Why, yup, I attended B.J. University!

[missroserose]

Well, I think I've finally figured out where Christian fundies come from...

Bob Jones University.

The student expectations are so bloody strict it's no wonder there are college graduates out there who are so out of touch with reality. I mean, honestly, if you let kids have absolutely no experience with the outside world, then what are you teaching them in terms of survival skills? (Oh, right, they're not sheltering the students, they're "promoting holy living by removing as much as possible the influences of worldliness and evil from a student's life while he learns to walk in the Spirit.")

Some highlights:

--All chapels and classes are required, as are weekly society meetings, Sunday school, vespers, artist series programs, and Bible Conference services. (Probably a good thing I don't go there, given my general distaste for school-organized activities...)

--Dishonesty, "sensual behavior", homosexuality, "sexual perversion of any kind" (wonder if that includes masturbation?), gambling, dancing (??!!), and "beverage use of alcohol" are all strictly prohibited. (I'm honestly kind of curious as to what that second category covers.)

--When working in town, freshmen must have a prayer captain, assistant prayer captain, or upperclassman with them.

--"Abercrombie & Fitch and its subsidiary Hollister have shown an unusual degree of antagonism to the name of Christ and an unusual display of wickedness in their promotions. In protest, we will not allow articles displaying their logos to be worn, carried or displayed even if covered or masked in some way."

--(For women:) "All dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts must be loose-fitting, having a minimum of three inches of ease at bust and hips. Necklines may not be more than four fingers beneath the collarbone. Hairstyles should be neat, orderly, and feminine. Avoid cutting-edge fads and cuts so short they take on a masculine look."

--Students are only allowed to use the school's filtered email system.

--Wireless internet is forbidden since all internet access must go through the school's filters.

--No new age, jazz, rock, country, or contemporary christian music. (So gangsta rap is okay?)

--"You may not possess or play computer and video games rated T, M or A or having elements of blood and gore, sensual or demonic themes, or featuring suggestive dress, bad language, or rock music." (Wow...I think they just covered the entire game market right there.)

--"Residence hall students may not watch videos above a G rating when visiting homes in town {DVD players aren't allowed in the dorms} and may not attend movie theatres. (Even Brigham Young University allows PG-13 movies, I believe...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, Adam.)


Wow...I'm finally beginning to see how people my age can believe in things that simply aren't true (and not believe in things that are obvious to anyone with half a brain). If everyone around you is telling you what to believe, then it'd be rather hard not to do so, especially if you have no other frame of reference.

Oddly enough, I'm actually finding myself somewhat tempted to apply. I've always had a morbid fascination with the uber-conservative sect, and it'd be an interesting chance to observe their lifestyle firsthand. I'm not sure I'd get in if I told the absolute truth (among the required questions on the application are "Have you ever consumed alcoholic beverages?", your father's mailing address, and three recommendations, one of which is supposed to be your pastor), but if I fudged it a bit I could probably get in. It'd be a bit of an experience, that's for sure - both to see if I could fit in, and to see if I could keep my sanity. I think I could do it, but with filtered computer use and regular room inspections (which I'm sure includes looking through students' belongings if they're not there) I wouldn't really have any sort of outlet. Though it would be kind of interesting if I were able to keep some sort of journal about it...the whole insiders' look, and all.

Ah, well. I can't really afford it anyway ($12,000+ for a year's tuition/board) but it's fun to think about.

Comments

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Wow. There's faith, and there's church, and then there's obsession. You know, any one of those rules (er, except the Abercrombie & Fitch) imposed on me would be rationale and motivation for an unbridled spree of civic disobedience and wanton chaos. You're right -- now I see how fundie-Borg survive in the Information Age.

I won't even bother sending it through the cult checklist, as that would just be a formality. Last time I used the checklist was when I was working at the student newspaper, and we printed the list as a reader service -- and then, upon taking it ourselves, we realized that the newspaper probably qualified as a cult, too. So I feel educated on the topic.

But do give a yell if you need a reference. I'm sure I've been ordained somewhere along the line.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Really? In what church, if I may ask?

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not sure. But I think I married someone. Or maybe that was a baptism. Stupid long-term memory holes.

(No, not really. Unless the Cult of the Almighty Newspaper counts. Sixth-largest daily in the state, we were. And I was adviser, which is kinda like the Pope, except for the hat. And I seem to have lost my Latin, so I can't even fall back on that. Rrr.)

I am still tempted to fill out one of those online ministry forms, if only so I can marry people at parties or on IM, which I don't think we have a law against in this state yet....

[vindaloo-vixen.livejournal.com]

Wow. I mean, the school (one of them, anyway) I went to wasn't this 'intense', but I'm sure they would have liked to be. They had a uniform rather than a dress code, but bugger me if it wasn't as trussed-up and strict as all get-out. (Even on the rare no-uniform days, you weren't allowed to wear any clothing with any logo or writing visible on it.)

[pulsdeslebens.livejournal.com]

What I find amusing is all of these prohibitions, including watching movies above a "G" rating and playing video games above a certain rating, but you can bring a gun to school. Wtf?

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing they have some sort of rifle team or marksmanship classes in their P.E. section. After all, being able to "protect" your God-fearing family by breaking the first commandment is a God-given right, nu?

[arison.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with Connie here; I wouldn't last a day. I'd either burst a lung laughing or get thrown out for trying to take over the school and/or break every rule as fast as I can.
I still got a good chuckle out of reading that, though. Danke.

[onyxrising.livejournal.com]

Portland has a university somewhat like that.
They just sent me an invitation to apply.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, I'm going to need a moment to snerk quietly in the corner...

Out of curiousity, did they address you as Mr. or Miss?

[onyxrising.livejournal.com]

Mr.
And they seem to have forgotten that I was *that* Mr. W. Last year my presence there caused quite a scandal. I was friends with one of their youth ministry majors. She began accompanying me to my doctor's appointments to make sure I got home safely.
Then she asked whether they were counting me as a boy or a girl for purposes of spending the nights on campus, largely to make them choose a position so she could see about her (trans) girlfriend staying, whom they did not yet know about.
Long story short, the nice young lady is now living with me, pagan, and pursuing a career as a seamstress or in the theatre. I am credited at that college with the spiritual downfall of a future minister, and have had it politely indicated by many a student that my corrupting influence is far from welcome.
Really, her paganism is due to a guy named Jeff. He's quite annoyed that I'm getting credit for his hard work.

P.S.

[onyxrising.livejournal.com]

It didn't help that I was typically accompanied by my roommate, a young man who bears the same last name as I do and developed a habit of wearing his tight glitter "I (heart) boys" tee-shirt every time we needed to go pick up the nice young lady.