HBU is now HCU!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by chrisjm18, Oct 22, 2022.

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  1. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    So, it appears that Houston Baptist University changed its name to Houston Christian University in September 2022.

    I think it's a good decision. It may open the door to more students who maybe not identify as Baptist and would have otherwise thought the school is for people of Baptist belief. The last Baptist church I attended changed its name to the Community Church of [town name] to be more welcoming of all denominations.

    https://hbu.edu/

    Maybe I should have checked the announcement page first. My assumptions were correct.

    Why is HBU changing its name?

    "After several years of research and the Board of Trustees' prayerful review, the University desires to adopt a name that welcomes the many students enrolled who come from many different denominations of the Christian faith as well as those who claim no faith."

    https://hbu.edu/hc/
     
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  2. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    It's one step in an inevitable evolutionary process.

    Houston Baptist University ----> Houston Christian University ----> Houston Abrahamic Religions University ----> Houston Pantheistic University ----> Houston Agnostic University ----> Houston Skeptic University ---> Houston Militant Atheist University
     
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  3. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Agreed. I can see where some would be turned off due to a presumed association with the Southern Baptist Convention. Certainly allows for more inclusivity.
     
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  4. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    That could be a selling point. Except for people that think the SBC is too conservative AND for a new crop of Christians/Baptists who feel the SBC is becoming too liberal and woke (complaints about recent SBC Presidents).

    Beth Moore left the SBC (had issues with sexism in general and sexism in handling complaints by women). I believe Russell Moore, PhD (no relation and former head of the ethics commission) who was accused of being too woke got frustrated with the SBC and their handling of abuse issues and left as well.
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2022
  5. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    I've got no dog in this hunt. If the new HCU wants to distance themselves from SBC that's their prerogative. I do believe that the new SBC president, Bart Barber, will try to "right the ship" especially regarding the sex scandals. As a Christian, and predominately Baptist, I'm frankly disappointed with the handling of a lot of the politics and pushing of personal agendas that have been at the core of SBC leadership. I hope to see change going forward with the new president. Time will tell.
     
  6. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    They, former HBU, are right down the street from HCC-SE.( where I work) This took me be surprise, that is for sure. My brother in law has his MBA from there.
     
  7. SweetSecret

    SweetSecret Well-Known Member

    I really do not understand how changing the name to anything related to a specific religion is going to somehow attract people of either a different religion or no religion. If the school offers an incredible program then it's not going to matter if the school name is an umbrella term versus a more specific term within the same religion.

    I am trying to resist the temptation to post a cliché quote that seems appropriate here.
     
  8. Rachel83az

    Rachel83az Well-Known Member

    Very true.

    Also, I've noticed that Baptists are, more often than not, the ones that name their entities a generic "Christian" name, like this. The Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, etc. all advertise who and what they are. The Baptists... don't. Example: "Christian" bookstores often don't carry literature that Baptists would frown on (from non-Baptist denominations), because it's actually a Baptist bookstore. Sometimes, they're even more vigorously Baptist than the ones that openly use the Baptist name.

    If you're in the know, changing from Baptist to "Christian" may be more of a red flag than if it had kept the original name.
     
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  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think of when "Peabody Coal" became "Peabody Energy." Same smoke and mirrors.
     
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  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Or the tobacco companies that take "Tobacco" out of their names.
     
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Good. I'm waiting till the process is complete. Then we'll see... :)
     
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  12. datby98

    datby98 Active Member

    hahahahaha~:emoji_clap:
     
  13. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    I'm surprised the way this post has gone. But maybe I shouldn't be. It seems to be "in" to jump on a bandwagon that appears right on the surface, but may or may not have been fully researched. If you decide not to become a Christian, by all means that's your choice. But don't deride, claim conspiracy theories, or get all puffed up just to prove that Christianity is absolutely wrong and you're absolutely right. It's a personal choice that needs to be explored by each individual. For those that wish to research further let me suggest, "The Case For Christ" by Lee Strobel. This is an in-depth investigation by a skeptical journalist. And consider the writings of C.S. Lewis and others. Or not. Again, it's your choice. Just make an informed choice.

    And getting back to the original question of why HBU changed it's name. Just a reminder that there also is Abilene Christian University, Texas Christian University, and Baylor University (No Christian in the middle but it's well known as a Christian university). So why did HBU change it's name? Maybe, because it has to due to competition, the need to attract a larger student base, and last but not least, because it could.
     
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  14. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    I couldn't have said it better.

    BTW, I was admitted to ACU to pursue an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership in 2016. I started Week 0 but withdrew due to personal issues at the time.
     
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