COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 21, 2008
Bob Jones U. Apologizes For Racism
S.C. School Says Culture Rather Than Biblical Teachings Led To Institutional Racist Policies
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A 2000 file photo of the campus of Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Patrick Collard)
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In a statement posted Thursday on its Web site, the fundamentalist Christian school founded in 1927 in northwestern South Carolina says its rules on race were shaped by culture instead of the Bible.
The university says president Stephen Jones decided to issue the apology because he still receives questions about the school's views on race.
In the statement, BJU said that it was founded to help young men and women cultivate a Biblical worldview, and to represent Christ and his teachings to others, "in every dimension of life.
"BJU’s history has been chiefly characterized by striving to achieve those goals; but like any human institution, we have failures as well. For almost two centuries American Christianity, including BJU in its early stages, was characterized by the segregationist ethos of American culture. Consequently, for far too long, we allowed institutional policies regarding race to be shaped more directly by that ethos than by the principles and precepts of the Scriptures. We conformed to the culture rather than provide a clear Christian counterpoint to it.
"In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful."
The school, which has about 5,000 students, banned interracial dating until 2000.
President George W. Bush was criticized in 2000 for a campaign speech at the school while the interracial dating ban was in place.
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- Yes, JESUS did ask for forgiveness: "Father, forgive THEM for THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."
Seems like that fits not only the ignorant comments made, but all of us. Have YOU been to CALVARY yet
? - Reply to this comment
- Even Jesus asked for Forgiveness.
Posted by caldwellptr at 03:16 PM : Nov 23, 2008
Yep, and his wasn`t tied to receiving funds from the President`s faith-based initiative. Gee, lookie there. A black fellow wins the election and they apologize. It would have carried more weight had they done so while endorsing McCain. - Reply to this comment
- Even Jesus asked for Forgiveness.
- Reply to this comment
- No need to apologize. Christianity does not rest on asking and receiving forgiveness.
Sincere Apology = Gracious Acceptance - Reply to this comment
- I will never apologize for nothing. Even when the Obama wackos send us to re education camps.
- Reply to this comment
- I will never apologize for nothing. Even when the Obama wackos send us to re education camps.
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- If the Bible opposed interracial dating, then, Jehovah wouldn''t have sided with Moses after Moses was criticized for marrying an Ethiopian woman. Race wasn''t the issue, interfaith marriages that could lead them away from the true God was but, that Ethiopian woman was a believer in Jehovah. 1 Corinthians 7:14 and 16 gives the Christian the option of staying with an unbeliever or not. Nowhere does the Bible oppose interracial marriages.
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- It''ll take another 300 years for the racist b*st*rds to actually stop hating. For now they''ll continue doing what is politically expedient, allowing them to get government loan, grant, and other monies. These racists are idiots, but they''re not stupid.
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- Do these religious people who claim to love Jesus Christ, believe what he commanded them to do" LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF" In the end, what will they say to God when he tells them how they broke his commandment, I wonder. There are going to be a lot of shocked souls in the hereafter I betcha. People who claim to love God, but in truth they love their own personal opinions more.
- Reply to this comment
- Do these religious people who claim to love Jesus Christ, believe what he commanded them to do" LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF" In the end, what will they say to God when he tells them how they broke his commandment, I wonder. There are going to be a lot of shocked souls in the hereafter I betcha. People who claim to love God, but in truth they love their own personal opinions more.
- Reply to this comment
- Christian Education is an Oxymoron.
- Reply to this comment
- Now that you COMMIES got your Arabic/Muslim whacko for president you think you have the right to limit choices of education, values, and even thoughts?
SKREW YOU!
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Posted by Rowdydfw at 11:50 AM
racist! - Reply to this comment
- BJU has nothing to apologize for. They know what they believe, and have had the courage to understand and embrace it.
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Posted by cwbyht at 01:08 PM
Another cult member. - Reply to this comment
- Again it is interesting how the rightwing extremists care about the life of an unborn child more than they do about the life of the child after it was born. I will never understand this. But if one fine day they show as much concern for the life of a child after it is born, then they may have found a way to save all the unborn at the same time.
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- No, this person is not afraid to admit, they don''''t have all the answers, and wholeheartly embrace faith. They have shown more courage than most on this board. People who claim to be disgusted about racism, but spout off a bigoted, hateful view, of others beliefs. Beliefs that they know nothing about, but distort to their own warped viewpoint.
BJU has nothing to apologize for. They know what they believe, and have had the courage to understand and embrace it.
Posted by cwbyht at 01:08 PM : Nov 22, 2008
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Just in case I am included in this description, I spent 20 years in a fundamentalist church as a preacher''s kid in Greenville, SC. That means Sun morn, night and Wed night. I have some idea about the beliefs of fundamentalist baptists and Bob Jones University.
That''s why I know what biblical texts are used to support fundamentalist absolute truths about the place of women, African Americans, etc. - Reply to this comment
- Let''s look at this realistically. This is an attempt at free advertising. They appear to be slipping in enrollment goals, either can''t find or are losing instructors and BJ3 in his desire to play the political endorsement game along with his spineless groveling when the nation pointed out the deficiencies of the school have left the school in a deficient state of being.
Add that to his attempts to fit in locally with the resulting associations with local criminals (they call them leading citizens in South Carolina) all for the sake of a few bucks and a few misbegotten scholarships, and you have the beginning of the end if things are not set straight. They could try being real Christians for a while and see if that helps.
In all, the apology was an attempt at publicity. Of course it was poorly thought out but they do have a tendency to take the wrong advice.
And that is the way it is. - Reply to this comment
- they must need a bailout......
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- Posted by AmerOSeas at 04:36 AM
You sound just like a brainwashed cult member.
No, this person is not afraid to admit, they don''t have all the answers, and wholeheartly embrace faith. They have shown more courage than most on this board. People who claim to be disgusted about racism, but spout off a bigoted, hateful view, of others beliefs. Beliefs that they know nothing about, but distort to their own warped viewpoint.
BJU has nothing to apologize for. They know what they believe, and have had the courage to understand and embrace it. - Reply to this comment
- I must ask "What would Jesus Do?" and the answer is--------dissolve Bob Jones University because it is terminall ill with HATE!
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- Jesus was very liberal........
Posted by Voltaire777 at 12:13 PM : Nov 22, 2008
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If one reads the red-letter text of the NT, it sounds a lot like a left-wing liberal. - Reply to this comment
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