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Glenn Beck, Paige Patterson to speak at Liberty University commencement

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by gb93433, Apr 30, 2010.

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  1. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) -- Two prominent conservative voices in the nation’s culture wars -- Fox News commentator Glenn Beck and Southern Baptist seminary president Paige Patterson -- will speak at Liberty University’s commencement exercises May 15, the school has announced.

    Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., said in a statement posted April 23 on the conservative school’s web site that Patterson also will speak at Liberty’s baccalaureate service May 14.

    “Liberty University is blessed to have two national conservative leaders speak at our 2010 commencement ceremony,” said Falwell, son of the late evangelist who founded the school.

    Beck’s lively syndicated programs on television and radio and his best-selling books have made him wildly popular among conservatives. In March he drew the ire of many Christians when he urged people to leave churches that preach social justice, which he said was a code word for communism and Nazism.

    Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, launched a successful drive in 1979 to shift the Southern Baptist Convention to the theological right. His name became synonymous with the movement, which largely accomplished its goals by 1990.

    “Dr. Patterson is one of the patriarchs of Christian higher education and Beck is one of the few courageous voices in the national media standing up for the principles upon which this nation was founded,” said Falwell in his web statement. “Both speakers continue Liberty’s long tradition of commencement speakers who are making a positive impact on society in all walks of life.”

    Beck’s selection as speaker sparked mixed reactions on Liberty’s Facebook page, the Lynchburg, Va., News & Advance reported April 29. The paper said most of the comments came from people who identified themselves as students and alumni, and while many praised Beck, others called him too polarizing. Some also questioned the choice of a Mormon to speak at a Baptist school.
    Falwell appeared to anticipate those criticisms in his web statement.
    “The baccalaureate ceremony always includes a gospel message brought by someone who is in complete theological alignment with the university,” he said. “Commencement, however, has always featured leaders from all walks of life and all faiths who share the university’s social values and traditional family values. Commencement speakers have included representatives from the following faiths: Roman Catholicism, Judaism, mainline Protestant denominations such as the Episcopal Church, and even some speakers with no religious affiliation at all.”
    Liberty University was founded in 1971 by the elder Falwell. When he died in 2007, his son assumed leadership of the school.


    Robert Dilday This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is managing editor of the Virginia Baptist Religious Herald.
     
    #1 gb93433, Apr 30, 2010
  2. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    I dislike Patterson almost as much as Beck.
     
    #2 jaigner, Apr 30, 2010
  3. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    I thought it strange that a Mormon would be invited to speak at a Christian University.
     
    #3 gb93433, Apr 30, 2010
  4. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    Odd indeed.

    Not a huge fan of Patterson either, but I've heard him do commencements and he's very good.
     
    #4 mcdirector, Apr 30, 2010
  5. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    I will be interested only to see how many times the word "inerrant" is used and if Beck breaks down and starts crying.
     
    #5 go2church, Apr 30, 2010
  6. Timsings

    Timsings Member
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    I dislike Patterson more than Beck.

    Tim Reynolds
     
    #6 Timsings, Apr 30, 2010
  7. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Actually, I think I do, too, but I was afraid I would get bashed if I said it.

    Forgive my lack of courage.
     
    #7 jaigner, Apr 30, 2010
  8. Timsings

    Timsings Member
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    I've been bashed here before and probably will be again. It doesn't hurt a bit. :smilewinkgrin:

    Tim Reynolds
     
    #8 Timsings, Apr 30, 2010
  9. Bob Alkire

    Bob Alkire New Member

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    I guess I'm one of the few who like Patterson, but I don't care for Beck, but both seem to be doing well no matter how I feel!
     
    #9 Bob Alkire, May 1, 2010
  10. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Agree as he has greatly harmed the cause of Christ in the USA.
     
    #10 Crabtownboy, May 1, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: May 1, 2010
  11. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    Isn't that the truth! I was telling my husband last night that Beck made this year's TIME list of the 100 most influential people in the WORLD! The World? Really? What have we come to . . .
     
    #11 mcdirector, May 1, 2010
  12. Peggy

    Peggy New Member

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    Why don't you like Beck? I think he's great and watch his show almost every day. He's like a voice crying out in the wilderness, speaking the truth that the mainstream media won't.
     
    #12 Peggy, May 1, 2010
  13. Cutter

    Cutter New Member

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    Many have said they dislike either one or both of these guys. What's wrong with allowing someone that may "not be liked" to speak at a graduation ceremony? Have we become so sensitive and narrow minded that we cannot listen to what other people have to say and reach our own conclusions? Liberty University could have chosen a lot worse than these two men. Just look at some of the other Universities choices in random years...Jerry Springer-Northwestern, J.K.Rowling-Harvard, Oprah Winfrey-Stanford, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Evergreen State College...
     
    #13 Cutter, May 1, 2010
  14. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I'm no fan of Beck's religion. You do have to wonder if he'll say something for shock value.
    And I have many others who are "favorite" preachers ahead of Patterson. That said, Liberty could do worse than Patterson. While I may not love Patterson, I do love the Jesus he preaches. :thumbsup:
     
    #14 TomVols, May 1, 2010
  15. Dale-c

    Dale-c Active Member

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    I don't know much about Patterson so I will not comment on him. I do however know a little bit more about Beck.

    Beck is fine while he is talking conservative politics.
    My only problem is with him speaking at the graduations of a Christian university.

    DO they not pray at that event?
    Do they claim to worship the same God as Beck?
     
    #15 Dale-c, May 1, 2010
  16. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    I think Beck's politics leave much to be desired and, obviously, I have great theological differences with him.

    Patterson is one of my least favorite's, although I thought it was funny when the SBC met in New Orleans a few years ago, and he was quoted as saying, "I'm gonna eat my way from one side of that city to the other."

    That all being said, there's nothing wrong with inviting dissenting opinions and hearing different perspectives. Engaging with different beliefs makes ours that more vital and refined.

    I also disagree with a lot of what Liberty and the Falwell family has stood for over the years, but we do serve the same Christ.
     
    #16 jaigner, May 1, 2010
  17. Mississippi John

    Mississippi John Member

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    Dumb & Dumber :BangHead:
     
    #17 Mississippi John, May 7, 2010
  18. dcorbett

    dcorbett Active Member
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    Falwell is looking down from Heaven, not happy about this at all.
     
    #18 dcorbett, May 7, 2010
  19. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Having a Mormon speak seems to go against everything that brings glory to God. Now all we have to do is to see how secularized some of those kinds of schools have become.

    When I graduated from seminary it was truly a worship service and experience rather than a political party.

    It sounds like Liberty is becoming what 1 Corinthians 12 teaches against.

    Currently they have the Caner controversy and are promoting Beck.
     
    #19 gb93433, May 7, 2010
  20. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Falwell was never happy about something. Why should it be any different now?
     
    #20 jaigner, May 7, 2010
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