Bob Jones University
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Bob Jones University is a Christian college in Greenville, South Carolina. It was founded by Methodist evangelist Bob Jones, Sr. and is now led by former evangelist Steve Pettit, the first president of the college not in the Jones family. [1] The institution is infamous for taking the most extreme fundamentalist positions imaginable. It finally entered the 20th century - just as the 21st century was beginning - by dropping its ban on interracial dating in 2000 and seeking and gaining accreditation in 2005.
Until 2005, Bob Jones University held the position that accreditation was a compromise with the sinful world of academia. As such, the university was an unaccredited one for most of its history, in effect conferring degrees that might as well have come from a diploma mill.
One noted former student was Fred Phelps. [2]
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[edit] History
| “ | Down in Carolina way Lived a man named a big B.J. B.J. went and got a school Founded on Caucasian rule Bumper sticker on his Ford Says "Honkies if you love the Lord" |
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The university's history of racism is well known. They refused to admit black students until 1971, and from 1971 to 1975 they only admitted married black couples but not unmarried students. When they finally began admitting single black students in 1975 they coupled it with a ban on interracial dating, finally dropped in 2000. Their policies also cost them a whole lot of money after a 1983 SCOTUS ruling upheld the right of the IRS to revoke their tax-exempt status.[3]
They remain about a century behind the times, which for them is an improvement. Students are banned from dancing, going to movie theaters, watching television, having DVD players in the dorms, unfiltered Internet access, possession and use of fireworks on campus, and listening to any kind of unapproved music (including jazz, country-western and Christian Rock). Anything displaying the Abercrombie & Fitch brand is also banned for whatever reason, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The BJU "science" department promotes young earth creationism exclusively and is full of professors with degrees from diploma mills and unaccredited institutions[citation needed]. The university does not have a real geology program. Can't let geological facts get in the way now, can we?
Al Franken infiltrated Bob Jones University while researching Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by pretending to be a family friend of a prospective student who was a Christian, while making it clear he is Jewish and noting their uncomfortable er-um-er-wtf reaction. Many BJU students recognized him from Saturday Night Live - odd, given they are supposedly banned from watching television - although the faculty didn't.
In the Coen Brothers' 2004 remake of The Ladykillers, the fiercely religious African American landlady, having unknowingly avoided assassination and unexpectedly come into possession of a large quantity of stolen casino money, decides to donate all of the cash to Bob Jones University.
[edit] Intergender Relations
It is utterly untrue[4] that the sidewalks are LITERALLY painted pink and blue, as BJU's recruitment material for teens makes very clear. Rather, you're supposed to memorize from a map which public outdoor areas you are prohibited from by virtue of gender. It is also untrue that no dating is allowed whatsoever. There is good clean fun to be had at "couples' days" where young men and women are allowed to mingle under the watchful eyes of nearly more chaperones than students. Many long and completely non-abusive marriages are alleged to result from such shallow interactions between people who are never afforded the opportunity to really get to know each other before committing to the long haul. It's also untrue that young men and women can't sit at the same table in the public dining hall... because they ran out of tables and had to consolidate.
The requirement for young ladies to cover their hair in a biblical fashion was lifted in the early nineties when they realized that church hats actually look really pimpin' and hence are evil.
[edit] Homophobia
Bob Jones University is so antigay that a support group, BJUnity, recently formed for students who came out after graduation. Its members demand the university apologize for a 1980 comment made by then-president and current chancellor Bob Jones III that “it would solve the problem posthaste if homosexuals were stoned.” [5] In 2015, he finally apologized for that remark, even as he visited the White House to protest extending the Civil Rights act to homosexuals. [6]
[edit] Handling of sex abuse
Many students tried to get counseling over sex abuse that happened before they entered the university. These students typically were members of Christian fundamentalist communities and abusers were part of the same social group. The university typically accused victims of lying and sinning,
One former student stated a counselor told her reporting the abuser to the police would harm "the cause of Christ". The counselor said the victim was responsible for the abuse, and told her to forgive the abuser. [7]
In an attempt to stave off criticism, the university hired GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) to study their response. GRACE, however, blasted them, and specifically called out former president (and the founder's grandson) Bob Jones III, saying "Dr. Jones, III has also repeatedly demonstrated a significant lack of understanding regarding the many painful dynamics associated with sexual abuse[...]Due to the central role Dr. Jones, III played in the many issues outlined within this report, it is recommended that the university impose personnel action upon Dr. Jones, III." [8]
[edit] Academics
"Science" Programs
BJU offers Bachelor's "degrees" in Biology (Including Molecular Biology and Biochemistry), Chemistry and Physics.The degree programs include Bible studies alongside any actual science, and Young Earth Creationism is part of the curriculum. According to the BJU website:
“”One of the benefits of studying biology at BJU is that you’ll get a top-notch science education from a thoroughly Christian perspective. In addition to strengthening your faith in the reliability of the Bible, this perspective will also help prepare you to understand modern secular interpretations of science and apply a biblical worldview to them.[9]
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Sample Courses:
First Year:
- Freshman Seminar
- General Biology I
- History of Civilization c. 3500 BC to AD 1650
- Old Testament Messages
- Introduction to the Arts
- English Composition
- Mathematics for Biology Majors
- General Biology II
- New Testament Messages
- Fundamentals of Speech
- Fine Arts Appreciation Elective
Second Year:
- Essentials of Cell Biology
- General Chemistry I
- 200-level Bible Elective
- English Literature or Writing
- Biological Diversity
- Research Methods & Analysis
- General Chemistry II
- History of Civilization since 1650
- Hermeneutics
Third Year:
- Themes in Western Thought
- Evolution & Origins
- Human Physiology & Anatomy I
- Science: Impact on Society
- Bible Doctrines
- Elementary Statistics
- Foundations of Economics
- Bible Doctrines
- Oral Communication for the Professions
- Cell Biology Elective
Fourth Year:
- Genetics
- Independent Study
- Critical Evaluation of Biology Literature
- Apologetics & Worldview
- Upper-Level Bible Elective
- Cell Biology Elective
- Philosophy or Psychology
Other programs
BJU also offers degrees in Business Administration, Education (including "science"), Health Sciences, Bible Studies, Church Ministries, Criminal Justice and many other programs. Like the science programs, the other degrees are stuffed with Bible classes. BJU also claims that the Creation Research Society is a professional science organization.
[edit] Bob Jones Academy
BJU has set up an elementary/middle/high school in South Carolina.[10] It maintains an active speech and debate team[11], which may or may not feed students to the notable fundy college debate programs at Liberty University and Patrick Henry College.
[edit] BJU Press
BJU Press is purportedly the largest source of homeschooling textbooks in the US,[12] and is purportedly the largest publisher in South Carolina.[13]
[edit] Accreditation
BJU is only accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools which is only National Accreditation and National Accreditation has lower standards than Regional Accreditation which is better.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ "New head of Bob Jones University is not a Jones," USA Today.
- ↑ Fred Phelps
- ↑ http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0461_0574_ZS.html
- ↑ http://www.troyandjessica.com/bob-jones-university-urban-legends.html
- ↑ http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/advocate-45/2012/08/21/45-biggest-homophobes-our-45-years?page=full
- ↑ http://www.wltx.com/story/news/2015/03/21/bob-jones-iii-apologizes-for-anti-gay-comments-from-1980/25142213/
- ↑ Christian School Faulted for Halting Abuse Study
- ↑ http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/midlands/2014/12/11/bju-investigation-announcement-to-be-made-thursday/20235209/
- ↑ Biology BS quoted on Archive-edu
- ↑ http://www.bobjonesacademy.net/
- ↑ http://www.bobjonesacademy.net/2014/01/16/students-place-in-speech-and-debate-tournaments/
- ↑ Deb Richardson-Moore, "BJU Press Has Quietly Risen to Top in Homeschool Publications," Greenville News, 26 May 1996.
- ↑ Jenny Moore, "Greenville Benefits from BJU in Economic, Social Areas," Greenville News, 20 September 2006, 9A.