A common observation amongst social scientific scholars is that modern higher education is inherently secularizing, and this, even amongst religious institutions. While the reasons for this are multi-faceted and multi-maintained, the present essay—as a “thought experiment” primarily employing McLuhan’s famous slogan, “the medium is the message”—seeks only to consider how the phenomenon of academic departmentalization and specialization has been inherently secularizing in the American context of Christian colleges and universities. Insofar as the “mediums” of departmentalization and specialization depend upon a “polychotomous” understanding of human knowledge as its “message,” the essay proceeds in four phases to draw out how such a “medium is the message” notion developed for Christians into “practically atheistic,” “compartmentalized” ways of pursuing not only knowledge, but life in general as well. Along such lines, part one offers some historical speculations on the basis of William Yount’s educational proposals in reference to “Hebrew and Greek mind-sets” and James Patterson’s work on the emergence of an “Augustinian synthesis.” In part two, some historical observations—with particular reference to George Marsden’s work—are offered surrounding how the institutionalization of academic departmentalization and specialization carried inherent secularizing consequences. In part three, some critical engagement with curricular structures and the integration of Christian faith and scholarship is rehearsed. Finally, in part four, a quick summary of the above argument as well as some humble practical suggestions for future reflection are included.