Hyles-Anderson College

[[File:Current HAC logo.png|thumb|right|165px||Its logo.]]
{{christianity}}
'''Hyles-Anderson College''' is an [[Academic accreditation|unaccredited]] [[fundamentalist]] [[independent Baptist]] school in Lake County [[Indiana]], founded in 1972. The school, founded by evangelist Jack Hyles, promotes [[creationism|creationist]], [[sexism|sexist]], [[Biblical literalism|biblical literalist]], and [[homophobia|homophobic]] viewpoints.<ref>[https://hylesanderson.edu/about/what-we-believe/ What We Believe]. Hyles-Anderson College.</ref> The school functions as a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana.<ref>[https://hylesanderson.edu/about/ Who We Are], Hyles-Anderson College.</ref> The [[megachurch]] and school have been the subject of multiple instances of [[child sexual abuse]] and other sexual scandals spanning multiple decades.<ref name=chicagomag>Bryan Smith, [https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2013/Let-Us-Prey-Big-Trouble-at-First-Baptist-Church/ Let Us Prey: Big Trouble at First Baptist Church]. Chicago Magazine, 11 December 2012.</ref>

==Academics and accreditation==

The school's sexist philosophy is reflected in separate academic requirements for men and women. Only men are allowed to apply for pastoral programs. Women get wonderful [[Indoctrination|classes]] such as [[Kinder, Küche, Kirche|"Introduction to Cooking", "Preparation for Marriage", "Understanding Your Husband" and "Home Decorating"]]. Degrees and diplomas are offered in Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Pastoral Theology, Assistant Pastoral Studies, and Counseling. There are "[[Pseudoscience|Science]]" minors and education concentrations in [[biology]], [[physics]] and [[mathematics]]. Legitimate courses of study are heavily biased towards the school's fundamentalist beliefs.

All faculty, staff, and students are required to participate weekly in the evangelical ministry of the First Baptist Church. The church extensively promotes the practice of so-called "[[Christian evangelism|soul winning]]" and claimed in 2008 that it had performed over 10,000 baptisms.<ref name=maybe>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080605134548/http://www.hylesanderson.com/about_us/maybe_you_wouldnt_like Maybe you wouldn't like...] Archived from the original at Hyles-Anderson College, 2008.</ref>

The school is [[diploma mill|opposed to academic accreditation]] of any kind. The school's views on accreditation are detailed in a screed by founder Jack Hyles, who cites "a grave danger in total conformity" and likens accreditation to communism and societal decay. In addition, he distrusts and is [[paranoid]] about government "control".<ref>Jack Hyles, [https://archive.ph/twezl Accreditation]. Archived from the original at jackhyles.com, 2013.</ref> The school claims "that the best measurement of the effectiveness of the institution is the ministerial success of its graduates."<ref>[https://hylesanderson.edu/accreditation/ Accreditation], Hyles-Anderson College.</ref>

==Jack Hyles==

'''Jack Hyles''' {{lived|1926|2001}} was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, [[Indiana]], a leading light in the [[Independent Baptist]] movement, and the author of several books published by [[John R. Rice]]'s publisher, Sword of the Lord. Most of these books are on subjects like ''Let's Baptize More Converts'', ''Church Bus Handbook'', and ''Let's Go Soul Winning'' and are about how to lure as many people into your church as possible and convert them. He was originally best known for creating and popularizing the "bus ministry" concept which led to his church becoming one of the first ever [[megachurch]]es. He was a [[King James Only]] advocate.<ref>[https://www.jackhyles.com/Hyles-stronger-KJV.htm The Growing Convictions of Dr. Jack Hyles with Regard to the King James Bible]</ref>

Hyles established Hyles-Anderson College in Indiana in 1972. Not only is it ''not'' accredited, its policy is actually to ''abjure'' accreditation, regarding the principles required for it to be compromise with the sinful world. Its purpose is primarily to prepare young fundamentalist men to be zealous preachers and further teachers of "The One True Way," and young fundamentalist women to be perfect wives and mothers, courtesy of the Marriage and Motherhood course of study. Let's just say that it isn't about the history of and theories about marriage and motherhood.

Hyles also advocated a highly authoritarian and even violent method of [[Corporal punishment|child rearing]] similar to that put forth now by [[Focus on the Family]], including extreme emphasis on gender roles, unquestioned obedience to authority figures, and an emphasis on spanking as a discipline method. His book ''How To Rear Children'' includes a chapter in which he advocates spanking very young children to "break their will to resist" adult authority and making spanking sessions a "ritual" lasting 15 or more minutes; this chapter is frequently cited by anti-spanking activists as an example of extremism among pro-spanking advocates.<ref>Jack Hyles, [https://www.amazon.com/How-Rear-Children-Jack-Hyles/dp/B000GSPT20 How To Rear Children]. Hyles-Anderson Publishers, 1974, ASIN B000GSPT20.</ref>

==Sex scandals==

Jack Hyles was the subject of investigations in 1993 into multiple occurrences of child molesting, abuse, and sex scandals all tracing back to the school and the First Baptist Church of Hammond, with people claiming that Hyles was "running a [[cult]] without a compound."<ref>Debra Gruszecki, [https://web.archive.org/web/20121026023652/http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/detroit-station-probes-abuse-church-link/article_14a337d0-f46b-5ad5-95bf-0410dca96668.html Detroit station probes abuse, church link]. Archived from the original at nwitimes.com, 17 May 1993.</ref><ref>[https://www.biblicalevangelist.org/jack_hyles_chapter3.php Chapter 3 - The Saddest Story We Ever Published!] The Biblical Evangelist.</ref>

In 2012, Jack Schaap, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, head of Hyles-Anderson College, and Jack Hyle's son-in-law, was fired after admitting that he had sex with a member of the church when she was sixteen years old. Schaap was busted following an investigation by the FBI into reports that he had multiple sexual encounters with the teen across state lines.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-schaap-confesses-to-_n_1732732 Jack Schaap Confesses To Sexual Relationship With Teen After Firing From Megachurch]. Huffington Post, 2 August 2012.</ref> Schaap was previously known for smarmy behavior such as simulating [[masturbation]] in front of thousands of children during church services and comparing the Lord’s Supper to having [[sex]] with [[Jesus Christ]].<ref name=chicagomag /> Schaap was sentenced to a 12-year sentence for [[Statutory rape|relations with a 16-year old]], but was given an early release on May 4th, 2022.<ref>[https://www.stoppastoralabuse.org/post/jack-schaap-scheduled-to-be-released UPDATE: Jack Schaap Early Release 05/04/22]</ref>

In 2020, a former member of the church sued the estate of Jack Hyles, alleging that she was raped by David Hyles in the 1970s. David Hyles is a former youth director at the church and son of founder Jack Hyles.<ref>Alexandra Kukulka, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-hyles-lawsuit-st-0329-20200327-qhcr4b7utbbatna2io7e2j7j5q-story.html Highland woman alleges youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Hammond raped her in 1970s: ‘He knew exactly what he was doing’]. Chicago Tribune, 27 March 2020.</ref> Another woman sued the church and school in 2020, alleging child sex abuse by David Hyles.<ref>[https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201204005391/en/Forester-Haynie-Files-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-First-Baptist-Church-of-Hammond-for-Pervasive-Child-Sex-Abuse Forester Haynie Files Class Action Lawsuit Against First Baptist Church of Hammond for Pervasive Child Sex Abuse]. businesswire.com, 4 December 2020.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201101060605/https://www.preacherboysdoc.com/david-hyles-update-the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same David Hyles' Newest Scandal: A Secret Year-Long Affair]. preacherboysdoc.com, 12 October 2020.</ref>

==Radio Station==

Hyles-Anderson owns and operates a radio station 90.5 WRTW-FM aka "The Key" with it's studios being located in the former federal courthouse and post office building on State Street in Downtown Hammond. WRTW broadcasts strictly Christian programming and does not appear to even broadcast music although, they appear to advertise the station as a gospel music station. The main programming is radio shows talking about the Bible. Material from [[Answers in Genesis]] and the [[Institute for Creation Research]] is often broadcast. <ref>[https://thekeyfm.com/schedule/ The Key], Retrieved April 22, 2022.</ref> Their call sign WRTW is an acronym for "We Are The World".

==See also==
* [[David J. Stewart]], one of the graduates
* [[Bob Jones University]], also known for covering up sexual abuse
* [[Independent Baptist]], the theology that Hyles-Anderson is based on
* [[Louisiana Baptist University and Seminary]], a similar unaccredited school

==External links==
*[https://hylesanderson.edu/ Official website]
*[http://www.soulwinning.info/sermons/hp050403.mp3 Jack Hyles talk on the Communist threat from Rock & Roll] - seriously, this sermon has to be heard to be believed. ''Way'' over the top. Keyboard alert! Do not listen while drinking anything around your computer!

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Baptists]]
[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Fundie schools]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Authoritarianism]]
[[Category:Sexism]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Paedophilia]]

Categories: Baptists, Creationism, Fundie schools, Christianity, Authoritarianism, Sexism, Homophobia, Paedophilia