I get a lot of comments from web site visitors; here are some of the best ones...

 

 

Out wasting time on the internet, I came across your BJU web site. Being a loyal alumnus, I thought your site was just another disgruntled former student slamming the school. Thanks for your thoughtful approach.

---

I just would like to thank you for some of your inputs about BJU. I am a graduate of BJ and my senior year was basically the last year that I could handle. Your web site was interresting and true.

---

Frightening. Very frightening. You remind me of Donnie and Marie. I'm scared. [Dude, if that's all it takes to frighten you, stepping on campus at BJU will cause you heart failure! - webmaster]

---

I'm a 1992 graduate and wasn't quite sure what to think when I happened upon your website. I believe that you have provided a nice service to the prospective student and it's been fun reading for this former student!

---

I attended BJU for 3 semesters and found it to be a very good school.They have very high academic standards, and that is why people go to college. I chose to go to BJU and could easily live with the rules. I learned many things both in and out of the classroom.

---

Hi! I'm an 18-year-old senior from North Houston Baptist School in Houston, TX. I discovered your page about BJU while browsing through Yahoo one day.

I really enjoy your page since I will be a freshman at BJU next year, and my church puts quite a heavy emphasis on the university. I just got finished reading your section on interracial dating, and I must say, somebody just needs to tell Bob Jones III, "What's the big deal?"

Although the division of our languages at the Tower of Babel was a result of sin, I totally disagree that that means we should forever separate ourselves by race, culture, or language. Following the idea that we should still be separated, would it not then be wrong for BJU to teach various languages in the university and high school curriculums? After all, if we supposedly are meant to stick to our own cultures and languages, how can they endorse learning other languages? I have to disagree with them there. And what are these principles of the Bible that supposedly point to the idea that interracial marriage is wrong?

Since I've never been at the school for more than one week at a time, I'm not too clear on the rules concerning interracial dating. Following my acceptance, I did receive a letter from them stating a few rules I should be aware of, including the fact that they recognize 3 main races: black, Caucasian, and oriental. So I am left to wonder, and maybe you can clarify this for me, does this mean that Caucasians are allowed to date Mexicans, for example? How about their classification of Jews? The Bible very very obviously sets them apart as a special race. (What brings these questions to mind is that I'm white and dating a Mexican guy, which brings absolutely no objections from either of our families, but I'm wondering what would happen if he were to attend BJU?)

I hope I don't sound too negative about BJU, I absolutely love the university, and I'm really excited about being there next fall. This one thing just really brings a lot of questions to my mind. Thanks a lot for your page! It has been very informative and I have enjoyed reading it!

---

Both my husband and I attended Bob Jones University and loved every minute of it. He finished in January and I graduated in May 1973. We have been happily married for 26 years this past August and intend to spend the next 26 together.

At the present time our oldest son (1 of 4) is attending BJU; he is a junior studying for some form of ministry, he's not sure yet which direction he will be going. This fall our second son will be attending BJU to study youth ministry. Our other 2, ages 12 and 10 both say that they will attend.

BJU is the best educational school in the nation, and as you said, those who were successful in graduation have been successful in the real world. Praise the Lord that they have not veered from the straight and narrow. I was there when hats were worn and we had family style meals. Wish my boys could experience that... everything--from the dorm experience, to the meals, to the dating experience--prepares one for the harsh realities of the outside world.

---

"I was in your web site about BOB JONES UNIVERSITY.. Our daughter will graduate from there this coming May.1999. Your comments are right on about the school. It is a great place to learn, not only about what you will do with the rest of your life, but to really spend time finishing up your Christian foundations that will carry you for the rest of your days."

"A couple of insights. Contrary to what you may hear, the administration really does care about the student population. I want to encourage anyone who is going there and even thinking about attending, if you are ready be challenged to build your faith, this is the place for you... "

"It may not be the place that you will find your life long mate, but you will make life long friends, and probably even find out who you are and get you pointed in the right direction regarding God's will for the rest of your days. And may I say if you find yourself offended by something the leadership says, don't stay silent. Speak up, go to the one who has offended you and in Christian love, prayerfully work out the problem between that one and yourself."

"Too many kids go down there and just shut up and not let others know how they are hurting or have been hurt by those in positions of responsibility. Thanks again for setting a number of rumors among other things straight."

---

[T]ell your wife thanks for what she said about the girls dorms and preparing what to bring. I am planning on attending Bob Jones in the fall and I am having to start looking at what I need: it's been a real help

And about your comments on interracial marriage and dating... I have been talking with my best friend on the subject and about why BJU stands were they do and it was a big help for me and her...

---

Dear Sir:

I am not a BJU student, but am a Christian concerned about Conservative Christianity's message to the world.

I have been involved in the university's College Talk board for a while now, and I thought this recent response of mine to the "Biblical" basis for racial separation would be of interest.

[a link was provided to a letter by a BJU staff member explaining that unity of the races is the same as the Babel and modern "one world" scheme of world unity, and is contrary to "God's design"] [Additional portions are quoted below in italics. - Ed.]

This reasoning is not valid. There is absolutely nothing in the Bible about the separation of races. The closest thing you can find would be God's demand that Israel be separate, but even this was spiritual rather than racial, because if a stranger was ailing to accept God and His laws, he would be completely integrated into the community. (Ex.12:48,49, Lev.19:33,34). And of course, we all should know that in the New Testament, "separation" is only spiritual, never physical (2 Cor.6:14-18) So this whole supposition is:

• God has made people different one from another and intends those differences to remain.
• Bob Jones University is opposed to intermarriage of the races because it breaks down the barriers God has established--it mixes that which God separated and intends to keep separate.
• Every effort in world history to bring the world together has demonstrated man's self-reliance and his unwillingness to remain as God ordains.
• The attempts at one-worldism have been to devise a system without God and have fostered the promotion of a unity designed to give the world strength so that God is not needed and can be overthrown.

Then he goes on to mention Babel. But "the barriers God created" are never said to be what we call "racial". The only "barrier" established at Babel was LANGUAGE, and people scattered according to that, but the language lines were not necessarily coterminous with "race". This is just reading into the scripture something that just was not there.

This whole idea of racial separation came from the whole idea that Adam was created a "pure" race, which was preserved through Shem, the Israelites, and somehow the Europeans. It is exactly what Herbert Armstrong used to teach. So it beats me why fundamentalists always used to condemn Anglo-Israelism when they believed its main tenets. And notice how we have strayed from any solid Biblical support into pure supposition:

"Although there is no verse in the Bible that dogmatically says that races should not intermarry, the whole plan of God as He has dealt with the races down through the ages indicates that interracial marriage is not best for man. We do believe we see principles, not specific verses, to give us direction for the avoidance of it. "

So now, clear teaching from the scripture are not sufficient. We go by purely by "principles" without checking to see if they measure up to other scriptures which are clear. Finally, the logic is:

"The people who built the Tower of Babel were seeking a man-glorifying unity which God has not ordained (Gen. 11:4-6). Much of the agitation for intermarriage among the races today is for the same reason. It is promoted by one-worlders, and we oppose it for the same reason that we oppose religious ecumenism, globalism, one-world economy, one-world police force, unisex, etc. "

What it comes down to, is because the "one worlders" are for it, that makes it automatically wrong. But because certain things they believe or do may be wrong, but that in itself does not justify the initial wrong they are reacting against. And perhaps, if we didn't have all of this gross racism in the church and society in the past, you wouldn't have all of this push for "unity".

It is the nature of man to rebel and go to opposite extremes. So we, on one hand blasting the world for its sins, yet using false piety to hide justify our own sin, will be in for a rude awakening at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And we have really strayed from the actual Biblical revelations of the end times with all these fanciful predictions of "world unity".

The Beast power-- the end time ruling govt., is not about "one-world, ecumenical egalitarian multiculturalism", with America's hard earned wealth and freedom stripped from them and "redistributed" to the less deserving poor nations, as I keep hearing. This system is all about DOMINANCE, of one power-- Western nations, and all of this conservative "separatist" rhetoric is playing right into the whole scheme, with its demands of power, reconstructionism, etc).

Just read about the second beast, the one with the lamblike horns, the False Prophet, in Rev. 13:11-16

"When Jesus Christ returns to the earth, He will establish world unity, but until then, a divided earth seems to be His plan... Why divided? So one can be superior."

... and the Antichrist will definitely use this logic. This separatist mentality is co-opting the concept of "holiness" for an agenda that is far from holy according to God's standard. We have got to repent.

How can we expect anyone to take us and our readings of scripture seriously when we wrangle with God's Word like this? How can we get so mad at the world for rejecting our message?

---

From Pat Carmean: "Stumbled on your page when I was looking for some BJU stuff. Enjoyed your pictures, etc. I'm a 66 BJ grad and my two children graduated in 89. Keep on keeping on!"

---

I just wanted to thank you greatly for your balanced response to many controversial statements and articles floating around in American Christianity concerning our alma mater. I will graduate in May with a Bachelor's in Pastoral Studies.

I found the articles on interracial dating and the BJU vs. PCC to be very informative and clarifying. Also, good job on the synopsis of the "Great Fire Alarm" incident during the Vienna Boys Choir artist series. Perhaps it may be helpful to also mention the fact that it went off when Matt Hotchkinson, the ministerial class president, was preaching. Obviously, the school had no "conspiracy" against their own preacher boy leader!! And, as you pointed out, the same went for the Boy's Choir. 

I found myself in wholehearted agreement with the articles which you presented on your webpage. I love the school highly, and soon will be a graduate. But often I do find myself not able to agree 100% with the school's philosophies. But as you pointed out, many of them are out of necessity rather than conviction. Thank you for presenting a balanced and sensible analysis of our school.

---

I am glad your experience at BJU was better than mine. I graduated in 1986 and I have never seen such a judgmental, unloving, confused bunch of people. I am a Christian who loves the Lord, but I think the people at BJU need to learn to love and care about everyone, not just the people who meet their requirements for holiness.

---

BJU may have been okay for college students. It was hell, pure **&&^^%$#ed hell, for a high school student in 1957.

---

I was doing a word search on BJU and read your articles. Of course I didn't know what to expect at first since most other BJU grads tend to trash the school. Anyway, I enjoyed what you have and was glad to see it didn't tear the alma mater down. Thanks! Kappa Chi member and '96 alum.

---

Hey - love the dry humor and "hidden" honesty.

I came from a "BJU Only" church (Dr. Don Camp, Pastor) and was pushed & pushed toward BJU- the kids there still are.

But to make matters WORSE, I attended Pensacola Christian College (they called it "Little BJ").

I survived for 2&1/2 years, re-met my husband on Christmas break of 1981, as he had transferred from PCC to Liberty University (WOOOO LIBERAL UNIVERSITY!!!), got married in 1982, and we are still goin' strong. He is a Pastor of a Southern Baptist Church here in Plymouth, Indiana.

I guess BJ isn't nearly as bad as I had always heard, as my step-brother graduated from there, and is quite normal, a great guy, SINGLE, 28 years old, living in Greenville-here's your plug, Joe, but PCC has got to be the worst- at least it was back in the late 70's.

Anyway- the moral of the story is- if you can survive PCC or BJ, you can survive anything life has to throw at you.

God Bless- and all you PCC & BJ-ers...GOOD LUCK!!!!

---

Enjoyed your page so much. The BJU myths and realities need to be printed in the Greenville News to clear up some misconceptions floating around (especially Ennis Fant). Thanks.

---

Marilyn Manson (beast@AOL.com) stopped by at Friday, 06-Feb-98 04:55:36 EST:
I am the antichrist! You will serve me!!

---

My daughter is considering attending BJU...your site "caught my eye"...what an interesting way to spend my afternoon! I'll have to ask Rachel to read your comments!

I enjoyed your ideas and descriptions! Thank you from Danville, IL! Have a great day!

---

We are New Zealanders (the country below Australia)we found your homepage while we were exploring on the web.

We just thought we would write and say good on you guys, we found your explanation on the concept of Christian marriage excellent so we thought we would tell you! From Jo p.s I am getting married on 18.5.98

Hi - Yes we had a great laugh about it -seriously though, it was awesome and I reckon all the Christian guys I know would benefit from reading it (most of the being utterly petrified about marriage/commitment)- interesting to hear it from a guys point of view for a change.

Jo is about to take the plunge and I shall (as one of the bridesmaids) shall be watching closely -pondering my own day perhaps...well probably! from Amanda. We belong to TSCF (tertiary students Christian fellowship) in NZ which is part of IVCF - so we are evangelicals!

---

May God keep you the friends you are now, forever. May you always be in love and Best wishes to you both!

---

I am so glad that I found this page, I attended BJU my freshman year (94-95) fresh out of Christian High School. I loved BJU, even with all of the rules, like many students, my biggest hurdle to cross was the music that I listened to. I am a music lover, all types of music, but once I left BJU (due to financial reasons (like sky high tuition), I had to sit out for a semester.

I attended Univ. of KY my sophomore year, and worked at a national discount drugstore chain. I felt as though I had been in a bubble for the past year. I felt naive when it came to communicating with my fellow coworkers.

I made the decision at the end of my Sophomore year not to return to BJU, I felt as if I wouldn't be prepared for the real world if I did. I am from a "Bob Jones Church" and I have seen, my pastor's kids come back, along with many others who had become "BoJo's". My best friend said that she was so afraid when I went down there that I would never be myself again. I think that was my reality check.

As I was down at BJU, girls in my prayer group would request prayer for their friends at home that chose to go to a secular school as opposed to a Christian school. This greatly upset me to think that people I went to school with would make me look like a bad person, because I chose not to return. I feel that I have grown more in the past 2.5 years than I ever did at BJU. I'll be in contact later, but right now I have to go to my Business Finance class.

---

Hi,

I'm a Senior CS Major at BJ and I'd just like to say that I really enjoyed your web site. I found the little guide to the stuff at BJ most interesting, and that "reverse curse" story very interesting. It beats the cake that my PC (when I was a freshman) got weeks before the event.

It's nice to see someone having positive comments about BJU instead of all the negative things that are out. Keep up the good work and stay true to His will...

 

---

As a former BJ student I found your web page thorough and humorous. You should add though, that for women to walk off campus, not only must it be in groups of two, but freshmen and sophomores must have a junior or senior PC or APC with them. At least it was that way when I attended.  Also, you should mention that at least girls don't have to wear hats on Sunday anymore!!

---

Hi.

I have enjoyed reading about BJU. When I was a freshman at Taylor University in 1969, a friend of mine showed me a newspaper clipping in which the writer said that Bob Jones University had petitioned the governor of their state to allow its guards to carry submachine guns. The governor had refused because the BJU guards would have been armed better than the state police.

I had a good laugh over it and threw the clipping away. Sometimes I wish I had tucked it away in a file folder for posterity.

---

I attended BJU from 1973-1975. By the second semester of my first year I had been "promoted" to APC and by the next I was demoted for lying to my dorm sup which was one of those life experiences that you still learn from 25 years later. (no matter how painful always tell the truth)

I was given 100 demerits for lying and with 49 on the books already I was 1 demerit from being shipped. I survived that semester and came back for 2 more when I was asked to "continue" my education elsewhere. I will always look at my BJU experience as a good one and always cherish
the fact that no matter what the social situation because of BJU I know which fork to use when there's more than one on the table!

Another term you can add is "fundy" a person who follows the rule book to the letter and will turn in
their roommate, hall mate or anyone for not following the rules. Also a story that was around when I was there was that the song "Signs" was written by a former student who was shipped. The words fit the school but I don't know if it's true. I could add more stories but that will have to be another day.

---

Here are a few more "terms of endearment" for BJ. I, too, have spent a few years there and became quite familiar with the slang. Thanks for posting this web site; I've put it under my list of favorites and look forward to seeing more information added.

D.P. (Dating Parlor): A room filled with couches and lamps where you and your honey can sit and stare into each other's eyes, but make no physical contact. This is where all the REAL serious couples go, and any entrance into this room results into the making of an official couple. Also, no slumping or slouching on these couches as that may bend the cushions toward each other and cause unnecessary physical contact by the touching of two arms from members of the opposite sex.

P.O. :The Post Office Box you check three times a day, restless to hear news from the outside world. Only the uncool actually call it by the official four-syllable term, much too long for any college student to even consider pronouncing.

The Snack: This is the term used for the snack shop in the student center. Although there is no official term for this place, the privileged students who never have to study and can spend all their time hanging out with friends have come to call this place by its familiar name.