Anyone ever gone to a xtian college?

[ProNihil]

Just wondering if any of you have attended a christian college like Prairie Bible Institute, or Moody Bible Institute, real hard line schools.

[Starboy]

Hi ProNihil, I haven't. Have you?

[ProNihil]

Greetings Starboy,
Yes, if fact I have. Prairie. It was a pretty interesting place, given that I was there to learn about how to serve what I thought at the time was god. I guess it would be nice to talk to people who have really been in the trenches so to speak. It really took me a long time to dig out and throw away all of the crap that I accumulated inside. To be honest, I am still in that process.

[Starboy]

ProNihil, I have always been an atheist, so I can't be of much help. I have a hard enough time trying to understand why anyone would be a theist in the first place. You hint that the education at Prairie was an eye opener for you. Is that so?

Starboy

[Amie]

Hi ProNihil
I have attended the claremont school of theology for some systematic theology courses but that was it as far as religiously stemmed academia for college...

I did however go with my friend to the LIFE bible college library once because she was trying to get some information on some books and I was both surprised and dismayed when they asked us to leave because we were not enrolled as students. What a disaster that was and it really makes the school look bad. While I was asking them how they expect people to learn about God when people within the community are kicked out for *reading about God* at a *BIBLE*College :confused: My friend just sat there saying "Oh here's that Christian love we are all so fond of". It really gave her a bad impression...
That was a first, of all of the college classes I had taken nobody I ever knew was asked to leave the library simply because they did not attend. I am still not sure what that was all about, I do know that the entire campus closes down so the students and faculty can all attend a retreat together at a four square church...I never did anything like that in college, i had fun of my own making ;)

[ProNihil]

Starboy,
The college was an eye opener for me because at that time, I began to see how people really deal with problems in their lives, despite being theists. I believe they are really unfortunate to have been lied to and fed b.s. about needing someone else to help shoulder the obvious burden of their existance. I just sat back and started thinking for myself, and said, "wow", "it is really amazing how deluded these people are." This is not to say that I disliked them. There were alot of very kind people there who really cared about others. Sure, they might be a little irritating when they go witnessing on the street or something but they had been lied to, which in my opinion doesn't make them bad, as some people on these bulletin boards seem to think. I used to witness too, the reason being that I really truly did not want to see people go to hell. I cared.
Now however, I seem to be caring more about the poor deluded christians
Talk about irony.

Amie,
You mentioned about the Foursquare church. It is one of the wackier ones out there, gettin pretty close to handling snakes and drinking strychnine. As for why they kicked you guys out of the library?????
I will say this however- going to church, or working for one, etc. etc. does not make one a christian any more than going to mcdonalds makes you a hamburger. You may have just encountered a big fat jerk!:mad:

[Amie]

Originally posted by ProNihil
Amie,
You mentioned about the Foursquare church. It is one of the wackier ones out there, gettin pretty close to handling snakes and drinking strychnine.yeah I am not familiar with the foursquare church and maybe that is a good thing ;)
As for why they kicked you guys out of the library?????The only thought I had about it was maybe the school itself was getting some threats or something but even then seemed a bit strange...aw well
I will say this however- going to church, or working for one, etc. etc. does not make one a christian any more than going to mcdonalds makes you a hamburger. You may have just encountered a big fat jerk!:mad: I absolutely agree, I am not particularly fond of the people who work at the parish where I attended church, especially the priest...ugh

[ProNihil]

[
I absolutely agree, I am not particularly fond of the people who work at the parish where I attended church, especially the priest...ugh [/B][/QUOTE]

Why then do you go?

[ProNihil]

I don't know why my last quote looks like that. How do you do yours?

[Amie]

Originally posted by ProNihil
Why then do you go? I said attended ;)
I dont go there anymore.

oh proNihil it's because you have to do this (minus the spaces)
[ b ] whatever you are quoting here followed by [/ b ] [/ quote]

[ProNihil]

Amie,

Just makin sure youre paying attention.:D

[Opera Nut]

I went to Trinity University in San Antonio which is Presbyterian.

It's thought to be one of the top liberal arts colleges, kinda like Rice only in liberal arts. The profs are all Ph.D.s & most of the students are bored rich kids.

When I went there you had to take 6 hours of religion, of any kind, which was great fun. My sister took Asian Religions and I took Nature & Function of Religion (intro course -- quite difficult -- Jung, Campbell, etc. ) and Old Testament (as history not doctrine).

The religion dept was all grads of Harvard or Princeton, and like a branch of the philosophy dept. I really got my mind stretched. The prof I had was a Cuban fellow, Dr. Garcia, who is the most brilliant linguist i will ever meet. Knew greek, latin, hebrew, amharic, aramaic, Linear B......

A fundy would get really pissed at my classes since they didn't stuff dogma down your throat, which is what made it interesting.

Old Testament was pre-exile, post-exile, first temple destruction, 2nd, different sources of material like J,E,D,P, linguistic analysis as clues to time and author of writing, 12 tribes, all that stuff that had historical evidence, not the fairy tales.

Dr. garcia would come in with a pile of books under his arm, put them on the table, and say, "It is said in the Talmud, that there is a difference, between a scholar, and an ass loaded down with books!!"

My thought: Aha, now I know what I am.......an ass loaded down with books!!

:notworthy

[southernhybrid]

In 1967, I attended Gordon College in Wenham, Ma. It was and probably still is about as fundy as they come. I had the choice of that, Moody, or Bob Jones U. :eek: I deconverted there as it became so obvious that what I had been taught as a child was all nonsense. The funniest one was the Bible teacher who led an all night prayer session after some of the male students were playing with a Ouija board and the board said it was controlled by Satan. I think if I had any doubts that the Xian religion was crazy, that incident made things perfectly clear. They threw the board into the lake to destroy it. Maybe it was some kind of symbollic lake of fire. I left after one and a half semesters. It was more than I could take by that point.

I probably would have deconverted anyway but that experience made it a lot easier. In a way I guess I should be thankful that my parents insisted on a fundy college. They still think that the more liberal Xian college that I transferred to was the cause of my disbelief. They just don't get it even after all these years.


One of the students was a daughter of Billy Graham if that helps put things in perspective.

[topane]

I went to a Catholic college (Immaculata College) for grad school. I wouldn't consider it hardline, though. I never had to take any religious classes.

[mjennyt]

I went to St. Mary's Univrsity in San Antonio. Good school actually. The theology and philosophy classes were fun.

[The Naked Mage]

I'm currently attending Texas Wesleyan University; not sure of the denomination, it's either Methodist or Presbyterian.

It's not too terrible, so long as you ignore all the Billy Graham pamphlets and abstinence-oriented Valentine's Day notices. :rolleyes:

[queue]

I went to Sterling College in Kansas which is Presbyterian.

6 credit hours of religion courses were required. You also had to accumulate a certain number of points which you received for going to plays, concerts (religious), and the Friday assemblies (also religious).

The courses were not bad. I do not recommend trying to cover the history of western civilization in one semester though. It is just enough time to skim history up to the Renaissance.

[Ensign Steve]

I unfortunately blew my opportunity to go to Notre Dame. A Catholic univeristy, but a fabulous school nonetheless. My uncle was a professor there, though, and he had some interesting experiences. As a faculty member, he had medical insurance benefits through the school, but his wife could not use the prescription drug benefit to pay for her birth control! I mean, I guess that makes sense, but she isn't even Catholic! The whole thing blew their minds. Oh, he also had fun with the wooden crucifix hanging on the wall of the dorm room where he lodged until they bought their house. Plus they only served fish on Friday.

[Infidelettante]

Originally posted by ProNihil
Just wondering if any of you have attended a christian college like Prairie Bible Institute, or Moody Bible Institute, real hard line schools.

Florida Bible College, Hollywood FL. In the early 70s.
Right wing fundamentalist though not on the same level as
Moody or Bob Jones. Small school, only a few hundred at
its peak. Defunct now.

JT

[spurly]

Originally posted by JTVrocher
Florida Bible College, Hollywood FL. In the early 70s.
Right wing fundamentalist though not on the same level as
Moody or Bob Jones. Small school, only a few hundred at
its peak. Defunct now.

JT

If I am not mistaken, Florida Bible College has renamed itself Florida Christian College and moved to Kissimmee, FL. I've been there a couple of times.

I attended Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN. While I was there I was stretched in my theology and Bible classes. I graduated with a Bachelors in the Bible, and a specialty in Youth Ministry. It was the best four years of my life. I had to unlearn some legalistic teachings (i.e. clothing stuff, etc.), but all in all I grew during my time there by leaps and bounds.

Kevin

[Infidelettante]

Originally posted by spurly
If I am not mistaken, Florida Bible College has renamed itself Florida Christian College and moved to Kissimmee, FL. I've been there a couple of times.

I attended Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN. While I was there I was stretched in my theology and Bible classes. I graduated with a Bachelors in the Bible, and a specialty in Youth Ministry. It was the best four years of my life. I had to unlearn some legalistic teachings (i.e. clothing stuff, etc.), but all in all I grew during my time there by leaps and bounds.

Kevin

Needless to say I don't keep in touch with many of the people
I went to FBC with. Being a Pagan doesn't make for small
talk at reunions of fundamentalists.

JT

[echoes]

I attend Lafayette College, which has an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church, but it really seems like that is just a vestige of the college's early years... I think I remember reading something about early funding coming from the church, when they were struggling to get off the ground ~175 years ago.

There is essentially no religious influence in everyday life here, so I couldn't care less about the relgious affiliation.

Although it is a rather conservative college; for example the college president was an advisor for Bush Sr.

[spunky one]

Way back in the 70's, in my early fundie days, I attended The Moody Bible Institute. I was a good little bible girl. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that point in my life and deconvert, but that was "the road not taken." I was a mere 18 years old when I was pulled into the Jesus freak era (I know I'm dating myself here, lol). I was steeped heavily into the world of the fundies and became one highly judgmental beeyotch! It wasn't until the early 90's that I started to re-evaluate my belief system and saw how narrow-minded I had been for so many years. Over the period of a few years I deconverted. Shoulda, woulda, coulda years ago. :boohoo: But at least I finally got the veil off of my eyes!

~spunky one~

[Mrhat]

Didn't attend, but took a music class at Oral Roberts U. If there is a hell, it is an exact replica of ORU.

EDIT: If you didn't get it, I didn't care too much for the school. Didn't help that the teacher I had was one of the biggest bigots that I have ever encountered.

[Zeda]

Hi, I was a student at Moody Bible Institute for 2 1/2 years. Lots of required Bible Courses, including having to read the whole Bible the first year and another where you had to memorize tons of verses.

Like you said it takes years and years to work that stuff out of your system. Whenever I read posts on here or the books I am now reading that are from a free-thinking perspective, you keep having this little voice inside your head that says, "yeah, but ..." or "that's not entirely what was meant there..." etc. I am not sure If I will ever be unbrainwashed, but I am glad I didnt raise my children that way.

[spunky one]

Hey Zeda!

We might've been classmates! I attended 1975-78. I wonder how many others from MBI have deconverted?? It's hard to believe I survived going there for 3 years. That's one hardcore fundie boot camp!!

I raised my children with a xtian upbringing - Lutheran school for their first 8 years or so of grade school. When the youngest one was about 16 yrs. old, he told me he doesn't believe in any of this xtian stuff. I was basically deconverted in my own mind at that point, so I told him he could believe whatever he wanted to. The older one isn't serious about her beliefs, but never deconverted. She said she won't date xtian guys anymore, they're religious lunatics! She's getting serious with a secular kind of a guy now. Both of my kids turned out okay inspite of the xtian early years and are not religious at all. My husband is the only religious one in the house, so we are tolerant, lol.

[Steve K]

I went to Whitworth, which was a fairly relaxed Presbyterian college. The biggest trouble was that a group of fundies tried to prevent the formation of a gay student club. Also, there was considerable outrage from the fundies over abortion.

A friend of mine went to Wheaton, which is substantially more ... restrictive. For example, while she was there, they required all students to pledge to not dance and drink even off campus or during breaks. Also, IIRC they had mandatory chapel attendance. Whitworth was a dry campus and technically prohibited sex on campus, but didn't attempt to restrict off campus behavior.

I deconverted while at Whitworth, and although there was no requirement for students to be Christian (at Wheaton, for example, there was a mandatory statement of faith students were required to sign), non-Christians were very much a small minority at Whitworth.

[Queen of Swords]

My father tried to send me to Pensacola Christian College, but someone talked him out of it, much to my relief. Later on, when I was traveling from Kansas to Texas, I passed through Oklahoma and stopped at Oral Roberts University, just for the hell of it, passing myself off as a prospective student fleeing from the terrors of secular campuses. I was the only woman in that place who wore pants; all the others were in long skirts. They told me about their mandatory chapel attendance and their rigidly segregated dorms and gave me a copy of their syllabus before I all but ran back to Texas.

[Zeda]

[QUOTE=spunky one]Hey Zeda!

We might've been classmates! I attended 1975-78. I wonder how many others from MBI have deconverted?? It's hard to believe I survived going there for 3 years. That's one hardcore fundie boot camp!!


Hi Spunky,

Yeah, we were classmates. :) Good old Horton Hall== Sept. 1974- November 1976. Thats all I could handle. :) My first husband a missionary kid was also there during that time. Pretty big school really so you may have known me or my ex. I'll drop you a private message, with both our names. Not that I have any fond memories :p

[itsallsemantics]

I went to two of them—Emmanuel Bible College for 2001-2002, and Tyndale University College (and Seminary, but I went to the college) for 2002-2003. Deconverted fall 2003.

EBC (Missionary Alliance) had a curfew, no smoking, no drinking even on breaks, open dorm (guys on girls floors and vice versa) only during set hours, no swearing, if a guy and a girl are in a room the door must be all the way open, no dancing, only PG or G rated movies... what else? It wasn't that bad really, I had fun there and have kept many of my friends from there, though we had our share of crazies.

Tyndale is non-denominational, so it doesn't really have a policy on drinking/dancing/etc. Basically, if your church has a no-alcohol rule, you should respect that. If not, sure. Just don't come back to campus drunk, that's not cool. Don't smoke on school property. There was a hip-hop club and people went out to bars/clubs all the time. Still had open dorm/"doors must be all the way open" rules though. Students must be Christian and may not be practicing homosexuals. So, they're not 100% fundie, but they have a lot of respect for places like Wheaton.

I hated Tyndale, but I was in the process of deconverting, and that tends to alienate you from your über-Christian roommates on residence.

I went to Bible college to get my faith back. It fixed parts of it, but my theology and philosophy classes opened up cans of worms that I didn't even know existed. As for the people... well, there were a lot of hypocrites, fake people, manipulative people, just like you find everywhere else. There were also a lot of incredibly caring people who I still love dearly.

[Plognark]

I got stuck at Franciscan university for a week because my friend's mustang broke down out there while we were visiting his girlfriend.

I then had to borrow some blankets from a friendly Dwarf while I slept on the floor of a common room, got doused in holy water by an RA because i was sitting a little to close to my girlfriend of two days on a couch in a different common room, and got ridiculed by thirty nuns-in-training when I feel asleep in a dorm lobby after driving for 12 hours straight.

I also got to find out about fun things like charismatics, banned book and video lists (amusingly stuff like Mad Max was banned....we "illegally" watched Mel in mad max while we were there), and got to watch young teen and early twenty fundamentalists try and resist the urges to fuck like rabbits. Poorly. There were stories of a number of them who had been booted from campus for having pre-marital sex. I wound up playing a lot of pinball and trying to corrupt my new girlfriend that week for want of something better to do.

Probably doesn't count as attendance, but it was a pretty surreal and eye-opening week. ;)

Edited to add: Yes, I was an agnostic of sorts when I went there. I felt like I had been secretly snuck onto the "compound" :rolleyes:


Edited again: Holy crap that was my 1000th post. WOOHOO!!! :D

[spunky one]

Sounds like you had just a little taste of life in a fundie school! When I was a student in the xtian college I was so caught up in living the life of a fundie that I didn't realize how farfetched everything was. Talk about being brainwashed!

Btw, congrats on your 1000th posting being your above one! Cheers to another 1000 for you!! :D (I think this board needs the emoticon with the beer mug!)

~spunky one~ ;)

[chapka]

Someone I knew in high school went to Abilene Christian University, which is run by one of the crazier of the many churches that call themselves the "Church of Christ." Apparently her class got in trouble for organizing a homecoming dance, since dancing was forbidden on campus. I remember not believing that dancing was forbidden. "Really? Like in Footloose?