Professor James Fraser, who was awarded a CBE for his services to higher education in Scotland, says the country should move away from the "radical secularist" attitude at some universities.
In a speech at the Free Church of Scotland's General Assembly he said Scotland should have universities that teach from a Christian perspective, like those in the United States.
"A Christian university would teach and research within the pre-suppositional framework of a Christian world view," he is quoted by The Herald as saying.
"The Scottish Government should rethink the financing of Universities to enable a more pluralist system. Scotland has some of the most excellent universities in the world but needs to offer more variety and greater competition.
"A Christian university would have to flourish in a market place by having excellent and quality courses delivered to a standard of excellence that would attract both Christian and non-Christian students."
He added: "All teaching and research is shaped by the values of the institution and its staff; and today in most Scottish universities the values framework is derived from a radical secularist world view.
"The secular world view is by no means universally accepted by the people of Scotland. We need to serve Scotland better by giving people greater choice."
The Scottish Secular Society said in a statement: "This demand is ill-conceived and presumptuous, and should be resisted.
"All points of view are represented within our universities, and that is how it should be. Religious viewpoints have, if anything, a privileged position. They have chapels for those who wish to use them, hold religious services, and provide facilities for chaplains of all faiths. And nothing could be more stimulating for believers and nonbelievers alike than to freely mix and to discuss their agreements and differences. Why would anyone wish things otherwise?"