University Options
I was interested to read tonight of a new higher education option for those in the USA. Doug Phillips reported on College Plus!. This program allows students to complete degrees faster, with less expense, and through a mentoring system. I look forward to many more such initiatives being put forward in future. I spent over four years at university completing a degree that I was never sure I should even have started. These were not happy years, as content of the courses and the lifestyle on campus were discouraging and confronting. I wrote about some of this in the post I came to the end. This is one excerpt from that post:Without faith, people soon find more and more ways to justify unbelief and to scorn God. They trust in their own wickedness, and see man as the centre of history and thought. The idea that ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me’ (Isaiah 47:10) is a blasphemous twist of the truth that “I am the LORD, and there is no other’ (Isaiah 45:6).
It was a relief to come to the end of my BA. I still wonder about the usefulness of the time spent upon it. In the coming years, I hope that Christians across the world will increasingly embrace alternatives to an "education" that opposes Christ. There are better ways to spend one's time, and better ways to reach people for Christ. We just need to find them.
Yes this is a nice option. I actually got my BS at a private Christian college in upstate NY (roberts wesleyan college, rochester). It was a wonderful experience and they help to keep the cost of college affordable for the average family. I would say at the time I was there (1978-1982) that 90% of the student body were born again Christians and all of the faculty to my knowledge were Christians. The basic doctrine was from the Free Methodist church, but they accepted students from all denominations, non-denominational churches. We learned through our professors and weekly chapels to use our careers as unto the Lord. They not only prepared me academically but emotionally and spiritually. They viewed the work force as a missions field in a sense. I highly recommend this college especially if one is interested in Ministry, Missions, Nursing, Education or Music. (i then went on to earn my MS at a state university as they could offer me a free tuition plan (i earned a fellowship) but wow....what a difference going to a secular university from coming out of a Christian one! I praise God that my faith was strong at that point...there was sure alot of humanism there!
I wonder some about mine too. Sharpening my mind was immeasurably important certainly, but I wonder about how I went about it. In the past year I've discovered an option I wish I would've known of and been able to pursue, which is written of here http://www.nytimes.com/2007/
09/30/magazine/30Christian-t.html and here http://www.nsa.edu/
No dorms, more affordable education, no being stuffed with humanism or feminism, gaining a much more discerning Biblical worldview instead, a set-up that tries to encourage college students to be part of a broader community rather than just a student one. . . sounds so much better than my college experience!!! Not to mention, I think it'd be wonderful to live with people from one of the churches, as some do. I had trouble living right in the midst of all that I did, sometimes for long periods of time feeling like I didn't have anybody else right there for any support, rebuking, or other sharpening.
My English classes were too much like yours. I remember a teacher talking of a bunch of alleged sexual allusions in Shakespeare (I'm not sure if I should think she was reading way too much into the text or not), a poem a male poetry professor read about a woman's hips and another about a woman's body processes. . . having to write my final poetry paper on a poem about two young people in the back of a car.... Ugh. I'm so glad that once this ends soon (as my actual classes have), I will have more choice over what I study and how!!!
Hello Faith & Lindsy,
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I haven't heard of Roberts Wesleyan College, Faith . . . thanks for sharing your positive experiences there. Do you know if it is still a positive place spiritually? Do you keep in touch much?
Thanks for the links, Lindsy . . . fascinating! I have heard of New St. Andrews because friends are great fans of Douglas Wilson and co. It was very interesting to read about the College because I had already heard some things about it in passing. I agree that it sounds like it would be a great place to be . . . although I don't know any Latin!
Would you believe that I still haven't received the other writing you want to pass onto me about hospitality! I checked my email and it is not there . . . did you change the AT to @ in sherrindrewATgmail.com? I am sure you would have, but that is the only reason I could think of that it might not work. I am very sorry that I am having so much trouble accessing this when you have so kindly recommended it to me!
No need to apologize. And the e-mail not arriving was from a mistake on my part. For some reason I typed "@blogspot" rather than "@Gmail" in the address. I hope the writing is worth the wait.
HI Sherrin: yes Roberts Wesleyan College continues to be a very positive place, both academically, socially and spiritually. Most of the student body are born again Christians. There are no co-ed dorms or apts. (they do offer housing for married couples). It has really grown since i attended. When I was there, the student body was about 800 people. I believe the latest numbers are more like 1500 people on campus. they have a very strong nursing, ministry, and music education program. If you google the name of the college it should lead you to their website. I just don't know it off hand.