Author: Elizabeth Crowley, Greenville,
S.C.
Publications: The Indian Express
Date: May 11, 2001
At Bob Jones University Tim Keesee
uses familiar terms to help teach the practical side of the school's growing
political-science curriculum: "We need to be 'wise as serpents and gentle
as doves,' as Scripture say."
Bob Jones, a private Christian school,
drew fleeting fame in the political world last year when the then Governor
Geroge W. Bush spoke on campus, landing himself in a national firestorm
because of the University's highly conservative policies, its controversial
ban on interracial dating (scrapped soon afterwards) and its rhetoric against
the Catholic church.
That storm has passed, but in a
quieter and more practical way, students here are studying how to leave
a lasting mark on politics. On a recent day, Prof.Keesee is busy teaching
13 students in his class 'Political Parties and Interest Groups' as part
of the political-science major that is only three years old. He says he
wants his charges to learn "what can be accomplished for Christ through
politics..... I want them to vote, to read the papers, to be passionate
about issues on which Christians should speak out. It's not going to be
that we always win or pass the referendum, but we should have a place at
the table.
In its own way, Bob Jones is laying
down a marker for activism in a continuing debate among Christian conservatives.
After years of working within the political system to try to change American
society, many in the movement area disappointed with the results and convinced
their energies are better directed elsewhere. Even here, Carl Abrams, who
once taught the class, says after seeing Christians elect Ronald Reagan
but then fail to win prayers in schools, he feels "rebuked by politics."
Now, he teaches history and takes students on mission trips to Africa.
"If America is to be saved, it'll be spiritually," he says. "It's not going
to be by sitting enough Christians at a precinct meeting."
But other conservative Christians
continue to throw themselves into the system; even President Bush has made
clear that his experience as a born-again Christian has affected his political
positions. This spring, as Congress considered the nomination of fundamentalist
Christian Jon Ashcroft for attorney general, Christian groups reached out
to mibilise their grass roots through e-mail, church sermons, direct mail
and phone banks.
In hat spirit, Bob Jones introduced
its political science major. Now, 30 poli-sci majors and another 30 poli-sci
minors learn how to get involved in civic affairs.
Students, socially conservative
and almost all Republican, have common beliefs that produce similar political
views, such as opposition to abortion and gay marriage.
Students describe life here as a
kind of bubble separate from secular society. University staff monitor
students leaving and returning to campus. The students aren't allowed to
touch or hold hands with members of the opposite sex, watch PG-13 or R-rated
movies, or listen to rock 'n' roll, big-band or even contemporary Christian
music. Girls can't wear short skirts or shorts.
But Keesee, an adviser to U.S. Rep.Jim
DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, bring the outside world directly into
his classroom. He has students analyse article, op-ed pieces, editorials,
direct mailings and other interest-group literature. He and his students
discuss campaign, lobbying techniques and grass-roots tactics. Recently,
students discussed how a boycott can accomplish political goals. Why, Keesee
asks, was a 1986 antipotnography boycott of 7-Eleven organised by churches
effective when others failed.
Allison Holmes, a senior, offers
an answer: A radio preacher with a wide audience provided effective communications
and central organisation.
Also, antipornography activists
broadened their appeal, using direct mail to mobilise support. Feeling
a financial sting, management removed the offending magazines. "That was
real interesting to me," says Holmes. "How do you get it so big that it
hurts them?" How do you get 7-Eleven to do something that you want?"
The lesson for the class: Christian
political activists must go beyond preaching to the choir. In many cases,
reaching out to larger community requires a softer sell than handing out
pamphlets about Jesus. "You don't always have to beat people over the head
with the Bible," says Ellen Weaver, a senior political science major. Students
to venture beyond the secure campus gates to participate in grass-roots
politics as well as community service. Many hand out flyers, put up signs,
man phone banks and attend rallies. South Carolina conservative candidates
regularly tap the campus for volunteers. And at every turn, students are
taught that the way into politics is to start at the bottom. Weaver spends
some mornings as an intern in Rep. DeMint's office. James Cowan, a junior,
volunteers in local campaigns in his home state of Michigan. "I will run
for office one day," he says. "I will go as high as I can go until the
Lord says 'Stop."
