Are degrees from conservative Christian schools like Liberty University toxic?

Yes, their theological position permeates just about everything they do there. So, if you don't like their position, you probably made a good choice, because it would have been a constant source of irritation for you.

 

This is actually not much of a problem for BYU grads. Recruiters from the top graduate schools in the country and from Fortune 500 corporations are on campus throughout the year, trying to woo students to their institutions or organizations after they graduate. For example, virtually every senior at BYU's School of Accounting is treated like a star football recruit by corporations like Ernst & Young and graduate business schools Like Wharton. While some evangelicals may be prejudiced against someone with a BYU degree, most of the rest of the world appears to have no problem with them.

 

I'm glad to hear this.

 

Agreed. HBS has at least 1 or 2 BYU grads in every incoming MBA class.

 

I think I agree with the others on this one, anywhere you get a degree from has the potential to be damning and judged. Having said that though I can see where a person with a degree from Liberty would be judged especially by those of different faiths and non believers. They are pretty hard core in their beliefs. Personally I question some of the required courses and how well it prepares you for working within the majority that has not been taught in the manner you have. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that they are inferior in any way as far as education, I just wonder how the difference in education would play itself out in a working situation?

I am really glad that I changed my mind about attending this school because their beliefs are no where close to mine!

 

Ah... Yes. Thanks for the slow pitch, so I can swing for the fence and hit that one out of the park.

 

Very true... perhaps this has something to do with the integrity of LDS members. I'm not LDS, but I have worked and done business with many LDS members over the years. While I've been lied to by people of all religious backgrounds (and no religious background), I can wholeheartedly say that I've never been cheated by an LDS member. Perhaps my experiences can be attributed to a small sample, but it sticks in my mind as significant. LDS members do what they said they would do.

 

My best friend growing up was an LDS member and I would go to service with their family occasionally. They were the best and most helpful and cheerful people you'd ever meet. They just happen to believe some strange stuff. LDS takes the absurdity of Christianity to new heights. You need to take almost unimaginable leaps of faith to accept the Bible but if you toss the Book of Mormon on top of that.. these people are like the Jim Thorpe of believers.

 

Have you ever seen the SouthPark episode on Mormonism? It's very funny. I served a with a couple of Mormon's in the Marine Corps. They are very patriotic and were some of the nicest people I had ever met. I will always let the Mormon's on mission who knock on my door in for some lemonade. Great kids, smart, very respectful, but yeah...they do make some rather large leaps of faith to say the least.

 

I was raised a Christian and spent years studying the Bible. I can now appreciate it from a cultural, literary and historical perspective as a secular humanist but for years I had a lot of resentment at being force-fed it as truth.

 

Interesting since my story is pretty much the opposite! I was raised as a secular humanist and never read the Bible. I can now appreciate it from a cultural, literary and historical perspective as a Christian but for awhile had some resentment at never being acquainted with its truth in my youth.

 

You're the first person I have ever heard of who has moved from secular humanism to Christianity, ever. The closest I've seen secular humanists going towards any kind of faith is joining the local Unitarian Universalist church. Now, I've heard the old "atheist" conversion stories which usually involve people who were never atheists, more like nontheists who hadn't given the whole thing much though.

 

Yes, I saw the South Park episode. Very amusing, but many of the laughs were at the expense of an accurate portrayal of the Mormon Church and its history. That is to be expected, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints s not exactly the darling of the Hollywood set. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have figured out that Mormons (and the other religions that they satirize) do not kill those who make fun of their history, faith or leaders (that whole "turn the other cheek" thing), so they are emboldened to continue.

I am glad to live in a country that allows me to take my rather large leaps of faith, whether those leaps are in the beliefs of "Mormonism," Evangelical Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Atheism, etc.

 

Degrees of any kind are not toxic. Reputations and stereotypes can create less than wonderful situations for you to work in as a result of association.

Therefore, like any other decision made in life, choosing to associate with a school, person, sports team, religion, political party, favorite pub, anything, should be something that is made only after an appropriate level of deliberation and reflection. Simply put in a world full of disposable technology, food containers and immediate gratification.. there's a danger to make decisions just as quickly and assume that our associations are just as quickly disposable.

A person's cumulative reputation is not a commodity. It's something to be proud of. Be certain you understand that defending your choices should be something you can be proud of, when making choices that add or subtract to your reputation. After this, be proud to associate with your own and ignore the white noise.

This whole religious pride thing is dangerous insofar as people start sticking their nose into things that don't concern them. If you're what you are.. stay out of other people's stuff. Can't actualize if you're tearing others down.

Of course.. really simple concept that people who are trying to find themselves in something other than themselves don't prescribe to. (I've often found South Park episodes funny and then thought to myself.. they may be telling all of us that we're taking ourselves too seriously, but what a horrible level of self-esteem these comedians must have.)

 

Completely depends.

If you're going to be working in a Christian environment or organization, it doesn't matter. If you're going onto graduate school at a prestigious university or better name school, it probably doesn't matter. I know a guy who got his undergrad from LU and is becoming a doctor at Virginia Tech.

Outside of these scenarios, the degree would probably hinder you more than, say, _________ state university or university of __________. Overall though, probably doesn't really matter in the great scheme of things.

 

Everyone please note: This education forum is not the place for religious debates. As I feared, this thread is beginning to go down that path. Everyone, please stick to distance learning topics. If you want to have a humanist vs Christian vs Mormon debate, you could start one in the "Off Topic" forum although I would prefer that you didn't.

I also have strong opinions on this topic, but this is not the place.

 

I think we were all getting along rather nicely until your loud and abrasive interjection.

 

If you would like to continue to be a member of this board, I would suggest that you allow me to do my job without making your sarcastic comments.