Posted on 02/20/2005 3:20:38 AM PST by Liz
In "God On The Quad" Naomi Schaefer Riley reveals that some of the popular assumptions made about religious colleges — citadels of intolerant thinking, with inferior curricula and in-your-face religious zealotry — are either outdated or simply wrong.
She profiles a number of individual schools including: Mormon stronghold Brigham Young University; Fundamentalist Christian Bob Jones University; Catholic Notre Dame and Thomas Aquinas College, one of the quirkiest schools mentioned; Jewish Yeshiva University, and Evangelical (Baptist) Baylor University.
Unsurprisingly, the biggest issue religious colleges face is how to reconcile the seemingly incompatible nature of secularism, with its accent on post-modern, radical individualism, and religion, for which there are many faith-based, "non-negotiables." In this, they are quite successful contending with feminism, in which both traditional conservative views, and radical feminist ideology have been subsumed into a "third way," where women pursue careers yet still maintain their faith.
Many secular campuses are openly hostile towards faith and/or conservatism, which is often cited by both students and faculty for their presence at religious schools. The other over-arching reason is purely academic: in interview after interview, it's clear that the majority of these students are more dedicated than their secular counterparts. Many students turned down Ivy League schools, choosing to study in a more structured and religiously tolerant environment.
Ironically, many faculty members also feel they have more freedom to explore all sides of an issue absent the stifling political correctness, and "open-mindedness" of many secular campuses.
"God on the Quad" is a look at college students who are likely to bring dynamism to their careers in business, law, politics, culture, etc., by combining the best elements of faith and intellectualism. In a country roiled by a red state-blue state mentality, corporate scandals and cultural uncertainty, that is something to be embraced.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Ironically so many of these faith-hostile schools---Dartmouth and Harvard among them---were founded as religious institutions.
Bump.
Read last year some stuff written by students at Baylor--
I e-mailed my response,and got no reply. These kids were
suggesting that Christians ought be more tolerant and
accept the "Sexual Orientation" of others. They condmened Christians who they said were intolerant of homosexuals. I sent my reply to two students and a teacher at Baylor and
as stated I got no reply.I remember when Baylor was advertised as a conservative Baptist University?
Funny timing. Just yesterday, I was on BYU's website thinking of taking some online courses.
There are many good Christian schools out there that are still true to the faith, and which also encourage real academic freedom.
The secular 'open-minded' schools put you in stocks and throw tomatoes at you if you don't toe the leftist line......
The Bible College I attended here went bellyup financially,
they searched for some way to remove one of the founding
influences because he didn't hold a doctorate degree. But
Earl Heald knew his Bible. And he was a good teacher. Those were good days -I quit because I was weak. I didn't trust
God enough to give my problems to Him-and I looked the other way when my fellow students were smoking dope in the parking lot between class.I have repented,and confessed
to some of my former educators.But have not yet returned for a completion of my degree. God will use me -in His time.
Amen
Friday evening my friend and I relaxed in the coffee house next to the theater while we waited for our movie's start time. We watched the teenagers congregating outside. It made me reflect on how important it is to train up a child in the way in which they should go. So when they get older they do not depart from it. They leave the home and often times attend a university away from home. They will not be sheltered from the influences of the world; therefore, we need to equip them with as much truth as possible for the battle. I don't think we should live in a Christian bubble because there is a generation that is so desperate and hopeless without Christ. But as you mentioned wherever the Lord is, there is freedom. God will give His children wisdom and strength to go and live out their faith amongst the unbelieving.
Thanks so much for your posts! I really enjoy them.
Good advice.........it's a shame we've lost an entire generation.
The liberal curse of "tolerance." Allows every depravity extant in the universe.
One of only two occurances of the term in the NIV if I recall is "Why do you tolerate wrong?(Habakkuk1:3And from
Rev.2:2 I know your deed ,your hard work,and your perseverance.I know you cannot tolerate wicked men,that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but ar enot,and have found them false."Sounds to me as if God is pretty
intolerant of this PC value called "tolerance"
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