A peak inside the far-right university that banned interracial dating until 10 years ago.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bob Jones University's Last Days

By Tim Murphy, Mother Jones

Greenville, South Carolina—Some of you may know Bob Jones University as the fun-loving school that briefly held the Guinness World Record for largest kazoo ensemble. More likely, though, you know it as a bastion of the far right: For decades, big-shot conservative politicians from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush have traveled to the self-described "fundamentalist" outpost to pander to the Christian right, all the while pleading ignorance to its institutional opposition to Catholicism ("a Satanic counterfeit") and its longstanding ban on interracial dating.

The dating policy was reversed in 2000 (provided you have parental consent and a chaperone, of course), but the school still has a pretty detailed personal conduct code, which bans, among other things, phones that have Internet access, "contemporary Christian music," Gmail, and "posters of movie and music stars." I stopped by BJU on Tuesday hoping to speak with some current students about what brought them there (the art program is supposed to be excellent), how they like the school, and what they make of the school's not-so-distant history. But, alas, when I approached a group of undergrads, they broke the bad news: "We're not technically allowed to talk to reporters unless we have the school's permission," as one of them explained.

So much for that. Instead, I ended up walking across campus, checking out the Renaissance art museum (quite impressive, in addition to being the only place at BJU where you'll find Catholics); the Shakespeare-centric theater; and the memorial to the school's namesake, which places him in the tradition of transcendent historical figures like George Whitefield and Billy Sunday.

BJU always insisted that the dating policy had nothing to do with delusions of racial superiority; instead, it was fueled by a paranoia over a one-world society—which, as any student of the Left Behind series knows, is the mark of Satan and the End of Days. The more people of different complexions intermingle, the fewer borders there will be between Lucifer and his ultimate goal. So much for "divide and conquer."

I'm not sure this explanation actually makes the policy any more palatable; if anything, I'd say racial fears become a lot more dangerous when they're enveloped into a grand, unifying theory of how the world is going to end. But it was consistent with the school's general message as articulated by its leaders, its rules for student life, and its areas of study: Don't trust anything you hear off campus. At the University bookstore (located right next door to "Great Awakenings" coffee shop), for instance, pamphlets about the Freemasons and the "the facts" about the Roman Catholic church are sprinkled in amongst anti-Darwin screeds and American exceptionalist tracts.

Even if politicians don't detour to Greenville as frequently as they used to, they're still very much speaking to Bob Jones when they talk about global warming, or about nuclear Iran, or about the need (or lack thereof) for diplomacy, or about the coming collapse of American currency: As the Tea Party movement ably demonstrates, BJU-style fears of global government are a driving force behind today's conservative fearmongering. Bob Jones lost the battle, but in some sense, the bigger struggle is ongoing.

Besides, according to Pew, 37 percent of Americans would still have "some problem" with a family member marrying someone of a different race. In 2010. The institution may have been broken, but the prejudice hasn't disappeared.

link

[Fandango 1,439]

How big is it?

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How big is it?

Steven is a married man, you perv!

[Fandango 1,439]

Steven is a married man, you perv!

Shush you, I was wondering about the peak inside the university!

[Darnell 8,478]

inter-racial dating? Oh my - I gave up on Caucasian women, for lent, one year; never looked back.

El Bus- nice article - what are your thoughts about it ?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

El Bus- nice article - what are your thoughts about it ?

I'm worried about Lucifer and a New World Order.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm worried about Lucifer and a New World Order.

OK - you should pay some monies into the lobbyist groups that are fighting them, then.

Good Luck !

[Atencio 43]

Besides, according to Pew, 37 percent of Americans would still have "some problem" with a family member marrying someone of a different race. In 2010. The institution may have been broken, but the prejudice hasn't disappeared.

link

My ex-wife used to work in a NICU. About ten years ago she was talking with her assistant nurse manager about having babies. The Assistant who was Filipino had been trying for years and years to get pregnant and was now at the point of looking for a surrogate. So my ex-wife (who is Mexican) said she wouldn't mind being a surrogate except she would not want to do so for a black couple. The Assistant looked at her and said, "But my husband is black". So the ex, trying to pull her foot out of her mouth said oh, well I would do it for you.

My point is that it is normal for humans to be uncomfortable about things that are different. I think the situation is improving as 37% is better than I would have thought. Still I would like to see how the 63% that are comfortable with mixed marriages would feel if it was their daughter. I have two daughters. I have to admit, I think I would be cool about it but am also honest enough that it could change in a flash when I see who they brought home for dinner.

As far as that school goes. If they would require parental approval and chaperones for all students to date then I am fine with all the other craziness you listed.

[Peikko 1,575]

My ex-wife used to work in a NICU. About ten years ago she was talking with her assistant nurse manager about having babies. The Assistant who was Filipino had been trying for years and years to get pregnant and was now at the point of looking for a surrogate. So my ex-wife (who is Mexican) said she wouldn't mind being a surrogate except she would not want to do so for a black couple. The Assistant looked at her and said, "But my husband is black". So the ex, trying to pull her foot out of her mouth said oh, well I would do it for you.

My point is that it is normal for humans to be uncomfortable about things that are different. I think the situation is improving as 37% is better than I would have thought. Still I would like to see how the 63% that are comfortable with mixed marriages would feel if it was their daughter. I have two daughters. I have to admit, I think I would be cool about it but am also honest enough that it could change in a flash when I see who they brought home for dinner.

As far as that school goes. If they would require parental approval and chaperones for all students to date then I am fine with all the other craziness you listed.

People are people. I am sure you would not approve of plenty of 'white guys' for all kinds of reasons because they would not be suitable for your daughters (even though of course, in the end it is their choice) but to imagine that one of the criteria for dislike is skin colour is pretty silly - in my opinion.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

i wonder how many snickers one gets when they tell people they went to bju

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i wonder how many snickers one gets when they tell people they went to bju

NSFW (not porn)

[Atencio 43]

but to imagine that one of the criteria for dislike is skin colour is pretty silly - in my opinion.

I don't disagree but on the other hand racial prejudices were still common not really that many years ago.

And even I can admit that despite being married to a Mexican and now a Filipino that cultural norms hard wired into your brain are not always easy to ignore.

Example, I used to like this Persian girl who was Muslim. I knew that I would never be comfortable marrying her though because of her religion.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

NSFW (not porn)

if it's not porn, what's the point of looking?

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't disagree but on the other hand racial prejudices were still common not really that many years ago.

And even I can admit that despite being married to a Mexican and now a Filipino that cultural norms hard wired into your brain are not always easy to ignore.

Example, I used to like this Persian girl who was Muslim. I knew that I would never be comfortable marrying her though because of her religion.

I think religious differences could be difficult and as such it is much more understandable - at least in terms of potentially not sharing common values - skin colour is hardly a definition of any kind of values - that would be my point.

Edited July 23, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Atencio 43]

I think religious differences could be difficult and as such it is much more understandable - at least in terms of potentially not sharing common values - skin colour is hardly a definition of any kind of values - that would be my point.

Yes indeed. I just did not have any other personal prejudices to spice up the post with.