Bob Jones University

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I am doing a Masters project on the anti-Catholic movement. I am very interested in Bob Jones University. There is a young lady in one of my classes that attended the school, and she has been somewhat shy about talking with me. I was wondering if anyone out there had first hand knowledge of the institution and what they are teaching about our faith.

Thanks.

Brad
 
I had two old neighbors that went to Bob Jones. I was surprised that they did and asked them about it. They just said that was a long time ago. Both, by the way transferred to West Point after their first or second year. I don’t know too much about philosophies and such. They people I know may not have agreed with the Catholic Church teachings, they weren’t anti-Catholic. Both had a “to-each-their-own” outlook.
 
Bob Jones University is a Reformed Calvinist based university with no qualms about its anti-Catholic theology and position.
 
Apparently “Surprised by Truth 3” compiled by Patrick Madrid has the story of a Bbo Jones Graduate who converted to Catholic. The book includes contacts to all who contributed, so that may be helpful to pick up.–Rebecca
 
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MrS:
Bob Jones University is a Reformed Calvinist based university with no qualms about its anti-Catholic theology and position.
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My Sister In-law is a graduate of BJU and my niece is currently attending BJU …My in-laws (who live with us part time) support BJU annually. I even attended my nieces graduation from Dublin Christian Academy (high school) in Massachusetts - and Bob Jones was the guest speaker. It was a class of 10 … if you heard the graduates speak - you would be amazed at what they said - it almost seemed that they were brained washed - and if you didn’t agree with what they believed you would go to hell… it was amazing.

My SIL and In-laws are very anti-catholic. My husband (22 years) is from a fundamental Baptist family - but he had denounced the Baptist faith - and goes to Mass with us weekly and during Holy Days for over 20 years. He even asked me before Christmas - how long it took to become Catholic … he wants to receive the Eucharist with his family (praise God).

I started a threat on Bob Jones - forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4675

I would love to read whatever it is you come up with in your thesis’s … what school are you attending?

You know – we visited my in-laws church a few years ago – at Thanksgiving (of course we went to Mass on Saturday) — and their pastor preached on his trip to Ecuador — and how they are saving the CATHOLICS over there. He even told the congregation lies about what we believe – mainly – we believe Mary is above Jesus. I was outraiged. My husband looked at me during the sermon and said – take a good look around – we will never be back.

My in-laws were so sad … but they understand our conviction — and perhaps one day will – by our example, know that Catholics aren’t doomed to hell. I even asked my mother inlaw where we got the Bible and she said God and prophets - and I said yes, but who put it to print … when I told her the Catholic Church - you would have thought that I told her I was having an affair … she litterally couldn’t breath after I told her that …

Please let me know how your research goes. I would love to read it. I really would. One of the things I find interesting is that BJU isn’t an accredited school – because they feel their standards are above the norm. That could be (if it still holds true) be an interesting spin on your thesis.

God’s speed to you
 
They built the campus originally where I live in 1927 in Panama City. It burnt down and they moved it. I never knew it was a Baptist College or anti-Catholic for that matter. Well at least it is not here anymore.
 
Thanks for all of your comments. Keep them coming…they help!

Brad
 
I have first-hand experience with Bob Jones (BJU). When I was Protestant, I once attended a Bible church that was pastored by a man who was a BJU graduate and had several church members who were former graduates. With one exception, all were anti-Catholic.

BJU has the largest private collection of religious art in the United States, and ironically much of it is Catholic. I went with a friend to visit the art collection there, and we were given a brochure to “explain” the art. Unfortunately, the brochure contained several misleading statements about Catholic teaching, so I decided to write a letter to the director of the art gallery to correct those misrepresentations. I wrote in a polite and charitable tone. A short while later I received a letter from Mr. Bob Jones III himself stating in a rather uncharitable tone that they were in no need of correction of their understanding of Catholic teaching and that he was sorry that I had turned from Christ to “idols.” (I had mentioned in my letter that I was a Catholic convert from Protestantism).

It also seemed to me that Bob Jones is anti- other Christians as well, particularly charismatic Christians. They seem to have a kind of separatist attitude towards everyone, except other Christians that believe as they do.
 
All I remember is the policy of no interracial dating (big scandel a couple years ago)–and also reading their dress code online and laughing till tears came out…
 
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sadie2723:
I am doing a Masters project on the anti-Catholic movement. I am very interested in Bob Jones University. There is a young lady in one of my classes that attended the school, and she has been somewhat shy about talking with me. I was wondering if anyone out there had first hand knowledge of the institution and what they are teaching about our faith.

Thanks.

Brad
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Brad,

I was homeschooled, and we used some BJU materials–in particular, their high school world history and biology textbooks. I have some sentimental attachment to these, but not too much–every time I look at the world history textbook in particular I get angrier with its biased perspective (though I owe it a lot–it’s a pretty good comprehensive survey and it helped get me excited about history, which was a good thing since I’m now a professional church historian). If you choose to send me a private message with a mailing address, I’d be happy to send you my copy of this book. Or you could buy it from them, of course (World History for Christian Schools). I think it gives a pretty good sense of their attitude to Catholicism, among many other things!

There was some misrepresentation, but not as much as you might think. I think they did at least try to present fairly points of view that they disagreed with (though every time I go back to the book I’m less satisfied with how well they succeeded!). It’s hard for fundamentalists to be fair to other points of view, because part of fundamentalism is the inability to go outside the limits of your own ideology (even as a thought experiment). Still, it’s fairly informative for a high school textbook, and it does at least give a brief introduction to important figures like Aquinas. I suppose I have some undeserved affection for the book because at the time it gave me a good introduction to the basics of world history and aroused my curiosity to learn more. But it’s quite painful reading, really–and would be more so for a Catholic.

If you want more specifics (without my actually sending you the book), you can ask some specific questions and I can dig the book up from the basement!

Edwin
 
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Contarini:
Brad,

I was homeschooled, and we used some BJU materials–in particular, their high school world history and biology textbooks. I have some sentimental attachment to these, but not too much–every time I look at the world history textbook in particular I get angrier with its biased perspective (though I owe it a lot–it’s a pretty good comprehensive survey and it helped get me excited about history, which was a good thing since I’m now a professional church historian). If you choose to send me a private message with a mailing address, I’d be happy to send you my copy of this book. Or you could buy it from them, of course (World History for Christian Schools). I think it gives a pretty good sense of their attitude to Catholicism, among many other things!

There was some misrepresentation, but not as much as you might think. I think they did at least try to present fairly points of view that they disagreed with (though every time I go back to the book I’m less satisfied with how well they succeeded!). It’s hard for fundamentalists to be fair to other points of view, because part of fundamentalism is the inability to go outside the limits of your own ideology (even as a thought experiment). Still, it’s fairly informative for a high school textbook, and it does at least give a brief introduction to important figures like Aquinas. I suppose I have some undeserved affection for the book because at the time it gave me a good introduction to the basics of world history and aroused my curiosity to learn more. But it’s quite painful reading, really–and would be more so for a Catholic.

If you want more specifics (without my actually sending you the book), you can ask some specific questions and I can dig the book up from the basement!

Edwin
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:banghead: Let me guess, the Black Legends are front and center in those sections of the book concerning the discovery, & settlement of the America’s.
 
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Dubervilles:
All I remember is the policy of no interracial dating (big scandel a couple years ago)–and also reading their dress code online and laughing till tears came out…
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That too, which reminds me of what a BJU grad once told me – they have “pink and blue sidewalks” there 🙂
 
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sadie2723:
I am doing a Masters project on the anti-Catholic movement. I am very interested in Bob Jones University. There is a young lady in one of my classes that attended the school, and she has been somewhat shy about talking with me. I was wondering if anyone out there had first hand knowledge of the institution and what they are teaching about our faith.

Thanks.

Brad
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I believe that BJU, in addition to being anti-Catholic that it used to support the segregationist movement (you would have to double check). The last I checked into BJU, they were unaccreditted as well.
 
Semper Fi:
I believe that BJU, in addition to being anti-Catholic that it used to support the segregationist movement (you would have to double check). The last I checked into BJU, they were unaccreditted as well.
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Yes, but their lack of accreditation has more to do with ideology than academic quality. As far as I’ve been able to tell, they have quite rigorous academic standards. They are the intellectual elite of modern fundamentalism. Lack of intelligence is not their problem (which renders them all the more guilty for their uncharitable, bigoted attitude toward other Christians).

Edwin
 
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Contarini:
Yes, but their lack of accreditation has more to do with ideology than academic quality. As far as I’ve been able to tell, they have quite rigorous academic standards. They are the intellectual elite of modern fundamentalism. Lack of intelligence is not their problem (which renders them all the more guilty for their uncharitable, bigoted attitude toward other Christians).

Edwin
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Well, their biology department supports “Intelligent Design”.
 
Semper Fi:
Well, their biology department supports “Intelligent Design”.
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Is that intended to prove that they are intellectually irresponsible?

Their 11th-grade biology textbook (before “Intelligent Design” was thought of) had a chapter on creationism that was the typical fundamentalist spiel. But the rest of the book was excellent–it was almost as detailed as the (secular) book I used in college.

Edwin
 
Semper Fi:
I believe that BJU, in addition to being anti-Catholic that it used to support the segregationist movement (you would have to double check). The last I checked into BJU, they were unaccreditted as well.
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BJU is seeking TRACS accreditation.
tracs.org/candidate.htm

While that is not regional accreditation(gold standard) or DETC(silver or bronze standard), many TRACS schools have regional accreditation as well. TRACS accreditation is a meaningful standard in the evangelical community.
BH

PS
The seperate sidewalks were a myth of course as well. They never had that.
troyandjessica.com/article/17/bob-jones-university-urban-legends.html
 
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BrianH:
BJU is seeking TRACS accreditation.
tracs.org/candidate.htm

While that is not regional accreditation(gold standard) or DETC(silver or bronze standard), many TRACS schools have regional accreditation as well. TRACS accreditation is a meaningful standard in the evangelical community.
BH

PS
The seperate sidewalks were a myth of course as well. They never had that.
troyandjessica.com/article/17/bob-jones-university-urban-legends.html
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I never said or claimed that they did, however they do still ban interracial dating while attending the university. They also gave an “honorary” Ph.D. to Ian Paisely and George Wallace. Real Christian of them.
 
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