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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Maher: Liberty University Is Not A Real School
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/19/bill-maher-new-rule-liberty-university_n_1530400.htmlBill Maher: Liberty University Is Not A Real School
Posted: 05/19/2012 11:10 pm Updated: 05/20/2012 1:34 am
Video @ link~
At the end of "Real Time" Friday night, Bill Maher lambasted Liberty University, the Virginia religious university that has become a mandatory stop for Republican presidential candidates. (Watch above.)
"You can't expect me to believe anything Mitt Romney said last week at Liberty University, because a) he's a liar and b) Liberty University isn't really a university," Maher began. "It's not like an actual statesman visited a real college. It's more like the Tupac hologram visited Disneyland and said what he would do as president during the Main Street Electrical Parade."
Romney delivered Liberty's commencement speech on May 12.
Maher noted that Liberty teaches "creation science," and the idea that earth was created 5,000 years ago. "This is a school you flunk out of when you get the answers right," he joked.
Much as conservatives believe gay marriage cheapens their own vows, "I think a diploma from Liberty cheapens my diploma from a real school," he continued. "I worked really hard for four years and sold a lot of drugs to get that thing."
Liberty's diploma may look real, Maher said, but "when you confuse a church with a school, Maher went on, "it mixes up the things you believe religion with the things we know education. Then you start thinking that creationism is science, and gay aversion is psychology, and praying away hurricanes is meteorology."
Greybnk48
(10,182 posts)and splashy way because it's true. 100%.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)They really made an embarrassing name for themselves with the justice department scandal...
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)On point as usual
Wounded Bear
(58,773 posts)But he does get some things right.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,773 posts)and he has most of the trappings of a pure one.
Lib/Progs tend to focus on his liberal stand on social issues, but economically, he's fairly conservative.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)economically is the only acceptable way to be conservative. But, just look at George W Bush who spent all our money like a drunken sailor in a casino. Modern RWers typically are conservative in every way except economically.
Ratty
(2,100 posts)I'd always heard he was a libertarian too but I've heard him say some very decidedly UN-libertarian things in the last few months, about the need for more regulation and the value of government and social services. Maybe nowdays he's a civil libertarian with a little el.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)He does believe in single-payer. He's a left libertarian ... though not as left as I'd want, he's still fairly progressive.
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)He gave $1,000,000 dollars to an Obama PAC, so I really think he is supporting the Democrat in this election.
In fact, from watching his show, I'd say he is a member of the BOG right here on DU. ( that's a joke )
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I'd say he may be a liberal when you take account most of his views but there are some things that aren't liberal like supporting racial profiling at airports.
BobbyBoring
(1,965 posts)If Obama was a liberal, it might mean something!
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)It doesn't fit well into the ideology of either.
However, even if it does you have to judge someone by the overall picture of their beliefs, and not just one or two issues taken by themselves. Not that many people toe the party line on everything.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)which is why I say he may be a liberal.
tooeyeten
(1,074 posts)JI7
(89,287 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)sofa king
(10,857 posts)I've lived within easy driving distance of Liberty for most of my life, but I've only met three or four attendees. Almost all of them had parents who were long-time donors to the church; most of them planned to go into Falwell-related business themselves. They were all really nice people, thoughtful, polite, and unusually tolerant of others (I remember thinking at the time that they were reasonable because the church did their ranting for them).
I don't know if the Falwell Empire employs enough people to keep all of those Liberty grads busy or not, but it sure as hell supplies motivation for graduates to try to land safely within the church network. Otherwise they'll be cleaning grease traps.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)were going to be able to get jobs she said that her church members worked together and hired only fellow members. Nice work if you are one of them.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Instead, it's as if they have their own alternate universe, where everything is what they think it is and they do not have deal the cognitive dissonance when ugly reality (and science and evidence, etc) intrudes.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)to destroy the USA and much of the world in order to keep their "safety network" intact.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)That seemed like a nice enough guy. Once when my hubby was out of town I went to meet with him and as we were in his office discussing investments I looked up and noticed his framed document saying he graduated from liberty university. I made some excuses and left. Needless to say we found another advisor after that!
sofa king
(10,857 posts)Can I write for you? I've been filling bags of compost all Spring, so I know for sure I can work knee-deep in the shit, I have an excellent eye for bullshit, I can fling shit by the ton and sell it by the bag, and I only take shit from the nice Mennonite farmer who makes it for us.
But I am also too old for this shit, and tired of this shit, and I'd like to get out of the shit before I cannot tell it from Shinola.
crazylikafox
(2,763 posts)Lint Head
(15,064 posts)My son had a teacher with a Liberty University sheepskin. He was as right wing as you could get. He had a right wing blog. I sent him a letter and complained to the school that he was teaching his dogma and not educational principles and concepts.
Initech
(100,139 posts)It was such a colossal fuck up when W stacked crucial government agencies with Regent and Liberty grads. I'd hate to think what would happen under president Rmoney.
jmowreader
(50,589 posts)The difference is, BYU is a halfway decent school. Liberty, Regent, Pensacola Christian, Campbell and BJU are not.
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I know a couple of first rate engineers who are BYU products. It is not a diploma mill like the others listed.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)patrice
(47,992 posts)of more authentic awareness, even if they DID want to change.
When you don't know that you don't know what you don't know, how is it possible to conceive change?
madokie
(51,076 posts)I'll take him a lot more serious from this point going forward as he is speaking truth to creationism. Something I happen to agree with
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)crazy stuff for many years.
madokie
(51,076 posts)In the past for some reason I was always put off by him but its never been his material. I've always like that part.
Like I said I see him in a different light now. Its like a switch has been turned on.
I like my being able to make changes such as this.
trusty elf
(7,403 posts)Ratty
(2,100 posts)Or about his delivery, not as a person. A kind of smugness and a tendency to laugh at his own jokes. I'm not a fan. But I do adore his New Rules segments and he does some great jokes on occasion. I'm definitely glad he's on our side.
Amster Dan
(89 posts)Turbineguy
(37,412 posts)with appointees to fuck up government agencies. This then gives the excuse to privatize to cronies. In this way they serve a useful function. They are the very definition of useful idiots.
crazylikafox
(2,763 posts)Useful idiots... Unfortunate, but true
b757pilot
(16 posts)I needed an accredited college degree to be receive a commission in the Navy (AOCS). Think Officer and a Gentleman for you old heads.
jmowreader
(50,589 posts)And it's actual accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
There is an "accreditation" body for Bible schools, the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, that accredited Bob Jones University and is in the process of accrediting Pensacola Christian. It's a very new body, most of the schools on it were accredited in the last couple of years. Only thing I can think of is, the Bible schools finally got sick of losing potential students to schools whose diplomas actually meant anything.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)Quixote1818
(29,018 posts)yourout
(7,535 posts)CK_John
(10,005 posts)of wreaking the government. Just like the US Rep from Minnesota who got her start at the IRS.
glinda
(14,807 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)ellisonz
(27,711 posts)NoMittens
(27 posts)BYU is just like Liberty..don't go to either one unless you're desperate to give up your freedom
provis99
(13,062 posts)I don't know how these schools get accredited, except perhaps through bribery of the accreditation officials.
ingac70
(7,947 posts)Gman
(24,780 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)or is it paid off? SACS...
sP
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)that have been accredited by SACS should be talked smack about, too?
sP
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)and that body provides accreditation for just about every school in the southeast...like Georgia Tech...
simplistic view of yours...
sP
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)CRK7376
(2,204 posts)Chapel Hill in my book, but those pesky tarheels, but then they don't like my Demon Deacons verymuch either....Go Deacs!
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)guess those other schools don't count either...
sP
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)I'm on my lunch break. I understand what you are saying, but I still believe that if you are teaching myth as fact and only myth as fact then there needs to be some consequences for those choices.
Perhaps some sort of separate designation for church schools is needed for those schools who choose to put theology forth as science and fact. If a school is teaching that the earth is 5,000 years old and that people and dinosaurs lived side by side then I would never put them in the same designation as non theological schools.
GoneOffShore
(17,345 posts)Just interested, because it certainly isn't a place devoted to critical thought or learning that isn't "Biblically based", much like Bob Jones "University"
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)just pointing out that it is an accredited school...and most of the people bashing it don't know anyone who went there let alone have stopped in for a visit. reeks of some of the typical religion-bashing that goes on here.
sP
GoneOffShore
(17,345 posts)Its programs are opinion based, not fact based and biased in the extreme.
Read the "Doctrinal Purpose" statement - here http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=6907
from which the following is a quote:
We affirm that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, was supernaturally inspired by God so that all its words are the written true revelation of God; it is therefore inerrant in the originals and authoritative in all matters. It is to be understood by all through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, its meaning determined by the historical, grammatical, and literary use of the authors language, comparing Scripture with Scripture.
The entire statement is about it being a Bible based institution - which really means that they scoff at science and facts, because "gawd did it."
Added on edit:
I had to take a shower after visiting that website - it's almost as full of crazy as Freeperville.
And your defense of the place certainly sounds like cheerleading.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)Obama wasn't actually forcing churches to cover it at all. 2. most Hospitals are catholic connected. I was born in one. has the word Saint before it... so a good chunk of American hospitals supposedly would be shut down thanks to Republicans. zzzzzz
Zanzoobar
(894 posts)ck4829
(35,096 posts)Their dress code and rules have more content than their list of programs.
The only learning you will do there is to be a good little right wing authoritarian.
Permanut
(5,705 posts)A mail order diploma would be more educational.
PufPuf23
(8,854 posts)The collective consciousness of the USA and World sucks and is not promising in the next several generations at least.
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Nice.
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)So I keep an eye on the job listings in my field. Liberty. Regent and the other "Christian Universities" are constantly looking for faculty. I imagine that many of the folks who work there take jobs out of desperation, only to find that they chafe at the Orwellian anti-intellectual environment, or are purged when they cannot adapt to it.
A "Christian university" which would be an oxymoron, except for the fact that many of the world's great universities were also once Christian universities: the real cut point is that these are fundamentalist universities, which is the real contradiction: how can you have a university without thought or any real subject that does not ultimately reduce to theology?
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)believe there is no real thought allowed or subjects taught there either...
simplistic bashing of a school you don't seem to know a whole lot about.
sP
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)It's analogous to all those mortgage-backed securities that were rated AAA by the rating agencies.
I do know enough to evaluate a department's faculty in my discipline. And, judging by the criterion you'd normally use, these places are not terribly good. I would expcet that this is the case wherever ideological concerns trump quality concerns.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)so, you know some of the faculty there? you have at least talked to some folks about the atmosphere?
sP
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)I'd look at that before mere accreditation. It's too binary a data point.
And yes, I did look into the faculty there: my curiosity was piqued when I saw so many job openings, repeated so often. I don't know them, and don't really care to.
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)He was going door to door, selling gutter guards or attic insulation or somesuch. He looked like a ginger version of Jack Black. I didn't take the clipboard (don't take the clipboard: once you have it in hand, they will hanangue you as you patiently wait for an opening to give it back)), and explained that we didn't need anything.
Once I was a no sale, he for some reason became quite affable, and volunteered that he was a recent graduate of Liberty. He then volunteered that he chose it--and, I am not kidding--because it has such a high ratio of girls to boys. He then lamented the fact that he had had no girlfriend for his entire time there.
Such a stupid boy. Yes, there might be a lot of girls, but they are girls who are in an environment with dating rules that date back to the 1650's. They also have been indoctrinated to think that sex is bad, sinful, and something they will do only as a duty once they are safely married.
It also occurred to me that the reason that there would be more boys than girls is that perhaps the fundies might send their boys to real schools, and their girls to Liberty, because they would not need a real education to prepare them for their biblically-ordained role as a wife and mother.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)or their party-quotient should be selling stuff door to door.
but the girl that went to liberty to get a law degree from a school accredited by the ABA so she wouldn't have to deal with all the shit-headery at UGA doesn't deserve her degree...or better yet to have her degree maligned by someone like you.
sP
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)At any rate, I wouldn't send any student there for law school, unless they specifically wanted to attend it because of their religious beliefs.
And even then, there are a lot of state schools that have a better ranking and lower tuition.
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/liberty-university-03196
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)that her school is essentially not a 'real' school because they don't have any thought or 'real' subject...
i would say that would qualify as maligning her degree through maligning the school through which it was obtained...
sP
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)School have an insitutional memory: Liberty is too new to have much of a record. When there are alternatives that have a good track record, I wouldn't send a student there.
Also, it's enough to know who started the place.
CRK7376
(2,204 posts)on Tivo Saturday and just howled. It was hilarious!