Al jazeera: How the 'fortress of fundamentalism' handles sexual assault
I read this with mixed emotions. I’m glad to think about injustices (if true) being exposed, and yet another part of me thinks, “Tell it not in Gath.”
But Gath hath its own press, and there’s no sense in hiding from it. I hope the GRACE process will help BJU and its constituents sort through this muddied mess.
M. Scott Bashoor Happy Slave of Christ
There’s nothing new in this poorly researched Aljazeera article. All of it is a very dated rehash of claims and allegations that have peppered the anti-BJU/anti-IFB pages, blogs and sites for the last two years. The same names - the same allegations - even the pictures used are old. In some cases, very old.
This is more about Aljazeera America trying to build some type of an audience after purchasing Al Gore’s failed “Current TV”.
Personally, I am not familiar with the “Bob Jones University” featured in this article, even though I was at BJU as a student, grad student and, for a time, a member of the faculty. Not one time did I ever hear, see or experience anything remotely similar to the alleged events mentioned by the Aljazeera reporter. Were I a poker playing Christian, I would wager that my experience would be the common one - well in the vast majority.
It is true that BJU has had its share of problems - racial policies and political positions - both of which I believe were huge mistakes. But rampant sexual abuse as mentioned in this article? No. I don’t know of any BJU employee who would have ever tolerated such a thing.
There are agendas out there that believe they would benefit from discrediting and closing BJU (and other similar institutions). And that’s what we see at work here. This has nothing whatsoever to do with sexual abuse or abuse of any kind. This is nothing but a few (very few) people who feel their individual lives will only have meaning if they succeed in diminishing and closing places like BJU.
There are agendas out there that believe they would benefit from discrediting and closing BJU (and other similar institutions). And that’s what we see at work here.
Yes, it does appear to be a broader agenda than just anti-BJU. They seem to be attempting to discredit all of fundamentalism which is why their headline referred to BJU as “the (emphasis mine) fortress of fundamentalism. “
This article is part of an ongoing series of articles on Sex Crimes on Campus. There were stories on the NCAA, false accusations, LGBT, ‘rape culture, etc. I don’t think Al Jazeera is unfairly targeting BJU. I think the old photos are how many people view that kind of school – a throwback to the 50s. And it’s not like BJU doesn’t revel in the old-timey aspects once in a while either. I think the tagline really sums up why the story is put in with all the rest – “Sexual assault isn’t talked about at Bob Jones University. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.” This story could just as well be about many other private Christian schools, and if you scroll through the comments, you’ll see it rang true with some people at PCC & Cedarville.
[Easton]There’s nothing new in this poorly researched Aljazeera article. All of it is a very dated rehash of claims and allegations that have peppered the anti-BJU/anti-IFB pages, blogs and sites for the last two years. The same names - the same allegations - even the pictures used are old. In some cases, very old.
This is more about Aljazeera America trying to build some type of an audience after purchasing Al Gore’s failed “Current TV”.
Actually, I thought the same thing, and was wondering how DRBJU managed to take over Al-Jazeera America.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[ChrisC]There were stories on the NCAA, false accusations, LGBT, ‘rape culture, etc. I don’t think Al Jazeera is unfairly targeting BJU. … This story could just as well be about many other private Christian schools, and if you scroll through the comments, you’ll see it rang true with some people at PCC & Cedarville.
First of all, it wasn’t about other private Christian schools - it was about Bob Jones University, it’s faculty, staff and students. You demonstrate a profound ignorance or, at the very least, naiveté if you think this is an innocent story exploring some problem at BJU. The “problem” is non-existent. The alleged “abuse” is just a means to an end.
The anti-BJU crowd that screams the loudest consists of three categories of people: 1) dominant, vocal females who misunderstand and feel slighted by Biblical passages that call for their “submission”, 2) effeminate, weak males (usually married to category #1) and, 3) militant homosexuals (homosexuals who don’t want you to be just “tolerant”, they demand (by force if necessary) that you agree with them and accept them in all aspects.)
These people collectively screamed for and demanded some independent accountability, so BJU invites G.R.A.C.E. to investigate the University and the Academy. But, instead of thanking BJU for listening and waiting for these independent results, these people continue their attack, maligning everyone connected to or defending BJU — and, by extension, anyone who calls themselves conservative, independent, fundamental, & Christian.
it was about BJU superficially, but it was also about any place that thinks rape only happens to loose women on party campuses whose attitude toward sexual assault allows the idea that ‘she was asking for it’ to cloud the discussion and that reputation of the institution and its leaders are better served by silent submission than truth.
[ChrisC]…it was also about any place that thinks rape only happens to loose women on party campuses whose attitude toward sexual assault allows the idea that ‘she was asking for it’…
Really? Is that how you think conservative Christians like those at BJU view women? Really?
If there was ever an out-dated notion, it’s the one you just put forth. No one I worked with ever thought that. No. One.
You, my friend, need to stop buying into the anti-BJU/IFB propaganda and learn to think for yourself.
Your bias is showing.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Jay]Your bias is showing.
Really? Are you that ignorant? Are you that impressionable?
Easton,
You are broad brushing. Certainly there are those who fall into your generalizations. But there are also those in other categories (specifically in the World article). There have been many people within our movement who have been sexually assaulted and people on leadership have wanted it dealt with quietly and not Biblically. Hopefully that has changed. I think for many it has, but there are still others that still believe if a church member does this, it should not be handled by the police for fear calling the police will hurt the church. When reality, not calling the police is sin.
Roger Carlson, Pastor Berean Baptist Church
Easton, I was addressing Chris, not you.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Point of logic…
Just because you only met wonderful, Godly people at BJU does not mean that there weren’t other people that you didn’t meet that could be guilty of abuse/rape.
Secondly, it is highly unlikely that anybody who was accused of rape would make it obvious that they were a rapist.
Thus, suggesting that the article is invalid because it doesn’t fit your campus experience is an error.
I’m not arguing either way on this one…just stopping by to check on the boring elements of logical argumentation and flow….
May Christ Be Magnified - Philippians 1:20 Todd Bowditch
[Easton]But rampant sexual abuse as mentioned in this article?
Since the article made no such mention, I’m not sure what you are arguing against.
INACIAS
[rogercarlson] That’s why I think the World Magazine article I referenced was much better. Yet, no one seemed to bother with it. I believe this is an important issue and I hope we have changed in how we handle these cases. Easton, You are broad brushing. Certainly there are those who fall into your generalizations. But there are also those in other categories (specifically in the World article). There have been many people within our movement who have been sexually assaulted and people on leadership have wanted it dealt with quietly and not Biblically. Hopefully that has changed. I think for many it has, but there are still others that still believe if a church member does this, it should not be handled by the police for fear calling the police will hurt the church. When reality, not calling the police is sin.
BTW Is this the article you referred to?
http://www.worldmag.com/2013/10/the_high_cost_of_negligence/page1
Good read.
INACIAS
Discussion