Last Sunday, I very cautiously locomoted to a well know local Seminary, Bob Jones University. They have the largest collection of Christian art in the world, only second to the Vatican. The girls must wear dresses, and the guys have to wear dress slacks and shirts at all times, while on the premises. Even I, being a normal Joe, had to wear the proper attire in order to be allowed to view the art.
At the time, I had an encroaching project due the following day in Art History class, in which I had to pick paintings that had certain characteristics. I had visited this place before, when I was in high school. You see, I went to a private Christian school, so they, being the faculty of Bob Jones, invited us to visit for a day, hoping that our parents and us would be so enthralled by the place that we’d enrol as soon as we graduated high school (second level – senior cycle).
I went with the rest of my graduating class, and I’ll have to admit at the time, I was quite captivated by the place and the people. We talked to a lot of the students and faculty and had lunch in their cafeteria. All was well, until I sat down across from a mom and dad that were scolding their daughter for not wanting to stay and for quietly weeping in public. The father even went as far as to say that he was ashamed to be her father. It reminded me of my own home, so I decided that I’d never go to school there.
When are we and where are we? Hmm… Back to last Sunday, I guess. As I traversed the grounds, I couldn’t help but get the feeling of something menacing afoot. You know how you get that feeling in your gut, as Bush gets about terrorism, when you just know something isn’t right, but you just can’t place it. The young adults that I met were all serious and drab, devoid of any humour or liveliness, which is rare in the 18 to 22 year range. Heck, at my university, kids are always cutting up and laughing. Oh, I forgot that students at BJ are not allowed to dash a glance at a hot chick or hold hands, while on the school property. The sad thing is that these younglings live on campus.
Even though the place was making the hair on the back of my neck stand up, I treaded forward, went to the Art Museum, and took some fantabulous shots.
By the way, Baino has a fabulous post about religion on her blog. And, please have Absolute Vanilla in your thoughts. She’s a Sick Parrot.
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Aw, thanks for thinking of me JD. Big hug.
That University does not sound like a happy place – I’m glad you went somewhere else. Being young is about being vibrant, alive, creative, happy – at least it should be.
Their creed: Love for and faithfulness to God and His Word (no problem with that), Unashamed testimony for Jesus Christ, the only Savior (well a few people might dispute the ‘only’ bit) Edifying love for God’s people – what about the rest? I’ve opened a can of worms methinks but surely even Christians can have fun! There’s nothing in the Bible about “Thou shalt not laugh”. Thanks for the mention JD but I’m moving on from the contentious. Well I thought I was until I realised David Beckham isn’t the world’s most popular man after all! Nice pics, it’s a pretty campus alright.
Vanilla, thank you for being such a wonderful writer. I hope you are feeling better.
Baino, anything to do with religion is a never ending circle or arguments. I had an old bloke ask me today what denomination I was. I replied, “Yeah, I’m half Catholic and half Protestant”. He left my sight bewildered and confused.
I don’t mind people witnessing. I think that’s grand, it’s only the dumdums that ask what denomination I am that really grinds my gears! Why should it matter? Shouldn’t the fact that I believe in God and Jesus be enough for these people? 