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Ryan Struckel English Composition 1 Mr. Harrell 1 November 2013 Brightening the Path for a Better Future After meeting a group of Liberty University students, Kevin Roose decided that he wanted to experiment with a new side of college he had never seen. In the book, The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinners Semester at Americas Holiest University, Roose expresses an interest in living biblically for the semester at a Christian school. He needs to abide by the strict rules and regulations as well as pass all of his classes. Liberty, being a conservative school, is a lot different from his time at the liberal Brown University. Both types of schools teach valuable life lessons however, Roose thought there was more to offer at Liberty. While conservative schools offer students a strict, religious, and somewhat healthier opportunity, liberal schools benefit students by preparing them for the controversial world and life in the workplace. Roose states throughout the book how Liberty has changed him in a way that Brown University could not. He writes, Im already feeling my views changed and augmented by the people around me. I love the way my hallmates pray for each other. I love hearing my neighbor Zipper talk about his Prayer walks. I love singing in the Thomas Road choir on Sundays (125). At Brown University, Rooses hallmates would not have prayer sessions, nor would they go on prayer walks and talk about them. These events show how Roose was strengthened spiritually very soon after arriving at his new dorm room. Also some of his classes were courses that he

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would not have been inclined to take had he not transferred schools. Roose states that, Libertys required core curriculum includes most of the classes on my strange/intriguing list (31). He debated taking normal secular classes but because of the schools requirements, and his own curiosity, he attended some classes such as creation studies and GNED. These courses, although maybe offered at liberal colleges, are classes that would have not been of interest to Roose. Other colleges do not push these classes or encourage students to take them. Roose mentions, Very few have a department of Youth Ministry (31). This may be a reason why liberal schools religion classes usually have such small turnouts. He discovered that he actually liked the Christian classes and studied songs so that he could learn the material in a faster and more interesting way. Roose learned that he enjoyed going to the Christian services and listening to the preachers. Aside from singing in the Thomas Road choir, he was encouraged to attend the masses on Sundays along with most of Libertys student body. Roose writes, Pretty soon, I was joining the rest of my classmates in shouting and cheering not out of any duty or desire to blend in, but because in that moment, I couldnt restrain myself (231). Roose changed from never going into a church setting to actively participating because he wanted to. Two weeks prior to the service he was bored of the church, but now he wants to be involved. This is a benefit people can only learn at a strict Christian college. Normal liberal colleges dont force students to try anything new with religion. Going to Liberty made Roose try a Sunday mass environment, and it turned out he really enjoyed the spiritual involvement. Besides spiritual aspects Roose gained other knowledge such as health benefits and normal life lessons. Roose states, When it comes to socializing, I follow the old Baptist code: Dont drink, smoke, or chew, and dont go with girls who do (5-6). These are some of the

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health benefits that Roose would probably not have learned at Brown University. At Liberty, all of those actions violate The Liberty Way, and the students are less tempted to try them, so they stay out of trouble with the school and with God. Another health benefit Roose gained from Liberty was how to stay in shape. Roose states, In nearly two months of booze-free Christian living and twice-a-week jogging, Ive lost fifteen pounds without trying, and I forgot what a hangover feels like (142). Not only does he say he has lost weight from jogging and not drinking, but that shows that he has learned what alcohol can do to your body. However, At Brown he would have most likely kept drinking and not exercising, so he would not be losing any weight. In fact, he would probably be gaining weight. This is a major benefit of the conservative lifestyle. At a liberal college, one will be faced with real world individuals. One would learn to accept people for who they are and not who other people want them to be. At Brown University, every person can be who they want and will be accepted in society, whereas at liberty if you were gay, you were shunned and forced to change. After returning to Brown University, Roose writes, First Id be surprised by something I experienced an English professor who began the first day of class without leading prayer, or a Boozy Frat party, or the presence of actual, noncloseted gay couples and then Id be surprised that I was surprised (306). Rooses perspective had changed a lot during his time at Liberty. Events that had been customary at the conservative Christian school were not even attempted at regular secular schools, and he was shocked. Most places are not the same and these two schools are polar opposites of one another. Liberty shows that everyone should be the same and follow Gods rules, but Brown prepares you for what you will see in the real world. People may end up working or living with people who do not fit the prefect Christian figure. Liberal colleges will allow you to deal with and accept these people for

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who they are. As a student at a public school, I see people all the time who would not agree with The Liberty Way and they are still accepted. Occasionally kids may be suspended or expelled for breaking some of the rules, but the rules do not tell the kid who to be or how to think. Most of the students at Liberty think alike. They have the same beliefs and almost appear as Jerry Falwells robots to most outsiders. Roose quoted Anna saying, I liked Libertys Christian atmosphere, but there werent enough free-thinkers there (308). Even other students at the school think that the attendants are too similar. There is nobody who is themselves because if they break a rule, they get fined and reprimanded. At Brown University people have the freedom to be who they want without being penalized. That is a life lesson that nobody can teach; it is just something you learn. Roose also wondered throughout the book if one of his dormmates was gay. They had to keep that quiet or else Pastor Rick will try to correct the persons sexuality, and they will be fined and reprimanded. On Facebook everyone posted mainly religious things. Nobody really said what is going on in their lives or post pictures of places they have been. They all joined the same religious pages such as You Know You Went To Liberty If (67). Everybody appears to comment on the page with different religious remarks. At a liberal school, the posts are not always about religion and although there are people out there who join the pages, not everyone tries to find them. Most secular college kids post statuses about what they are doing and pictures of whats going on in their life. Roose does not mention any Facebook pictures, which is usually a big part of the social media website. The differences between the two types of college on the internet are drastic. Roose learned a lot about his fellow Christian classmates through facebook. Roose writes that he saw on a Facebook comment You Know You Went To Liberty If Youve learned more about tithing than your major (67). This makes a reader believe that the student is not

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learning about law or medicine, but about Moses parting the Red Sea. It appears that Liberty students are more focused on prayer and religion than they are on their degree. In contrast, Liberal colleges will teach you more about your major than anything else. If you are going to college for marketing, one would think that marketing courses would be the most important for a student to take. Going to the secular college and learning what you need to get a degree will also help you more in the long run. Degrees from liberal colleges are well recognized in the work place and can help you get a job faster and easier. This is a major benefit when the student is starting to settle down into an everyday job and start a family. Both types of colleges differ in the benefits that they offer. Strict conservative schools will ready one spiritually to take on problems with prayer. They show students how to cope with difficulties and how to be a good Christian. Conservative schools can also teach a healthy living style as well as the boundaries of living a happy life. Being exactly the opposite, liberal schools teach their students how to have a good time and prepare them for the modern day world. The universe is not filled with perfect Christians, so while attending a liberal college, one will learn about the vast array of people they will encounter in the world. They also tend to focus on future goals and job opportunities. Both colleges will benefit you in ways the other cannot. Although Roose did not continue attending Liberty University, he enjoyed his time there and learned a lot of good life lessons. He is getting the best of both worlds by spending semesters at each. In the end, Kevin Roose benefited a lot spiritually and emotionally from attending the Christian school, but benefited a lot in gaining worldly knowledge from Brown. Either school can have a great impact on peoples lives and can brighten the path for an excellent future.

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Work Cited Roose, Kevin. The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinners Semester at Americas Holiest University. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009. Print.