Has anyone read Kevin Roose's book Unlikely Disciple:
A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University ? It details a liberal Quaker, firmly a "secularist", who decides to bridge the Jesus Gap by attending a semester at Liberty University.
His semester coincided with the shooting at VT and Falwell's death near the end of the semester.
For those of you who have read it, I would like to hear your reaction.
I've not read the book through, but got on Amazon and was able to read enough of it to get the gist, I think. My impression with what I read was how dishonest the young man had to be to go "undercover" at a Christian U. Reading most of the Afterward, I think he realized that. When he was finally able to tell his friends at Liberty what he had done, he was relieved not to be excoriated, having expected to be. That was the sign of a guilty conscience to me.
If you read the book, there was very little out-and-out lying on his part.
When asked why he would leave Brown University--which he seems to be unaware was founded by a Baptist--he said he wanted to see what a Christian college was like--which was technically true.
He only gives us the first sentence of his application essay, but he never claims to be a believer.
He just conducted himself as the others did to fit in.
I found the book fascinating. I had expected it to be a slam piece, but I think it gives a pretty fair treatment of evenagelical students.
If you have a nook, I can lend it to you for free, if you'd like.
I've never been to Liberty or applied there, but most evangelical schools require you to at least check a box on the application saying you are a believer. But maybe Liberty allows non-Christians.
I appreciate the offer, but I don't think they have "nook" here in Japan. Not sure what it is, actually! :smilewinkgrin:
I graduated from Liberty....I honestly don't remember about the "box checking" but I know you are required to take several classes that center
around or end with the Plan of Salvation, so I don't think they want you to escape without a knowledge of the saving grace of God.
I heard this guy on a talk radio show... may Michael Medved or Dennis Prager's show.
I too thought it was very interesting.
I didn't get the sense that he was being dishonest or deceitful at all.
Um, he went a whole semester undercover (or was it a year?) with none of his friends knowing he was not really a believer. They were all surprised when he told them that after returning to his secular college.
Unlikely Disciple is an interesting title.
Were the Apostles likely disciples.
Lots of folks, I suppose would say that Paul was an unlikely disciple because of the change in his behavior when he met Jesus.
But I will always think of Timothy as "the unlikely disciple."
One other point, perhaps closer to the topic, we should not judge the unsaved by God's standards, but judge ourselves by Christ's standards.