how to be a good God-fearing White Southern Protestant Christian American, with some anti-drug education slammed on. One highlight is an illustrated panel that shows how you can pass a history exam through hard prayer and the Lord's grace.

* ''Choosing Good Health''. Similar to above but for a younger audience, also with some basic medicine and first aid stuff slammed on.

==External links==
*[http://www.pcci.edu/ Official site]
*[http://www.abeka.com A Beka Book]
*[https://www.abekaacademy.org A Beca Academy]
*[http://www.joyfullifesundayschool.com/ Joyful Life Sunday School]
*[http://www.rejoice.org Rejoice Radio Network]
*[http://www.rejoicetv.org/ Rejoice In the Lord]
*[http://www.cracked.com/article_22150_5-awful-realities-fundamentalist-christian-college.html 5 Insane Realities At My Fundamentalist Christian College]
*[http://www.svarchives.com/?page_id=11 The Student Voice Archives]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Baptists]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:Fundamentalist Christian organizations]]
[[Category:Fundie schools]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]
[[Category:Rape culture]]

Categories: Baptists, Christianity, Florida, Fundamentalist Christian organizations, Fundie schools, Purity culture, Rape culture