Alfred P. Rovai and Jason D. Baker examine the move of modern society toward increased individualism and the impact on higher education. In particular, distance education is often viewed as a commodity, devoid of the special personal relationships that develop in classrooms. This essay compares classroom community in traditional and distance education courses within and between a non-denominational Christian university and a secular university. The Christian university environment added an ethos of community involving ceremony, reflection, trust, and connectedness that contributed positively to interpersonal communications and resulted in a stronger sense of community. Mr. Rovai and Mr. Baker are respectively Professor and Associate Professor of Education at Regent University.