[flamesbball84]

One of my friends from work has a kid looking at colleges. The kid is somewhat interested in Liberty, but is concerned about just how big of an influence CHristianity has in the classroom. She wants to major in biology - I think - and given the differences between biological teachings and Christian teachings (evolution and offshoots of that), she is concerned about rather some scientific facts or strong scientific theories will be \"blacklisted\" due to Christianity. She would like to have a obtain a high level of knowledge and understanding of the field, but she also doesn\'t want her education to be biased and skewed due to the fact LU is a heavily Christian school. So are there any biology or other science majors who can give some input on this?

[El Scorcho]

I'd love to hear from our Biology or Biochemistry majors on this as well.

[ToTheLeft]

Well if she is a believer wouldn't she want to know the truth from an educated Christian perspective?

Would make sense to me, but I hate science, so i don't get how those people think

[flamesbball84]

She wants to know from both sides, not just what one side believes. She wants a good biological education, and if LU biology professors \"blacklist\" some biology stuff because it conflicts with Christianity, then she doesn\'t think it is putting her in the best position to exceed in her field post graduation.

[jmdickens]

If you had the grades to study at Yale or Harvard and were a Christian, would you want to go to LU or Harvard???

Dan Skelly did just that...turned down a full ride from Harvard out of high school and after graduating Liberty......He goes to Oklahoma Medical School
Jon Skeely his twin turned down Yale and Harvard for Liberty, then turned down full rides to Yale and Harvard for law school to go to Richmond

If you ever get a chance to meet these two former alumni, you would be amazed at what they have accomplished....and yes, they were devout Christians; one of the main reasons why they chose LU!

[Cider Jim]

I believe Skelly transfered here from Pensacola Christian and had a perfect 1600 SAT. My understanding is that our biology majors score in the 97% percentile on their nationally standardized tests for their major. All that is to say, if a student wants to learn biology at LU, he will learn both sides of the argument: creationism as truth & evolution as a theory.

[jmdickens]

I think it was North Florida University

[El Scorcho]

I'm still hoping to hear from a Biology major or graduate, but I'd recommend that the prospective student contact the department directly.

https://www.liberty.edu/academics/arts- ... m?PID=6559

They're all listed there. I'd specifically email Dr. Sattler, Dr. Davy or Dr. Spohn, if it were me.

[flamesbball84]

thanks, i\'ll tell her to email one of them.

[PAmedic]

in the thread about the professor suing over losing a job due to his creationism stance, it was mentioned that LU teaches BOTH sides of the scientific argument.

EDIT: no, it wasnt' that thread. will keep looking though

[Hold My Own]

Dickens did you write that post yourself? It sounds like a news article or something!


If I'm not mistaken I'm pretty sure I learned the basis of evolution at LU and then what flaws and holes it has...


it's been a few years though and honestly I wouldnt be able to tell you the day after the lecture...

[scuzdriver]

She wants to know from both sides, not just what one side believes. She wants a good biological education, and if LU biology professors "blacklist" some biology stuff because it conflicts with Christianity, then she doesn\'t think it is putting her in the best position to exceed in her field post graduation.

She won't get both sides from any state school.

[jmdickens]

Dickens did you write that post yourself? It sounds like a news article or something

They are just people who have inspired me since I have been at LU

Besides.....RD ofcourse

[Hold My Own]

may be one of your best posts ever!

[Baldspot]

Liberty took a lot of heat back in the 80's from some fringe elements in Chritianity for teaching both sides. Dr Falwell believed Christians needed to know both sides of the issue to be relevent in today's world. For someone considering Liberty, however, to be worried about being influenced by Christian thought probably isn't what Liberty is looking for.

[adam42381]

Jon and Dan are definitely smart guys and very down to earth. They used to play poker over at my house back in '03-'04 near Perrymont on Thursday nights. They're both on facebook but I'm too lazy to look it up...

[flamesbball84]

Liberty took a lot of heat back in the 80\'s from some fringe elements in Chritianity for teaching both sides. Dr Falwell believed Christians needed to know both sides of the issue to be relevent in today\'s world. For someone considering Liberty, however, to be worried about being influenced by Christian thought probably isn\'t what Liberty is looking for.

She\'s not worried about being influenced by Christian thought, but due to the strong faith basis of the school - since it\'s stronger than mostly every other Christian college/university - she was worried about how the faith would skew the facts.

My own personal question: does LU teach adaptations, mutations, etc. as a type of evolution, or is evolution limited to the whole "people came from monkeys" stuff? I\'ve always hated how in secondary education that the teachers have always completely failed to make a point that evolution isn\'t simply limited to "humans came from monkeys"

[phoenix]

The first time I really was taught the difference between macro and micro evolution was at Liberty.

My Biology teacher in HS was scared off from doing hardcore evolution because the two best students in the class were both staunch creationists (in fact, I think that one was a literal six-day creationist).

[ToTheLeft]

The first time I really was taught the difference between macro and micro evolution was at Liberty.

My Biology teacher in HS was scared off from doing hardcore evolution because the two best students in the class were both staunch creationists (in fact, I think that one was actually reading the Bible).

Fixed.

[flamesbball84]

do the LU professors believe microevolution is false? obviously they would thank macroevolution is...

[Baldspot]

She\'s not worried about being influenced by Christian thought, but due to the strong faith basis of the school - since it\'s stronger than mostly every other Christian college/university - she was worried about how the faith would skew the facts.

Putting the phrases "strong faith" and being worried her "faith would skew the facts" in the same sentence is interesting. LU is more for those unafraid to test their faith against whatever the current flavor of the month in the world of science happens to be. Dr. Falwell stated many times he thought the Scopps trial got it all wrong, creationism and evolution should be taught side by side. It's the secular world that's running scared of an alternative viewpoint that might pont to a living God. I remember a debate sponsored at LU between an LU professor and a leading athiest of the day and the following day the Washington Post headlined the story: God 1, Athiesm 0.

If your friend is concerned about her faith skewing the facts, perhaps there's another school more suitable. LU's not for everyone.

[flamesbball84]

I agree, they should be taught side-by-side. A non-Christian institution should teach both, but not say either one is correct. If it is a Christian institution, then I have to say it\'s up to them rather they want to teach one as truth or not. if you don\'t teach both, then you are doing your students a disservice.

I don\'t necessarily believe in macroevolution, however I do believe in microevolution - I haven\'t seen or heard of a legitimate argument against microevolution and there is plenty of evidence to prove it.

[thepostman]

do the LU professors believe microevolution is false? obviously they would thank macroevolution is...

from the one biology class I have had I would say they do believe in microevoltion...of course this is one professor, so who knows...

in the general bio class I had the covered many areas of evolution that you knew they didn't agree with it...but often the prof told us it was important for us to know so when having discussions with people we aren't ignorant just because we are Christians...

[ToTheLeft]

do the LU professors believe microevolution is false? obviously they would thank macroevolution is...

from the one biology class I have had I would say they do believe in microevoltion...of course this is one professor, so who knows...

in the general bio class I had the covered many areas of evolution that you knew they didn't agree with it...but often the prof told us it was important for us to know so when having discussions with people we aren't ignorant just because we are Christians...

No, the believe that microevolution, aka adaption, is true. That comes from Dr. DeWitt in the Creation Studies Curriculum.

[flamesbball84]

do the LU professors believe microevolution is false? obviously they would thank macroevolution is...

from the one biology class I have had I would say they do believe in microevoltion...of course this is one professor, so who knows...

in the general bio class I had the covered many areas of evolution that you knew they didn\'t agree with it...but often the prof told us it was important for us to know so when having discussions with people we aren\'t ignorant just because we are Christians...

No, the believe that microevolution, aka adaption, is true. That comes from Dr. DeWitt in the Creation Studies Curriculum.

That\'s cool to know. I know a Bio teacher at EC Glass who tried to teach the hoodlums in his class that adaptation is evolution but they were apparently too fanatical to accept it...The year after that he tried to teach at one of the private schools to no avail