I came across a rather remarkable book the other day on the new releases table at Barnes and Noble. Kevin Roose was a sophomore at Brown University (maybe the most liberal university if America.) A more than budding journalist, he attempted, and fulfilled, a research project that would lead to this book, The Unlikely Disciple, A Sinner's Semester At America's Holiest University.
He attended Liberty University for the spring semester 2007. He told no one his mission, other than he wanted to see what a Christian University was like. The names of the students he befriended were changed, but not, with their permission, the professor's names. This could have been handled very poorly, but it wasn't. He is a very likable young man, and honest, at times maybe too honest. The book is part cultural studies, part religion (almost Christian) and part, to warn you, R-rated. He comes from an extremely liberal family that worries about his nearness to Jerry Falwell's influence. It was one semester only and he has returned to Brown University.
Although he mentioned to no one that he was researching a book, he applied himself to every class and discipline required of him. He even went evangelizing to Daytona Beach for Spring Break and sang in the choir at Thomas Road Baptist Church. He admits (in the book) that he is an unbeliever but displayed an openness to what he heard and tried to downplay his perceived Christian belief to others to the lowest level he could. His thoughts are real as are the friendships he developed. He knew next to nothing of the Christian faith going in but was reasonably well versed, from a Fundamentalist perspective, after a semester of Liberty University core classes. His two main complaints were the "homophobia" displayed, some of it accurate and much of it misinterpreted, and the method "Creationism" was taught.
Ultimately, his complaint being a distinct discouragement of the pursuit of knowledge through questioning accepted tenets of culture and the science of Creationism at the university. As a Liberty student, he asked for and was given an interview for the school paper with Jerry Falwell who died shortly after and just before the author's semester ended. He learned a lot from his experience, unfortunately not nearly enough that could have been presented to him. Liberty University, in my opinion and from a secular standpoint, did not come out poorly in this book. The students are friendly, the professors caring and Jerry Falwell is as strong in his beliefs as he presents to the world, and not a hypocrite.
The real value of the book is to Christians. I have a quirk, one of many quirks you surely say, where I can differ with certain televangelists to a extremely large degree on theology and methods, but if I have received some sort of benefit in the past from one of them (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley,) I will not brush that aside and will respect the good they accomplished and hold my failures and paltry accomplishments in comparison. I won't forget Rev. Falwell's uplifting proclamation of Christ and unyielding determination to present his faith on his many Nightline appearances in the 1980s. I feel that I got to know the friends that the author made. They have my hopes for them and prayers for the future as does Liberty University and I'll try to follow the course of this young author.
Having said that, the sermons mentioned were cultural at times and "How to live your life for Christ" at other times. I wouldn't know if young Kevin Roose heard the majesties of Christ preached, or the unadulterated gospel that first prostrates us and then lifts us up with the amazing grace that Christ provides. He may have. The book should give grave concern to us over bringing politics "into" the church. It should give pause, from the evidence of the authors testimony, to the effectiveness and even the wisdom of beach type evangelism and the "altar call" method itself. It should be a humbling experience for Liberty students to read, as it is me, to see some things that unbelievers see in us. Actually, the book should encourage us. The author spent considerable time baring his soul to us. There is a lot to be learned. As to what this young man receives from this intensive effort, national acclaim will surely come his way, and hopefully the prayers of a lot of Christians whose, although the author may not know it, past, both intellectually and lifestyle, were not a whole lot different than his.
He attended Liberty University for the spring semester 2007. He told no one his mission, other than he wanted to see what a Christian University was like. The names of the students he befriended were changed, but not, with their permission, the professor's names. This could have been handled very poorly, but it wasn't. He is a very likable young man, and honest, at times maybe too honest. The book is part cultural studies, part religion (almost Christian) and part, to warn you, R-rated. He comes from an extremely liberal family that worries about his nearness to Jerry Falwell's influence. It was one semester only and he has returned to Brown University.
Although he mentioned to no one that he was researching a book, he applied himself to every class and discipline required of him. He even went evangelizing to Daytona Beach for Spring Break and sang in the choir at Thomas Road Baptist Church. He admits (in the book) that he is an unbeliever but displayed an openness to what he heard and tried to downplay his perceived Christian belief to others to the lowest level he could. His thoughts are real as are the friendships he developed. He knew next to nothing of the Christian faith going in but was reasonably well versed, from a Fundamentalist perspective, after a semester of Liberty University core classes. His two main complaints were the "homophobia" displayed, some of it accurate and much of it misinterpreted, and the method "Creationism" was taught.
Ultimately, his complaint being a distinct discouragement of the pursuit of knowledge through questioning accepted tenets of culture and the science of Creationism at the university. As a Liberty student, he asked for and was given an interview for the school paper with Jerry Falwell who died shortly after and just before the author's semester ended. He learned a lot from his experience, unfortunately not nearly enough that could have been presented to him. Liberty University, in my opinion and from a secular standpoint, did not come out poorly in this book. The students are friendly, the professors caring and Jerry Falwell is as strong in his beliefs as he presents to the world, and not a hypocrite.
The real value of the book is to Christians. I have a quirk, one of many quirks you surely say, where I can differ with certain televangelists to a extremely large degree on theology and methods, but if I have received some sort of benefit in the past from one of them (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley,) I will not brush that aside and will respect the good they accomplished and hold my failures and paltry accomplishments in comparison. I won't forget Rev. Falwell's uplifting proclamation of Christ and unyielding determination to present his faith on his many Nightline appearances in the 1980s. I feel that I got to know the friends that the author made. They have my hopes for them and prayers for the future as does Liberty University and I'll try to follow the course of this young author.
Having said that, the sermons mentioned were cultural at times and "How to live your life for Christ" at other times. I wouldn't know if young Kevin Roose heard the majesties of Christ preached, or the unadulterated gospel that first prostrates us and then lifts us up with the amazing grace that Christ provides. He may have. The book should give grave concern to us over bringing politics "into" the church. It should give pause, from the evidence of the authors testimony, to the effectiveness and even the wisdom of beach type evangelism and the "altar call" method itself. It should be a humbling experience for Liberty students to read, as it is me, to see some things that unbelievers see in us. Actually, the book should encourage us. The author spent considerable time baring his soul to us. There is a lot to be learned. As to what this young man receives from this intensive effort, national acclaim will surely come his way, and hopefully the prayers of a lot of Christians whose, although the author may not know it, past, both intellectually and lifestyle, were not a whole lot different than his.
