Liberty University

Note* Reposted below in order to edit some spelling issues.

Carl, is this a prime example of liberal tolerance? Unfortunately, this IS an -a- typical example. Actually, a couple of news stories I have seen have focussed on the liberal left on campuses (believe John Stoessel did one on 'give me a break'). In the name of tolerance leftist students eschew intellectual debate and resort to tactics such as shouting down conservative speakers so they cannot have their ideas heard, etc. That kind of behavior irritates me. I enjoy hearing both sides of an argument and try to keep an open mind. That is why I voted one time for Clinton, the next against. I am a conservative Protestant Christian and yet enjoy hearing and seek to understand Catholic theological perspectives. Enjoyed Peter Gomes book (The Good Book). Gomes is an African American homosexual Christian and holds a Chair at Princeton. His book makes a case for why homosexuality is not unbiblical. I may not agree with his arguments but I enjoyed reading them and trying to understand his perspective.

As to Falwell.....
Although he may not be everyone's cup of tea to say "Falwell is heinous in every way imaginable" is hyperbole (hateful and anti intellectual). Falwell earned the irritation of folks when he met with a large group of homosexual Christian activitists in order to seek to understand. He received a lot of criticism. Pretty heinous there. Runs homes for pregnant girls...pretty heinous there. Gives significant tuition discounts to military and law enforcement in order to support them. Pretty heinous.

"Religious wack job". As a conservative evangelical Christian, I appreciate your broad minded tolerance.

As to needing to buy into his program. Students in the external program do not need to hold to a religious perspective. I enrolled in a couple of counseling courses and found very little religious content.

It amazes me the amount of hate out there for evangelical Christians. Someone said it is the only safe bigotry left. I am seeing more and more of it. The founding fathers would be amazed.

 

So as to beat you to the punch, Carl, I'm aware of the half-dozen or so typos and grammatical defects in my previous post.

This thread really has crossed over the line and belongs over on the political forum. I apologize for walking through the door that Carl so gracelessly opened. If you wish to continue this, Carl, let's move over to the proper forum.

 

my choice

I made the choice to attend Liberty becauase I played on their division I baseball team, I guess I half ignored the rumors I heard about their "religious pushiness." Either way, I have no experience w/ the online program, only the residential, and quickly chose to transfer to Longwood U after a year of hell.

 

For one not accustomed to the fundamentalist point-of-view, I would guess it would be very distasteful--I consider myself a fundamentalist in that I believe the Bible in its original Koine Greek and Hebrew is inspired of God, but even I can't stomach the rigidity of certain colleges and organizations. Example: I have a physician friend who is a member of a Bible study group in which members must sign a statement that they will neither drink nor smoke. My angle is that I would never be a member of a Christian group that would exclude Jesus (drinking) and C.S. Lewis (smoking) from its membership. In college, whenever my campus Christian organization, Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, sought to organize activities with the Baptist Student Union, a dance was strictly forbidden by the Baptists on religious grounds. Funny, there's a passage in the Bible in which a young princess and wife of King David was stricken with infertility because she sneered at David's public dancing. People never think God's word is enough, they have to put their own spin thereupon, often in a manner that turns it on its head!

 

I think you guys need to seperate falwell and liberty.. And I noticed loveprobono while entitled to his point of view, doesnt really want to listen to others comment unless they agree with him. with that said i have liberty is a good institution. HOWEVER any institution even top once have students who run into a bureaucy...

 

===

I might wish to set some qualifications. It would not seem to me that the wine of Palestine was generally the potency of Seegrams Seven and I know of no occasion when Jesus was a staggering drunk . Nor did David, as far as I know, do the bump, grind and grab with the young ladies of his Kingdom.

Still, IMO you make some points which are fairly easily defensible. Also, I find it curious that some of the good brethren who ecclesiastically outlaw liquor and/or tobacco voice nary a word about gluttony and lack of exercise which are killers all the same.

Be warned : Diabetes ain't fun

 

I might wish to set some qualifications. It would not seem to me that the wine of Palestine was generally the potency of Seegrams Seven and I know of no occasion when Jesus was a staggering drunk . Nor did David, as far as I know, do the bump, grind and grab with the young ladies of his Kingdom.

Still, IMO you make some points which are fairly easily defensible. Also, I find it curious that some of the good brethren who ecclesiastically outlaw liquor and/or tobacco voice nary a word about gluttony and lack of exercise which are killers all the same.
_______________________________________________

Fair enough on the qualifications. Of course Jesus also said "Be not drunk with wine." and David wasn't exactly dirty dancing before the Arc of the Covenant. I think it's curious that smoking of all things is so stigmatized and gluttony is hardly mentioned in the church. I taught a Sunday School with college students and one of the young ladies remarked: "I'm a good girl, I don't drink and smoke." I thought to myself--but alas didn't say--I would rather you did both than have that pharasaic attitude.

 

I am obviously in the presence of my theological master. Sorry, it was Paul of Tarsus. Of course, Jesus is referred to as "the Word" and the Bible is also referred to as the "word of God", so even Paul's letter to the Ephesians is on a certain level something that "Jesus said"--yes, I know, it's a stretch, bad hermeneutics.

Captain, oh my captain, teach me.

 

===

Don't worry. Jimmy stretches a lot around here too.

 

Getting back to the topic at hand , that surprises me that Liberty would treat someone so poorly. They have an excellent reputation among evangelical Christian denominations. I looked at their programs myself but found it to be cost prohibitive.

Steve