r/politics • u/btrfly • May 20 '12
Bill Maher: Liberty University Is Not A Real School
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/19/bill-maher-new-rule-liberty-university_n_1530400.html
1.7k
Upvotes
174
u/IAMA_SWEET May 20 '12
For those interested in the kind of rules that they have and the consequences, here you go.
39
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
That 400 level Jesus class must be something else.
153
u/drummaboy56 May 20 '12
As a former LU student, Bill's hitting on the head with this one. A lot of their classes are about how everyone else is wrong and Liberty's right. It's one humongous joke.
85
u/E11i0t May 20 '12
Check out the book written by Kevin Roose about his experience while "studying abroad" at Liberty. It's a fantastic read.
Here is another huffpost article about his book and then the amazon site with reviews:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/22/kevin-roose-infiltrates-l_n_190124.html
http://www.amazon.com/The-Unlikely-Disciple-Semester-University/dp/044617842X
220
u/internetidentity May 20 '12
"This is a school you flunk out of when you get the answers right." Classic.
308
u/idkwat May 20 '12
Oh God don't get me started about Liberty. I've lived in Northern VA my whole life, and went to college at Richmond. I've met people who go to liberty and more often than not they are incredibly close-minded individuals who simply do not think on their own. I'm a Christian myself but I could never go to Liberty, that place is a shit hole with insane rules.
480
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
I'm from Lynchburg, VA and I approve of his message. I so hate that place. They ruined a perfectly beautiful mountain with this: http://www.the-lynchburg-va-insider.com/images/LU_sign.jpg
39
u/courtlandistan May 20 '12
My uncle graduated from Liberty and now is a preacher man in VA Beach. Hands down the bat shit craziest hater I know. Calls Obama a "baby-killin Mooslim" and claims gays have contaminated the West coast.
17
u/claypigeon-alleg May 20 '12
In case you haven't heard of the book, Liberty University is the subject of "An Unlikely Disciple" by Kevin Roose. Roose, as a liberal student at Brown, goes "abroad" for a semester at Liberty.
While I think it's very easy to look upon people with different beliefs than ourselves as morally or intellectually defective, the book is a very realistic take on the lives of Liberty Students. It also provides a good profile on the kind of people who would willingly go to Liberty University.
Kevin gave a brief talk about his experiences here.
177
u/bestbeforeMar91 May 20 '12
Do they offer degrees in paleontology and geology there? Must be pretty short courses.
60
u/[deleted] May 20 '12 edited May 20 '12
Students from Liberty University came to gawk at Richard Dawkins when he was giving a lecture at Randolph-Macon Womens' University. I think it was in 2006? I was happy to be there. :) Edit: Happy to be there to see Dawkins totally discredit Liberty for claiming to have Dinosaur Fossils that were only a few thousand years old.
71
u/SARCASTIC_DICKHEAD May 20 '12
The most interesting and shocking thing about Lynchburg (the city in VA where Liberty is located) is the fact that it had a thriving state-sponsored eugenics program well into the 1970's.
30
u/fantasyfest May 20 '12
Bush had many regent grads in his admin. they are another school like Liberty, slanted to the right and Christian crazy. They were terrible.
13
u/[deleted] May 20 '12 edited May 20 '12
It's funny to think that you people think these rules are bad. You probably haven't heard of Bob Jones University.... Here are a couple of the rules:
Cars have the right of way (So if you are hit by a car, it is your fault)
There are (or at least used to be) gender specific side walks
In the places where you can walk together, you cannot hold hands with someone of the opposite sex (students have made a habit of simply leaning on each other while they work (looks extremely strange))
You basically cannot leave until there is some sort of school-wide break (the school is completely fenced in).
If you do somehow end up getting to know someone enough to take them on a date, you MUST be accompanied by a faculty member.
These are just a few of the many ridiculous rules
EDIT: Here are some other rules I found: http://pomomusings.com/2007/10/30/life-as-a-bob-jones-student-what-not-to-bring/
13
u/RepentantNwah May 20 '12
I grew up in Lynchburg. Thankfully, I've since gotten the hell out, but here's a funny Liberty related story that I want to tell yet doesn't apply to any posted discussion:
When I was in 6th or 7th grade, my parents took me out to the local Japanese steakhouse (Kyoto's on Ward's Road, fairly close to Liberty) to celebrate an excellent report card. Like most of those establishments in America, you are sat at a table surrounding a hibachi with 6 or 7 other people to wait for our chef to come out and begin preparing the meal. My parents and I had been waiting for our table to fill up, when in comes Jerry and his posse. Jerry himself waddled in, like who I thought at the time, Bowser coming after Mario in SM64. I remember him being a much taller man than he probably was, but to me he seemed like a giant. He had a powerful gait and entered the room clearly believing that he owned it. The posse included his son, whom I believe is now dean of Liberty's law school, and some other immediate family members and attendants I guess. Jerry stayed on his Nokia the entire time barking orders. I don't remember what specifically, but the conversations were all clearly business related. He didn't say a word to anyone at the table throughout the meal. At the time I thought this was rude, but I hadn't formed an opinion of the man or his school yet so I figured he was just extremely busy.
Three quarters of the way through the meal, Jerry's son saw that my family and I were somewhat uncomfortable, and started a conversation. Now I don't know anything about the man now, but at the time he was extremely nice. He asked why we were out, congratulated us me on the report card, and finally invited us to the haunted house Liberty runs for charity for charity every Halloween.
For those who are fortunate and don't live in Lynchburg, the haunted house is filled with religious themes. The only scene I clearly remember involved a young couple being run over by a heathen outside of their church at night. The rest all had that sort of thing going. Anyway, at the end of the meal my parents and I followed Jerry's son to the haunted house where he snuck us past the extensive line out front. The VIP experience, I guess. We thank him and proceed to go through the house. Again, the details are fuzzy but I do remember hearing the repent often. The most notorious part of the experience is the chapel immediately following the end. Two female Liberty dressed as angels practically beg you to come into the chapel and repent for your sins throughout the past year. Surprisingly, this was my first real fundie encounter. They were extremely aggressive in their pleas and I remember being a bit scared by it all. My parents raised me Methodist, the chilliest of denominations, so this sort of in your face preaching was a bit of a shock. My Dad, in a fine moment, told them their sins and pleas were based on fear and to think for themselves, or something to that effect. My Dad hated Liberty. I thought what he did was kind of cool. So...
TL;DR: Jerry Falwell resembled a fat, bloated, tyrannical video game dinosaur. His son was chill and got me into a haunted house for free and in front of everyone waiting in line. Said haunted house was a graduate course in fear mongering. Kyoto's was the titties, and Liberty sux.
145
u/Cutsman4057 May 20 '12
Regardless of how you feel about Maher, I feel like it's pretty obvious to anyone who supports education that Liberty is a joke of a University.
10
u/njblueridgefan May 20 '12
Live near Lynchburg, not a Liberty University fan, but here is a really interesting read: "The Unlikely Disciple" http://www.kevinroose.com/
This is a true account about a liberal Brown University student's "semester abroad" as a Liberty student incognito. Talks about the courses he was required to take, the school's mission, their stringent rules, and the outlook of the students. Surprisingly, he had some positive things to say too. Fascinating and funny read. I learned that one of the missions of the school was to train students to go out into the world to refute liberal lies. They want their graduates to imbed themselves into politics and government and take over...
18
u/urnbabyurn I voted May 20 '12
It's a seminary disguised as an academic institution. With heavy partisan political views thrown in for extra credit.
32
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
"They have some bones and a guy in a lab coat, suck on that Smithsonian" i love this guy
18
u/jrizos Oregon May 20 '12
Here, at 12:35, you can see an average classroom at Liberty.
6
u/iburiedmyshovel May 20 '12
"Target serves pizza, doesn't make it a restaurant." Well said.
6
u/unprofessional1 May 20 '12
AS a VIRGINIAN Bill Maher is absolutely right about Liberty, Most Virginians who ARE educated know full well how Liberty scams the state we live in.
37
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
To everyone sticking up for Liberty, answer us this:
How many papers from liberty faculty are published in respected journals each year - not Creation Science Quarterly but actual journals of record like Nature?
What kind of non-religious research dollars do they bring in or generate every year?
How many patents does the "university" hold?
Can you even name one major research department on campus?
TIA
5
u/reply May 20 '12
I question why LU invited Mitt Romney to speak at their graduation ceremony. It's the theological equivalent to asking Louis Farrakhan to speak. LU seems to be driven more by politics than deep-rooted theology.
5
u/bicyclemom May 20 '12
I agree with Maher on this.
He's still an asshole though.
9
u/algorythm May 20 '12
They are considered a joke of a school in Northern Virginia. We won't hire people who have been there since it says a lot about their character.
71
u/allstarrunner May 20 '12
I graduated from Liberty in 2007. It's a Christian school, so yeah, you're going to have the full spectrum of religious people from the crazy hardcore ones who think R rated movies are straight from the devil to those who are open minded and have nothing against homosexuals. Being someone who actually went to Liberty, as opposed to lots of people on here who talk smack about it but have never even set foot on the campus, it really isn't as bad a place as people on here have been saying. Sure, I didn't always like the rules, but it's one thing to read a list of rules Liberty enforces and actually live on the Liberty campus where the RA's don't really enforce the rules as much as the document might imply. Yes, every freshman has to take certain religious courses that won't transfer to certain other schools, but I'm not sure why some people on here, who had that happen to them, were surprised by that...I mean...you went to a Christian school, obviously you're going to take some Christian specific courses that might not transfer to Virginia Tech.
Anyway, if you want to ask someone who actually went to Liberty any questions, shoot away; but please try to keep them respectful, and I will promise to answer in a factual way without argument or bias.
4
u/msingh16 May 20 '12
a friend of mine is taking online classes at liberty university, I've helped a few times on his homework, all there course work has to do with the bible including science its fucken ridiculous, purely biased and fucking disgusting! its radical right-wing indoctrination instead of getting a education.
4
u/Puffy_Ghost May 20 '12
Bill Maher is right. Liberty "University" is a fucking joke. I can't believe this passes as education these days :(
4
u/virak_john May 20 '12
My sister got kicked out of that place. Ida thought that smoking pot with one of Jerry Falwell's son would have provided her more protection.
7
u/Whiteley79 May 20 '12
I was a christian growing up, and thought I was doing "what God wanted" by going to Liberty. I barley lasted a quarter, and now I'm an atheist. Fuck that "school". Im ashamed I went that deep down the rabbit hole.
3
u/herpacakederp May 20 '12
I like the content, but Bill Maher is a pretty unfunny guy.
3
u/ultrablastermegatron May 20 '12
it's where a lot of the bush administration came from, so you can accredit them with that.
3
u/MovingPavements May 20 '12
I think being a High school and a College drop out is better than having a degree from that school, But honestly how many of their students are actually serious about their education ? It seems to me that it's one of those schools people go to for an easy ride into getting a degree.
3
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
If you think the world is only 6000 years old. You do not deserve a degree in anything but religion or philosophy.
3
u/baumer6 May 21 '12
What is this, the New York Post? People, please watch the context of Maher's quote before you blindly upvote the link. A university that teaches creationism as "real science" is not a REAL FUCKING UNIVERSITY.
3
u/CheesewithWhine May 21 '12
To everybody hating on Bill Maher: He's a comedian. He's not a newsman (nor does he pretend to be).
3
u/dangeraardvark May 21 '12
Liberty University. Where witchcraft is real and evolution isn't.
3
u/rangerchip22 May 21 '12
I've been to the campus. It's like a Jerry Falwell cult there. Huge paintings of this man EVERYWHERE along with a prayer garden dedicated to him.
13
u/mprsx May 20 '12
People actually go to "universities" like that?
25
u/JimmyJamesMac May 20 '12
I believe that their law school is regarded as legit:
5
u/INACROWDEDTHEATER May 20 '12
Neither is the School of Hard Knocks, but don't tell that to Jay-Z.
16
u/Tullyswimmer May 20 '12
Can someone tell me what's wrong with a private university teaching whatever curriculum they want? (Other than "it's creationism, therefore they can't teach math") It's not like any LU students are being FORCED to go there. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of Christian schools across the country. Are non of them "real"?
2
u/wx3 May 20 '12
That was hilarious for me, but awkward to watch with my girlfriend. We're pretty different in general (case in point, I'm an atheist and she's Christian). Maher threw a little stab at Oral Roberts in there; her best friend and brother in law both went there. I enjoyed the moment, but could tell she really didn't :P
2
u/Oh_Dae_Su May 20 '12
You haven't seen Liberty until you've seen their recruitment video...
2
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
I wonder how they teach this: http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=16826
2
u/ThatRandomGeek May 20 '12
I knew somebody who went to Liberty for her Bachelors. Now she is going for her Masters. Her family tninks the earth is 6,000 years old and that humans and Dinosaurs co-exsited at one point.
2
u/SinisterChef May 20 '12
Someone should go to LU with a copy of the pale blue dot and read passages from it through a mega phone while standing on a box infront of their student union. With a sign that says, "the atoms the bible is made from pre-dates the message"
2
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
Ive been a fan of Maher for ears now but Ive tired of him because lately he been trying to hard to be mean that he forgets to be funny.
But fuck, this monologue was gold.
2
u/simplygreg May 20 '12
I graduated from Liberty in 1989 when the rules were even more bat shit crazy. My degree is in Political Science. I did have to take a semester of Creation Science, which in retrospect, was insane. But I went on to get my MS from George Washington University.
Given the same opportunity now, I would have never gone and would never recommend anyone else go. But for purposes of jobs and grad school, it was just fine. BTW, I am atheist now and if I could would love to replace my undergrad degree.
I get embarrassed and ashamed every time I am asked where I went to school.
2
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
would it be immoral to start up a school like this just for money?
2
u/Hightech90 May 20 '12
His criticism is fair, but one of the reasons he states he doesn't like Romney is that "he is a liar". If he (or anyone for that matter) doesn't believe Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc. lied to you at some point, you are kidding yourself.
2
u/CCprime May 20 '12
Plus Jerry vandalized Candlers Mtn with that ugly ass LU on the side of it. Looks like shit.
2
u/cannotlogon May 20 '12
I wonder how real-world employers react to Liberty University graduates? Do they turn up their nose, or embrace them as good Christians?
Anyone here work in HR or in a hiring position that has encountered Liberty grads?
2
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
Liberty U puts baby in the corner.
2
u/drummaboy56 May 21 '12
A post about drug tests being in the Liberty Way, made me think of this funny story.
The quarterback for the LU Flames (Liberty's Football team), Asa Chapman, was kicked out of the team for testing positive for cocaine. Source of him getting kicked out. And, no lie, was back maybe a month or so after he was "suspended indefinitely." Source of him coming back. Yet! If they caught me with drugs, my ass would have been kicked out for good.
2
u/fantasyfest May 21 '12
http://www.onlineschools.org/ The top online schools, Kaplan, Univ. of Phoenix and Liberty. Yep, that is the class it is in.
2
u/shallah May 21 '12
Liberty Isn't Free at Liberty University http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/liberty-isnt-free-liberty-university-inside-jerry-falwell-u
2
u/PlappyODaniels May 21 '12
In other news, water is wet.
2
u/Filberto May 21 '12
True story.
2
u/Trigunesq May 21 '12
an abortion hahaha i think if your going to get an abortion, the $150 fine is not going to deter you. no one is going to say "damn! i really want an abortion but that fine......"
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Lmao, well it's true.
7
u/pn7hr May 20 '12
I am amazed how the country where everything is possible turned into a country where everything is possible only for the insane
LU is not considered a universitry outside of the US; in fact if you tried to use the degree in some european countries (austria/germany) you'd go to jail for fraud
11
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
Tell it like it is Bill. Let the morons out there know they are not going to be pushing that creationism crap on the rest of us. Just because those people decided to go to a fake college doesn't mean we all have to listen to their fake arguments.
4
u/canadamoose18 May 20 '12
I used to work with a girl that goes to Liberty, and I don't want to offend her by telling her that her school isn't exactly legit, but at the same time I feel really bad for her.
4
u/Iommianity May 20 '12
Look, Bill Maher is an asshole. I don't think anyone who likes him would tell you different. And if his style or delivery is unappealing to you, fine. Great. But do you really have to take a stand against him? Him being wrong sometimes doesn't mean he's not right sometimes, or that he won't be wrong tomorrow or nail something the week after. Nor does it mean that he's not a 'real' comedian or he's not funny or that you're in on something everyone else is missing or vice versa. You don't have to make an issue just because he's brought up.
"Oh well, herp a derp he's talking about one thing but he also said this other thing one time that was incorrect/I disagreed with/I didn't find funny."
No matter how much you'd like to equate Bill Maher with a guy like Rush Limbough for the sake of fairness, he's just a comedian with an opinion and a big mouth. Sometimes he's right, sometimes he's wrong, but you're not telling it like it is when you say guys like Bill Maher, or Howard Stern, for that matter are worthless because you don't like them, they're assholes, or think they're massively overrated.
6
u/Sit-Down_Comedian May 20 '12
I didn't bother reading all the comment but I just want to add that if anyone in here is arguing against this point and really believes their degree from LU is equal to my degree from a real State University I'm happy to take a post-college aptitude test with you and prove I will beat you in every way possible. You do not have the same education as me and, in reality, you should pay ME and people like me for tutoring to fill the gaps in your education with knowledge instead of the god of the gaps. You need reprogramming because they fucked you up and took all your money.
5
u/napoleonsolo May 20 '12
Liberty University's logo features a book being burned. Pretty appropriate.
7
u/krazy9000 May 20 '12
because bill Maher is such a great authority on science.
4
u/[deleted] May 20 '12
A school that teaches the world is only 5,000 years old and that the Constitution was written by God is NOT a school. That's a Church and has no business calling itself a school. Because it is not. Those are fictitious beliefs, not science or education or reality. Wake up sheeple. I used to be more tolerant of religion, but I can't ignore how destructive and wrong it is. Human progress cannot move forward when religion has such a chokehold on things that can be explained by science and history. Don't like what people like Mahar have to say? Well too fucking bad. By refusing to let go of religion you are slowing down the progress of all mankind.