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A fortune teller cannot tell the future of a believer, because demons plan the life of an unbeliever. See, every unbeliever, when born, his life was planned by the demonic or by demons. There is a demon that is given charge over every born baby on planet earth, 'til redemption.
-- Benny Hinn, Praise the Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network, May 13, 1999
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by AJ Bernhagen
What seems like a century ago I moved a few hundred miles away and walked through the doors into the closest thing to intellectual hell that the human mind can conceptualize. From the start I knew I was in for it: hippie-looking college guys with long hair and flip flops, torn jeans and punk rock T-shirts. Far from the academic heights I was picturing in my wishful mind, the environment was nearly an exact replica of the ridiculous high school I had just escaped from with my brain barely intact. Now I'm attending a community college––I'll say that up front. Not that I imply the scenario would rapidly change at another institution, but there's no reason to shell out ten grand for a home economics class and english comp one.
The second day of class it really hit me. Our history teacher began her two hour lecture with a bit about Berengia, the land mass the first Americans used to cross into our fair country some thirty thousand years ago. I raised my hand and politely asked what evidence there was for such a claim (the thirty thousand year part), as I am persuaded that earth is far younger than that. She replied that some carbon dating had been done to estimate the date. I fired back by explaining to the best of my scientific knowledge why carbon dating isn't reliable...and she agreed.
I hope everyone caught that. She agreed that the carbon dating used to prove how long ago the first explorers settled here was unreliable. Did I miss something?
Oh it gets better.
The next day I took a seat in psychology and not an hour into that we came across evolutionary psychology. Now, I'll be straight with everyone, I despise evolution...the mere thought of it is a source of such disgust that I'll need to excuse myself from writing for a few moments to blow some chunks in the toilet. One moment...
Okay, back.
Like I was saying, we got to evolutionary psychology. For those of you that don't know, this is the religious branch of psychology that tries to nail down human characteristics based on assumptions of our evolutionary history. For instance, the typical male's sense of direction is a product of millions of years of evolution (especially when males had to stalk prey in the field in a loincloth). Again I raised my hand and asked what evidence there was for any of this nonsense. Even the book said something along the lines of, "Well kids, evolutionary psychology is notoriously difficult to test and observe because there's really nothing for us to test or observe." Difficult? I'd say so. I'd say it's so difficult that it's impossible. And, since psychology is defined as "the science (e.g. that which can be empirically tested) of mental processes and behavior," you have a bit of a problem.
I digress.
My teacher went on much as the history teacher had done, claiming that it is difficult but the majority of the scientific community believes this, therefore it must be true. So I simplified this issue and said, "So it's a religion. You don't have any proof. That makes it religious in nature, right?" She refused to get into that debate with me.
If that were the length of my troubles, I would probably not have written this article. Unfortunately the list expands. And it's not just the teachers. More than that is the anti-Christian, anything goes attitude of the students.
"What do you mean there's only one God? People have so many different beliefs. As long as we're good people!"
"You're just close minded."
"Duuh. Uhh! Nu-UH!"
Nearly every day I am placed into the position to defend my faith to a lesser or greater degree. And no, I'm not complaining––I thank God for the opportunity. That being said, I think you all can understand the frustration of combatting this humanistic philosophy, with its lack of absolutes and moral standards, that overwhelm God's children in the secular school system. Of course they have a different word for it. They call it diversity. You know, that thing where you just accept whatever anyone tells you because it's politically incorrect to tell them that they're gravely mistaken.
People, diversity is what you find on the menu at Red Lobster. Relativism is the word they're actually looking for.
The "good person" debate is the one that all roads seem to lead to. Hard as it is to imagine, did you know that there are actually people in the world that think by being "good" that you can somehow mystically save yourself? I know, pretty far out.
Beyond that the political realm is a whole different ball game of retarded. So far I've learned how evil corporations shoot kickbacks George W's way to gain political influence, we should socialize healthcare, I don't have the right to tell a woman she can't murder her unborn infant, and living a homosexual lifestyle which is an abomination to God is perfectly okay. Who am I to judge, right?
Fear not, brothers and sisters. I do have one large and wonderful reprieve from the avalanche of idiocy that is dumped on me four days a week. I recently began attending a reformed preterist church called Messiah. There I find the absolutes thinking people crave, and God's word, which is all that matters. I've also purchased the book Brainwashed by Ben Shapiro, and so far it has been enlightening. But if any of you guys have advice for me I'd appreciate it. Parents, the purpose of the article is this: if your kid is going to a secular school, make sure they are armed and ready. It isn't a joke; it's not a game. I was blessed with a mind to cope with all this. Make no mistake, your children will be absolutely bombarded with liberal propaganda from the moment they walk in 'til the day they graduate. Don't send them off not knowing God's truth.
A.J.
P.S. Sorry about my lapse in columns lately. I've had a bit of a full plate with the move and all.
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AJ Bernhagen is a columnist for PlanetPreterist.com.
View AJ Bernhagen archives
Note: Opinions presented on PlanetPreterist.com or by PlanetPreterist.com columnists may not necessarily reflect the position of PlanetPreterist.com, or reflect the beliefs, doctrine or theological position of all other preterists. We encourage all readers to first and foremost carefully analyze all articles in the light of God's Word.
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Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
 by Virgil on Thursday, September 29 @ 18:30:15 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | AJ, you crack me up man! At least you are attending a community college. Try to go to a large school and your descent into the pit will be even deeper. Welcome to the liberal brainwash room. :) |
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- by Writerx on Thursday, September 29 @ 18:40:57 PDT
Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
 by vento on Thursday, September 29 @ 19:27:56 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | AJ,
I was thinking about you recently, wondering where you were.
I think it was Churchhill that said "if you find yourself in hell, keep going"
I can say you teachers will definitely have their hands full with you!! That is awesome!
Scott |
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Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
by forgivenone2002 on Thursday, September 29 @ 21:00:59 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Dear AJ,
There is a brilliant little book that was written JUST for people like you in your situation. I have a copy, and it is great! It is:
HOW TO STAY CHRISTIAN IN COLLEGE: AN INTERACTIVE GUIDE TO KEEPING THE FAITH. By J. Budziszewski (NAV Press, Box 35001, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80935, 1999), 143 pp. PB;
From a review by a Georgetown University professor:
" J. Budziszewski is a professor of philosophy and government at the University of Texas in Austin. Budziszewski is something of a phenomenon. He writes frequently and brilliantly...He is one of the really effective and sane voices in explaining and promoting Christianity in the public order.
This particular book, How to Stay Christian in College, is extremely valuable, witty, frank. It covers most of the bases-all that you really wanted to know but were too distracted to ask. Budziszewski knows the mind and soul, or lack of it, in academia-student, professor, administrator. He knows the sorts of problems students will meet in college life, the intellectual problems, the moral problems, the religious problems. Obviously, Budziszewski has talked to many students. He knows what sorts of temptations and enigmas they will meet at any college. He sees, to tell the truth, that there may be just as many problems at secular as at religious-based colleges and universities.
Some of the chapter titles are “What God Thinks of the World,” “Myths about the Search for Knowledge,” “Myths about Love and Sex,” “Coping with Campus Social Life,” “Coping with Campus Religious Life,” and the “Meaning of Your Life.” One of the effects of reading this book for the average student is that he will be aware not just that there is a case to be made for Christianity, that is often obscured, ridiculed, or omitted in the university, but that it is possible to survive and cope with the often declining mores found in university social life in general.
Budziszewski is nothing if he is not practical in these matters. He understands, for instance, what “dating” is-the serious search for a marriage partner. His discussions of sex of all forms outside of marriage is devastating in the way he reduces the arguments made for free love or alternative life styles to aspects of intemperance or selfishness. He outlines the sort of sneering attacks that students who seek to continue their faith will be met with in and out of the classroom. He also suggests calm and orderly ways to handle the typical arguments that will be presented against one or other Christian position. He points out that the main arguments against evolution today, for example, come not from Christians but from scientists themselves. He knows about relativism and post-modernism and the various other “isms” that students are likely to meet. He refuses to let the Christian student be naive or defenseless.
The book also contains a very aggressive way to meet likely problems-find other believing Christians and campus fellowships, go to church, pray, read the Bible, find professors who are sympathetic to whom a student can talk. Budziszewski is quite convinced that the student is a social being and needs proper and reinforcing relationships that include a religious dimension. It would be difficult to find a better guide for college students who in fact seek to keep and indeed improve their religious faith while in college.
It is a very personal and engaging book. Budziszewski is frank about his own faith-he once lost it and came back -and its moral and intellectual supports. He knows that there is an evangelical aspect to the faith. Believers ought to make it possible to help others to believe-take them to church, give them a good book, give clear arguments and good examples, and so on. Budziszewski is not an “anti-reason” sort of Christian, if there be such. He has done his intellectual homework on reason and knows its strengths and pitfalls, things often found in the univer
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- by Writerx on Friday, September 30 @ 08:31:58 PDT
Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
 by JL (jl@planetpreterist.com) on Friday, September 30 @ 11:56:02 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | AJ,
The history professor is at least as anti-science as you are. It doesn't cost her anything to deny the validity of radio-carbon dating. As for it's unreliability, yes it might be off by 3 or 4 thousand years back around 30K BC. And you could even legitimately question whether it was real evidence of human presence that was being dated.
But C-14 dating also can be used to show that the fall of Jericho happened 44 years after the plague of darkness. And the other radioactive tests that give ages of rocks in the millions and billions of years have none of the features that make C-14 dating problematic.
If you are going to hold to a young earth and a global Flood, you've got to face the fact that every young-earth creation science organization believes that evolution is a fact and occurred at tremendous rates after the Flood. That is, ICR, AiG, Dr. Dino, and Walt Brown are all young earth evolutionists.
And if you side with them, you are an evolutionist by default.
My four daughters are all every out-spoken. Yet none of them seem to have encountered the problems you have. They would all recommend Gary North's book, 75 Questions. Forget North's questions, just read the appendix. I think Gary DeMar also has a good book on surviving college. Both of these books deal more with surviving Bible College, but the same principles apply when you are dealing with any antagonistic religion.
JL |
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- by Writerx on Friday, September 30 @ 14:16:45 PDT
- by JL on Friday, September 30 @ 19:15:36 PDT
- by Writerx on Friday, September 30 @ 19:56:29 PDT
- by JL on Sunday, October 02 @ 17:34:44 PDT
- by Writerx on Sunday, October 02 @ 20:12:35 PDT
- by Ed on Tuesday, October 04 @ 07:39:16 PDT
- by Writerx on Tuesday, October 04 @ 08:30:36 PDT
- by BigD on Monday, October 17 @ 12:59:20 PDT
- by Islamaphobe on Friday, September 30 @ 20:55:08 PDT
Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
 by Mick on Friday, September 30 @ 17:24:54 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | I am sorry to hear that your experience with college has been so bad so far. Many professors only regurgitate what they have been taught. They take at face value what other say and never question the assumptions that lead to the conclusions they teach. I suspect the condition of your heart that lead you to preterism serves you well and will continue to serve you well as you advance through your academic career. Your experience is far from unique. This has lead many of us who home school our children to try to "home college" them as well. I continue to live with the consequences of the decisions I made as I went through my secular education. The only redeeming part of college for me was that is where I met Christ.
With respect to radiometric dating, I have placed on my blog what I consider a good article although long that helps the Christian understand the controversy.
Mick
P.S. If I can not get it on my blog, Email me and I will forward it to you. |
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- by Writerx on Friday, September 30 @ 20:01:31 PDT
- by Windpressor on Sunday, October 02 @ 23:27:31 PDT
Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
by leslie on Monday, October 03 @ 08:25:07 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I work at a Private College. 10,000 students. It sounds to me like you need to get chip off of your shoulder and the log out of your eye. Your 'heart' seems to be 'hardened',and you are lacking in Love. College is what YOU make it. Don't 'debate' the teachers. The teachers will show you one view point. YOU expand on that view point. If the teachers want 'X' for an answer, you put 'X' for an answer. They will not change the 'test' just for you. It is up to you to study even harder to find the 'correct' answer to use later in life. God did not put you in that College to convert Everyone. Plant seeds and then go on, but do not disrupt the classes as there are others in those classes that are in a different paradgym and on a different plain and want nothing to do with the God of Abraham. Why not go to the Dallas Theological Cemetery and 'convert' them. Les |
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- by Writerx on Monday, October 03 @ 10:57:31 PDT
- by leslie on Monday, October 03 @ 11:36:54 PDT
- by Writerx on Monday, October 03 @ 12:45:03 PDT
Re: Descent into the College Pit (Score: 1)
 by Windpressor (Giddi_one) on Tuesday, October 04 @ 01:51:40 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | ****************
AJ,
I happened to review the Hal Lindsey program again with closer attention to the info presented.(I watch TV and read off web pages at the same time, so I do not pick up on all details at first view.) The secular incursionists have been advancing the humanist agenda into education for a long time. In spite of what Lindsey's futurist agenda might be, there is cause for concern. Before Hal gives examples of NEA policy and school/parent confrontations, he presents a quote from John J. Dunphy:
I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being. These teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the most rabid fundamentalist preachers, for they will be ministers of another sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach, regardless of the educational level—preschool day care or large state university. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new—the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism, resplendent in its promise of a world in which the never-realized Christian ideal of “love thy neighbor” will be finally achieved.
["A Religion for a New Age"Humanist Magazine(Jan/Feb 1983)]
Web search: John J. Dunphy A Religion for a New Age -- gives numerous results if you wish to pursue further background for discussions.
Gary DeMar has 2 pages at his site --
I've Seen the Future
http://www.americanvision.org/articlearchive/11-22-04.asp
and here:
What the Battle’s All About
http://www.americanvision.org/articlearchive/06-22-05.asp
G1
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