(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Worst Scandal in Higher Ed belongs to Liberty University [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-22 David French, writing at The NY Times is not a happy man. The spectacle unfolding at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA has him looking at it as emblematic of the way evangelical Christianity has come to invert the values it claims to hold. (Link through the paywall.) ...In fact, I’d argue that the moral collapse at Liberty University in Virginia may well be the most consequential education scandal in the United States, not simply because the details themselves are shocking and appalling, but because Liberty’s misconduct both symbolizes and contributes to the crisis engulfing Christian America. It embodies a cultural and political approach that turns Christian theology on its head. Last week, Fox News reported that Liberty is facing the possibility of an “unprecedented” $37.5 million fine from the U.S. Department of Education. The department has been investigating violations of the Clery Act, a federal statute that requires federally funded colleges and universities to publicly report data about campus crime. To put that number into perspective, consider that Michigan State University paid $4.5 million for its own “systemic failure” to respond to the infamous Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, in which Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing dozens of women in his care. While Liberty’s fine is not yet set, the contents of a leaked Education Department report — first reported by Susan Svrluga in The Washington Post — leave little doubt as to why it may be this large. Read the whole thing. French, as a conservative, is understandably upset and includes links to reports that lay out in detail just how bad the situation is there — and elsewhere. Not every Christian institution is rocked by scandal, and there are many Christian colleges that are healthy and vibrant, led by men and women of integrity. Yet as we witness systemic misconduct unfold at institution after institution after institution, often without any real accountability, we can understand that many members of the church have gotten Paul’s equation exactly backward. They are remarkably tolerant of even the most wayward, dishonest and cruel individuals and institutions in American Christianity. At the same time, they approach those outside with a degree of anger and ferocity that’s profoundly contributing to American polarization. It’s also perpetuating the corruption of the church. Pro Publica has been investigating Liberty University and reported on the school in 2021: “The Liberty Way”: How Liberty University Discourages and Dismisses Students’ Reports of Sexual Assaults. NPR has an interview with the author of that report. Tom Sullivan over at Digby’s Place picks up on this with Oh ye of bad faith. Sometimes in grazing the net, a theme appears in otherwise disconnected bits of internet flotsam. The current of electrons this morning delivered several random entries pointing toward the cultural degradation of the very people in this country who decry cultural degradation the loudest. This is the real American carnage, to borrow a phrase. emphasis added ‘Liberty’ University is an oxymoron in a sense. Students don’t go there to open their minds to new ideas, new perspectives. As a private college with Baptist roots founded by the late Jerry Falwell, it’s very much about indoctrination in the evangelical world view. It’s inherently authoritarian. Sullivan references Fench’s opinion piece, and notes: Too many Christians, too many Christian institutions, French believes, have gotten Christianity “exactly backwards.” The biggest threat to Christianity is not secular America. Christianity is, as Fugelsang suggests, under attack by fake Christians. “For a lot of right-wing America, the Bible consists of the Book of Leviticus and the Book of Revelation duct-taped to the entire Left Behind series.” Sad, but true. French concludes, “Liberty University is consequential not just because it’s an academic superpower in Christian America, but also because it’s a symbol of a key reality of evangelical life — we have met the enemy of American Christianity, and it is us.” emphasis added The scandals at the school and elsewhere are predictable — it’s exactly what should be expected from any authoritarian organization. Sara Robinson’s introduction to right wing authoritarianism spells out how the personalities of authoritarian leaders and followers inevitably lead to the kind of abuses taking place at Liberty University and elsewhere in the right wing world. The top-ranked reader comment on French’s opinion piece gives a view into that world: Phyliss Dalmatian Wichita Ks, Homosassa Fl 7h ago Excellent article. I’ve had their number, since the 1980s. Jerry Falwell and his “ Moral Majority “. My mother and stepfather joined a local Baptist church. It was quite a switch for my mother, who had been a democrat and Kennedy fan during my childhood. They became fanatics, voted for republicans, and turned into disagreeable zealots. I finally made it clear: their cult was NOT for me, and I would visit only if they stopped their attempts at persuasion. One other thing about those visits: I noticed that would get constant calls from the Falwell “church”, sometimes several times a day, begging for money. These folks were excellent telemarketers, they always had a “special need” and my parents place on earth was to fill that need. And many, many others. This went on for years, they were nearly bled dry. I would try to answer the phone, and intercept the calls. I finally threatened “ lawyers “. The calls dwindled. My mother later told me they were shamed and verbally abused, and finally stopped answering the phone. A “Christian’ organization? No. A Trump level long CON. Just say NO. To it ALL. There are more comments along those lines. While it’s important not to minimize the danger these right wing institutions represent to our democracy, it’s also important to recognize their own overreach and internal contradictions are beginning to take a toll on them. It’s on full display in the GOP House majority. They have too many High SDO figures fighting for dominance to be able to work together effectively. But that only makes them more dangerous. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/22/2200962/-The-Worst-Scandal-in-Higher-Ed-belongs-to-Liberty-University?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/