Kevin Roose Infiltrates Liberty University To Write Book

[IndianaGreen]

Kevin Roose Infiltrates Liberty University To Write Book

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Kevin Roose managed to blend in during his single semester at Liberty University, attending lectures on the myth of evolution and the sin of homosexuality, and joining fellow students on a mission trip to evangelize partyers on spring break.

Roose had transferred to the Virginia campus from Brown University in Providence, a famously liberal member of the Ivy League. His Liberty classmates knew about the switch, but he kept something more important hidden: He planned to write a book about his experience at the school founded by fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell.

Each conversation about salvation or hand-wringing debate about premarital sex was unwitting fodder for Roose's recently published book: "The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University."

"As a responsible American citizen, I couldn't just ignore the fact that there are a lot of Christian college students out there," said Roose, 21, now a Brown senior. "If I wanted my education to be well-rounded, I had to branch out and include these people that I just really had no exposure to."

Formed in 1971, Liberty now enrolls more than 11,000 residential students, along with thousands more who study through Liberty's distance-learning programs. The university teaches creationism and that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, while pledging "a strong commitment to political conservatism" on campus and a "total rejection of socialism."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/kevin-roose-infiltrates-l_n_190124.html

[Kerrytravelers]

1. While it seems he walked away with an understanding of these people, I'd have to be carted out in an

ambulance. The utter stupidity and hypocrisy there would have made my brain explode.

[Jkid]

3. "utter stupidity and hypocrisy"

Describe it. Any examples?

[Kerrytravelers]

5. We're talking about Jerry Falwell's crew here.

You really need utter stupidity and hypocrisy described? Perhaps the years under George W. Bush could serve as plenty of examples. This is Bush's base we're talking about here.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. 'Creationist studies' are a compulsory subject

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/mar/20/liberty-university-its-biology-department-approach/living-religion-story-list/

[Jkid]

2. "Total rejection of socialism."

I bet they have classes on the "Free-market" to go along with that. Do they?

[struggle4progress]

4. I think that, by enormous effort, I could manage to blend in only until the third or fourth time

I actually carried on a substantive conversation with someone

When I was growing up, many of my neighbors were political-religious conservatives. In the last forty years or so, my conversations with political-religious conservatives invariably result in their quick conclusion that I am (1) an atheist heathen who is trying to extirpate Christianity, (2) a Leninist-Maoist-Stalinist, and (3) an anti-American traitor

The conclusion (1) is obtained when I question their moral and theological views; the conclusion (2), when I fail to believe in the magic hand of the free market and the inevitable triumphant goodness of global corporatism; and the conclusion (3), when I note that the standard histories can be retold in other ways, less flattering to ourselves

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Sounds like an interesting book

The incident that struck me most was when he returned to Brown and reacted to gays holding hands--and then reacted to his reaction. I think this shows how hatred and bias can become part of a culture--it is easy to hate that which you never see.

[knitter4democracy]

7. Wimp. Try going for four or five years.

Now, my college wasn't as bad as Liberty, but it was pretty damn bad. I'm forever scarred, as are my friends (we've stayed in touch, since we helped each other survive that hell). I did my darndest to stay true to myself and fight for what I believed in (try being the lone pro-choice chick on a panel in mandatory chapel some time), but it was damn difficult. Thank God for some amazing profs who were trying to protect those of us who actually understood that a liberal arts education means that we had to learn to think critically. If it hadn't been for the drama club and my profs, I wouldn't have made it.

[dcsmart]

8. here is some old-time socialism for them from their own book

from the christian scriptures, ACTS 4:32-35

now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common...there was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. they laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need....

now....wait....From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs)...was that....oh yeah, crazy Karl....Marx!!!!

:woohoo:


so great when christians forget their scrpitures....

[struggle4progress]

9. Recently found this 1885 sermon of R. Heber Newton, preached on the death of Victor Hugo:

No Christian communism: some features of the early church not wanted now
<pdf of one page 1885 NYT article:>
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0CE2D71739E533A25756C2A9639C94649FD7CF
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0CE2D71739E533A25756C2A9639C94649FD7CF