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Daniel Coski Ms. Young English Comp I 24 October 2013 The Problem of Liberty Education Liberty University is a well renowned school for its strict policies and focus on evangelical Christian beliefs. This focus on belief creates a problem. In Kevin Rooses book, he mentions that even though Liberty is an evangelical Christian school it teaches evolution. However, almost immediately after this Liberty begins its courses in the teaching of creationism. Inn this course, Liberty teaches the student that what they have been learning about evolution is wrong and that those who believe in evolution are foolish. The truth, however, is far from the beliefs of Libertys educational system. In the working world many of the topics learned at liberty like creationism have little value in the work place. Most companies keep work and faith on two different plains. Religion is set aside in order to complete the job. Even teachers at liberty know what this is like. One of the Professors is a scientist, who uses conventional science when he is conducting research, but then after he gets his results he turns around and tries to explain his findings through a Christian view even if the results of his research completely contradict the beliefs of his faith (Roose 247). I believe that such views are a hindrance to performance in the professional world. Some may say that liberty does more than just teach their students about religion. That Liberty is a safe place. A place that teaches more important personal characteristics such as

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honesty and morality, and some of this is true. Liberty does teach many good moral characteristics that are lacking in the secular world, such as the importance of discipline and structure. These ideals are important, but Liberty also teaches many beliefs that most of society finds regressive and even offensive. For example, there is a course at liberty called, The Christian Woman, described in Libertys course catalog as A study of Gods Words as it specifically relates to women today and Gods plan and purpose for them in every sphere of life as women, wives, homemakers, and mothers (Roose 207). This course teaches young college women how to be a good house wife, and that the man is the head of the household. Many women in the work place see this as a step backwards in the rights of women. It may have been the accepted ideal fifty years ago, but now it is outdated. The belief that women are meant to be house wives or homemakers sets up the unrealistic idea that there is no need for a women to work in society. It creates a belief that the man of the house will always be there, supporting his wife. This belief is unrealistic because the world is not perfect. What happens if the wife and husband get a divorce? And what happens if the family had several children? This is when the true problem comes marching through the door. The wife who was taught that her only role was to be a house wife will have her world shattered. That wife would struggle to find a way to support herself and possibly her children when she has little experience in the professional world due to the ideals taught to her at Liberty University. The professional world is extremely demanding, and very competitive. It is important that a student at a university learns how to think critically. Students need to be able to think for themselves. However, Liberty believes that too much education can be dangerous. Liberty University tries to walk a tightrope when it comes to what their students learn in class. The school wants to create functioning independent members of society, but they do not want to

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instill the belief that the world can be questioned. One of Libertys campus pastors made this fact abundantly clear when he stated I just want to say this, Liberty students. My biggest worry about you, about all of you, is that youll become educated beyond your obedience (Roose 248). The professional world does not desire individuals who dont think for themselves. Liberty students however are taught to the point of understanding, but not to the point where they can function on their own without guidance. Kevin Roose describes this concept well. Liberty is a place where professors arent allowed to take chances with their course material. Its a place where academic rigor is sacrificed on the altar of uninterrupted piety, where the skills of exploration, deconstruction, and doubt all of which should be present at an institution that bills itself as a liberal arts collegeare systematically silenced in favor of presenting a clear, unambiguous political and spiritual agenda. (Roose 248) Exploration, deconstruction, and doubt are all concepts that define critical thinking. Many Liberty grads will have trouble completing tasks that require them to think outside the box, creating a greater challenge when competing in the professional world. This, in turn, can lead to a possible failure to compete with students from other colleges who were taught that critical thinking is very important. Without this skill grads from Liberty are a step behind other graduates from secular universities. Secular University students also have the advantage of knowing a little bit on how the professional world operates. They know that it will be difficult to earn a decent wage, and that every individual has different beliefs and morals. Most people are not heathens. They do not live for the sole purpose of sinning. They do not fit the mold cast by the educators and pastors of

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Liberty University. Liberty students going anywhere outside Lynchburgs city limits will soon find their whole cosmology shaken (Roose 271). The belief taught to Liberty students that the world outside the Evangelical Christian faith is immoral and sinful may cause graduates to hide their faith. Students may find it difficult to cope with these drastic contradictions when leaving behind the comfort of a college life dictated by rules and beliefs. The professional world would be a confusing place for a Liberty student. This confusion can lead to failure if a student cannot change the way they behave accordingly. Going around telling all of your non-evangelical coworkers that they are going to hell is only going to light fires and possibly even get you fired. The professional world contains many contradictions that may clash with the beliefs of Liberty students, making fitting in more difficult. The beliefs taught to students at Liberty University regularly clash with the reality of the professional world. If a Liberty student in not able to adapt to the ways in which the workplace functions then the student will have a hard time competing and succeeding in the professional world.

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Work Cited Roose, Kevin. The Unlikely Disciple. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009. Print.