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No Compromise in Public Colleges
By Tim | October 14, 2007
I am finally getting a chance to go back to school, and had my first experience with the crap that a lot of public colleges subject students to in the name of critical thinking. Our class was given an assignment to watch the movie “Crash” and post a few questions regarding opinions of the movie in one way or another. I thought this would be a fun project considering I would get to sit around and watch a movie, and it would count as points toward the grade in this class. Oh, was I in for a big surprise. I didn’t get 15 minutes into the movie before I was convicted to not watch it, and to take a stand for my faith. I couldn’t believe the language; F-this and that, and terrible in-depth curses, in addition to the intolerable vain use of my Lord’s name. The combination of all this made my decision to not watch anymore, an easy one. I told my teacher I was unwilling to watch the movie, and asked if I could read an outline of the movie to answer any discussion questions for it. This is the email I sent him:
Professor,
I would like to inform you that unfortunately I am unwilling to watch “Crash”. I am a Christian and I am deeply offended when my Lord’s name is taken in vain. I watched the first ten minutes and cringed at the obsessive “F”-this, and the overall foul language. I have a 2-year old son and I don’t feel that I can be a good model to him by watching and digesting that kind of language and vain use of my Lord’s name. I can read a general overview of the movie and answer any discussion question from that if you would like.
Unfortunately, I would not be reading an outline and answering any discussion postings on “Crash”. His reply:
Hello,
I understand your position, even though I think that in a college class that fosters critical thinking and explores a variety of cultural contexts, sometimes a little bit of flexibility is necessary. The movie was selected was particalur learning outcomes in mind and ties right into the readings from our book. Nevertheless, instead of watching the movie, I would like you to write a two-page essay explaining your position and what motivated you not watch certain movies, or listen to certain kinds of music, etc. Writing a two-page essay should take as long as watching the movie and posting a couple of replies. Please let me know if this is acceptable.
I really like this “sometimes a little bit of flexibility is necessary”. Just like the world to think that. We have a few good Christian t-shirts that address things like this, specifically one called Brain Washed Christian T-Shirt. Illustrates this overall situation just perfectly. Compromise here; compromise there, little flexibility here and there, all in the name of exploration and understanding. Don’t think so. Keith Green wrote an awesome book called “NO COMPROMISE” and that is how I feel about that.
College Persecution, No compromise in College, Vain Use
Topics: No Compromise Christianity |
October 16th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hi Tim I chanced across your blog thru a google newss alert on Christian persecution. It’s facinating to me how professors stress “critical thinking” & “flexibility” while being so deeply immovable in thier own non-thinking moral and anti-Christian positions. My wife susan returned to college last year and heard her professor in an Art History course say that despite what our president thinks, “Islam is a religion of peace.” My wife could not remain silent. She asked, “Have you ever read the Koran?” Answeer, “No.” She asked, “Have you ever lived in a Muslim country. Answer, “No.” My wife contniued, “Well I have and what you are telling these students are lies.” She went on to talk about our experience of living in the Middle East for 5.5 years and how we now work for a human rights group International Christian Concern, (www.persecution.org) and all the persecution & killling Muslims do to “infidels” like Christians and feminists like the professor. Sue asked if the professor would like to watch a BBC produced documentary on the treatment of women in Pakistan and the woman said, “I don’t have time for that.”
My guess is that your professor really can’t handle the fact that you actually employ “critical thinking.” But don’t give up, fight the good fight, press on for the prize. This wolrd was never meant to be heaven so its no surprise that our teachers are fools. Sorry to be so harsh toward the professor but its time for all Christians to get Jesus off the dashboard and the backburner and put Him in the classroom, the boardroom, and wherever else people say they are teaching “truth.” He who stands for nothing will fall for anything. I hope my thoughts are helpful to your readers. keep up the good work.
Denny Barger
October 18th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Denny,
Thanks for taking the time to post, and I appreciate you insight. I agree with your statements very much, and find your line of work very eternally rewarding. Might not be much now, but you will definately have a collection of rewards in heaven. Actually, I can’t even really label what happened to me “Persecution”, compared to what you have seen, and probably been though. Again, thanks for the comment; It was encouraging!
Tim