He who has ears let him hear! How can the problems with Beck be so obvious yet people do things like this?

Wait, wait, Beck is a Mormon. Is it unusual for Liberty to pick speakers that are members of religions that Liberty would strongly view as a cult? And if so, can we take this to mean that they’ve finally sold their souls to the political machine?
While I’m not particularly picky about that sort of thing personally, I find it highly odd for a school that prides itself for being fundamentalist.

Good grief

ditto the mormon thing…
patriotism > christianity?
absolutely no word about his faith. only some garbage about ‘principles on which this nation was founded’….
good job falwell… way to keep the ‘longstanding tradition’ going……

As an alum of Liberty I have done my best to voice my dissatisfaction at this selection. Beck is not a wise choice for this (or frankly any other) venue at the school. After honoring him with a free doctoral degree they will let him prattle on about whatever he chooses.
I am deeply disappointed with the selection. Our graduates deserve better, more sound choices. Allowing a cultist and a blasphemer up on stage isn’t a wise choice.
BTW, Liberty doesn’t claim to be fundamentalist anymore. They moved away from that camp in the mid-90s. While they are conservative evangelicals, the fundamentalist camp isn’t really their home anymore.
Peace, love, and keep Jesus First

Jerry Falwell did invite Ted Kennedy years ago.
When the Moral Majority was founded years ago they intended to work with people of other faiths on issues of similar interest. I suppose this is a continuation of that.
I’m sure Beck will have plenty of fans there at LU.

The Founding Fathers;
Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Beck.
Im a Yankee Doodle Dandy………….

LOL

Clay (6), alright then. If this is a continuation of an old policy then it’s less of a big deal than it seems. As much as I personally dislike the way that camp goes about things, this probably isn’t a major compromise of previously held values for political purposes.

Sadly Scot, it’s not that hard to believe. With the alliance between some branches of evangelicalism and Right wing politics, this comes as no surprise to me. Some believe that you can’t even BE a Christian if you aren’t Republican and/or support Lim-Beck-anity.

I’ve got no problem with it.

“Both speakers continue Liberty’s long tradition of commencement speakers who are making a positive impact on society in all walks of life,”
I beg to differ…

You’ve got no problem with it? They pick speakers based upon their continuing a message based upon what a 235 year old country is founded upon, regardless of where they stand on the faith and other issues; they’re a Christian institution who is inviting a Mormon to speak; what’s important to them is a message of right-wing politics, not a message of Christianity. This speaks volumes about their desires. The church and Jesus have taken a background to the REAL important matters: continuing a false idealized notion about the founding of a country. The funny thing is, their facts aren’t even right. This is tragic, and if I were a student I would boycott. The administration has to know that this crap won’t be tolerated and can’t be done again. Right-wing/conservative politics is not the epitome of Christianity…sorry.

@Luke
Would you have a problem if they asked Elie Wiesel to speak at their graduation?
Do we know if they are paying him a speaker fee? If he’s doing it in exchange for the honorary degree, it’s probably gratis. Seems like it would be kinda fun for a mostly right-leaning student body.
Obama spoke at Notre Dame. He isn’t Catholic, and isn’t particularly interested in Christianity of any sort. He spoke there because he’s president. What’s the difference?

It is grossly unfair to say that LU is not interested in a message of Christianity. They are all about Christianity. But that does not mean that they cannot have people of other faiths, or people of other branches of the Christian faith, come and speak.
Yes, LU tends to be right-wing in politics, but that does not mean that right-wing politics is more important to them. And having Glenn Beck in to address them does not mean that politics is their most important value. When they had Sen. Ted Kennedy in, it did not signal that politics is their most important value.
I think the real problem for many here is that they do not care for right-wing politics. I expect they do not mind when Jim Wallis is asked to speak at Christian universities and present his left-wing political views. But left-wing politics is not the epitome of Christianity anymore than right-wring politics, although many on the left seem to think it should be.
So, no, I do not have a problem with Glenn Beck speaking at Liberty University. So take a deep cleansing breath and let it out slowly.

Jeff, the issue for me is that this is commencement. How many singularly important events are there in the school year? Opening convocation and Baccalaureate and Commencement. Each must be shaped by the school’s theology and mission.
Bring Beck to campus for a talk, but not commencement. It’s too sacred of an event.

Oh brother. Maybe he’ll talk about Jesus and social justice.

I have a hard time thinking of commencement as a “sacred event.” It is a significant event in the career of a graduate, no doubt, but it is not a holier moment than others. In practice, it is usually an inspirational talk as students prepare to move on and … commence. Many of them, in high schools, colleges and universities are quite forgettable and hacked full of cliches. Not that we should set a low standard for commencement addresses, but “sacred event”? I don’t think so.
I agree that a speaker more reflective of the school’s theology and mission would probably be more appropriate, but it doesn’t bother me that Glenn Beck will be at LU. Again, I think what seems to bother many here is that he brings a right-wing political viewpoint.

Jeff, the issue is civil religion.

@ Jeff 18
“Again, I think what seems to bother many here is that he brings a right-wing political viewpoint”
Honestly, I could respectfully disagree with them bringing in a right-wing politician because that would fit with much of their demographic. That said, I have a real hard time respecting a decision to bring in a shock-jock, even if he’s a right-wing politician. That’s the issue.
What is or has Glenn Beck done to better our world? Where is his credentials as a Christian leader or thinker that would warrant a private Christian school bringing him in? Earlier this year he was advocating for Christians (especially Catholics) to leave their churches because he thought social justice churches were communist and/or fascist. Nevermind the incredible lack of awareness in lumping communism and fascism together, he was encouraging Christians to leave their churches.

Scot, I need you to expand on that, if you would, please.

Richard,
He is certainly a controversial figure right now and can be very strident in his views. Shock-jock? I thinks that’s a pejorative term that muddies the issue.
Since he is a Mormon, I don’t think he is being brought in as a Christian speaker. LU is, after all, is not a seminary but offers degrees in a number of fields.

I love GB
I think he is awesome. He makes perfect sense when he speaks and is not at all an agitator like Obama.
I believe the leftist hate him so much, because they can’t compete with his logic and it makes them angry that someone is taking the mask of the liberal messiah and calling it like it is; a bunch of bs aimed at destroying this country
Keep it up Glen, you are smarter that anyone the left has to offer

kevin s.,
One difference I would note is POTUS > shock jock/cable news personality. And the thing is, they can ask whoever they want. Many of us are just asking, why did they make this choice? Lots of conservative Catholics asked the same thing about Obama at Notre Dame, anyway.

The responses were pretty predictable and rather uninteresting up till the last dozen or so. Just think how fun the comments would have been if Liberty asked Sarah Palin to speak

Is it just me, or does politics seem to bring out the worst in people?

In response to # 23–Godchaser, I would have to heartily disagree. To say the Glen Beck isn’t an agitator and makes perfect sense only indicates that you are an extremist like him. He is a shock-jock as others have said. I don’t find him to be a religious person at all. He stirs things up to get an audience, and the sad thing is, there are so many Americans that fall for his line of thinking.

This is depressing on a whole lot of levels.
Wondering if anyone has heard of any protests by students/alumns?

“One difference I would note is POTUS > shock jock/cable news personality.”
In terms of prestige, yes. But if your contention is that Liberty is somehow hypocritical for having asked Beck to speak at commencement, then you are left with the same problem.
“And the thing is, they can ask whoever they want. Many of us are just asking, why did they make this choice? Lots of conservative Catholics asked the same thing about Obama at Notre Dame, anyway.”
They did. Do you think their contention is equally valid?

Woah. Did not see that one coming.
Next I suppose Piper will invite Rick Warren to his conference.
Ok seriously, I gotta believe Beck never makes it. I mean there is going to be serious push back, right? Right?

For the record, I’m a Liberty alum, and a registered Republican who hates politics.
As a Liberty grad I’m very disappointed in the selection because it seems to me that Liberty is once again placing political commitment over and above the gospel. I don’t care so much that they chose Beck per se, but in light of his recent comments, I find it inappropriate to have him speak. He is a political talking head. Under normal circumstances, this would bother me, but Beck is more than just a pundit. He is a heretic who showed the hubris to stick his nose into the Church and tell Christians what kind of pastors they should be listening to. But this doesn’t matter. Most of the people at Liberty will view him as a hero because in much of that world, politics and the gospel have been so confused as to be indistinguishable. I listened to Jerry Falwell Sr. every Wednesday in chapel for 4 years. I got a belly full of being a “champion for Jesus” = voting Republican and using fear as a tool for motivation. Having Beck speak is just the same song, different verse.

meant to say “Under normal circumstances, this alone would bother me”

Jeff (#21) – For a great primer on the difference between American ‘civil religion’ and biblical, Jesus-shaped Christianity read “The Myth of a Christian Nation” by Gregory Boyd.

Thanks, Jeremy. I understand the difference between the two. Just not sure what point Scot was making by his very brief reference to civil religion, and I want to be careful not to read into his comment something he did not intend.

I nearly signed up to take classes at Liberty. Then I heard about their suit against the health care bill as well as their strong stance against evolution and I quickly decided against it.
Having a Mormon give their commencement address is a good confirmation that I did the right thing.

I should add that there are many Christians at LU who are very serious about the gospel. My degree was in Bible, and my profs were godly men who really wanted us to learn God’s Word. I can remember one elective course on Religion and Politics where we seemed to always be talking in hushed tones because we instinctively knew that we were saying things that might get our prof in trouble.
That said, I seem to recall essentially only one message coming from leadership:
America was founded as a strictly Christian nation which God has uniquely blessed. It is our primary calling to maintain this blessing through both evangelism and political action. I can’t recall hearing anyone talk about the Kingdom of God. Ever. I don’t recall anyone talking about the Church’s role in mercy ministry. No one ever suggested the possibility the U.S. had no particular special place in God’s eschatological plan for this world. We are the center of God’s work in the world, and the best way to glorify God was to preserve a version of Christian America through politics and law. I know that the leadership would deny that this was their primary goal, but that was very much the impression I was under.
Ironically, Jerry Falwell himself was instrumental in starting at least a couple mercy ministries. There is a home for unwed mothers, and a treatment center for alcoholics. There might be a few other things as well. I can’t recall. But somehow, evangelism, mercy ministry, and politics were all blended together for the purpose of preserving “Christian” America.

Yes. This American civil religion is in striking contrast to the kingdom of God come in Jesus and found in the community of Jesus, the church. The core values are at odds, even opposites, surely.

They should have gone with Jennifer Knapp!

Though God works in spite of all of us. Good to read of all the good LU has done, and Jerry as well.

OK, the problem is not that Beck is a conservative or that Beck is a Mormon. The problem is that Beck is insane. This is the guy who has said that:
-Obama is racist against white people
-Katrina victims are scumbags
-9/11 victims are gold-digging whiners
-California residents hate America and deserve to lose their homes in forest fires
-Liberalism is the same thing as communism, which is the same thing as fascism
-People who believe in global warming are like Hitler
-Obama supports eugenics to create a master race
And so forth. A college has responsibility for what is said by a speaker they hired for their own event. They don’t need to hire only speakers who agree with the college mission in every single particular, but they do need to hire people with a basic grounding in reality.

This situation saddens me very much because the calling of a university is education, teaching people to be curious and thoughtful, to know and love truth and to be humble because of our imperfect grasp of it.

i say, “WHO CARES?” why does this even matter? it proves the “Falwells” of America are more American than Christian. so the fundies at Liberty want a politically conservative Mormon to speak at commencement, have fun. i hope he really stirs them up so they can go off and serve the god of capitalism, democracy, and whatever else Beck stands for.
out of curiosity: is there real proof Beck is Mormon? i’ve heard it and said it, but is it true?

Chad M,
Yes, he is Mormon. It’s not a secret.
http://www.glennbeckmormon.com/
http://www.getreligion.org/?p=19285

kevin s.,
Yes I think both are valid, but the situations are not equal. If the only issue was that Beck had been known to have some values that Christians should disagree with (like nationalism trumping christianity, “social justice” being evil, etc.), it might get some people annoyed but it wouldn’t be a big enough deal for us to be talking about it. But he is solely famous for being a bombastic extemist in his rhetoric, and whipping up the fringe. This is the type of person who shouldn’t be given a platorm in any place that values Christian higher education. And I know that the answer from conservatives (at least ones who are fond of Beck) is “well would you be mad if they asked a liberal?” but there is literally no liberal equivilant of Glenn Beck who has a mainstream enough platform to get noticed. On the liberal side, the lunatic fringe is still relegated to yelling on the street–not given radio programs, their own TV show, and invitations to speak at Christian college commencements.

Nobody is truly surprised by this – are you?

“If the only issue was that Beck had been known to have some values that Christians should disagree with (like nationalism trumping christianity, “social justice” being evil, etc.), it might get some people annoyed but it wouldn’t be a big enough deal for us to be talking about it.”
Nationalism trumping Christianity? That’s not a position I would remotely attribute to Beck. Also, he didn’t say social justice was evil, but that it was code for left-wing political sentiments, which it pretty much is, and that these sentiments portend to socialism, which they often do.
“But he is solely famous for being a bombastic extemist in his rhetoric, and whipping up the fringe.”
He was famous on CNN, and I don’t think he really did any of those things. He has used his platform to voice his opinions rather vehemently, and much of what he says is wrong. I don’t think bombast should preclude one from speaking at a commencement ceremony.
If the tea party movement constitutes “the fringe” then so, certainly, does Jeremiah “Them Jews” Wright’s followers, and Obama was one. Obama’s San Francisco speech, where he portrayed blue collar voters as fearful idiots clinging to their guns and bibles, was certainly red meat for the fringe.
“And I know that the answer from conservatives (at least ones who are fond of Beck) is “well would you be mad if they asked a liberal?” but there is literally no liberal equivilant of Glenn Beck who has a mainstream enough platform to get noticed.”
Olbermann on MSNBC does the same shtick. MSNBC available on every television set Fox News is.
“On the liberal side, the lunatic fringe is still relegated to yelling on the street”
I’ll add DailyKos, which was tens of millions of readers.
Both Olbermann and Markos Moulitsas have given commencement speeches at high profile universities. What’s the difference?

@Kevin S. (46)
I hear what you’re saying, but I think you’re not seeing the point about Beck. Yes, a school can invite whomever they wish. Yes, many liberal talking heads have spoken at liberal institutions. No problem there. Ted Kennedy once spoke at Liberty’s commencement. No problem there either.
But the problem is that Beck’s comments about social justice were reckless and most people will not interpret him correctly. I interpret the quote in question as saying that if your pastor says that God cares about the poor, and that government has some role in this effort, then your religious freedom is in jeopardy. So, for me, Beck’s comments went beyond politics and into the realm of ecclesiology and theology proper. In that realm of discussion, Beck is a heretic by any measure and has no right to tell biblical Christians what their theology should be or where they should go to church.
This is further complicated by the fact that a few weeks after, Jerry Falwell Jr. stated that Jesus wasn’t interested in politics. He says that those pastors who preach economic and social justice “are trying to twist the gospel to say the gospel supported socialism.” While I don’t think socialism is the answer, I believe Falwell’s theology is wrong. I also can’t help but notice that for group of people who don’t think Jesus cares about politics, Liberty, as an institution, sure spends plenty of time talking about politics. Does that strike anyone else as out of balance?
I spent 4 years listening to the rhetoric, so I think I can make a fair assessment. As I tried to say above, I feel that Liberty has a track record of confusing American Civil Religion and the gospel. Their continued political activism muddies the gospel waters, and inviting Beck in the wake of his comments only reinforces my opinion.

“But the problem is that Beck’s comments about social justice were reckless and most people will not interpret him correctly.”
That fact that people will misinterpret a statement does not make that statement reckless.
“I interpret the quote in question as saying that if your pastor says that God cares about the poor, and that government has some role in this effort, then your religious freedom is in jeopardy.”
You can interpret it that way, but that’s not at all what he said. He was referring specifically to the term social justice, and said it was code for leftist politics, which is a valid point to raise.
“Social justice” as a concept was born of progressive politics. The term was loaded from the get go, and has been used by leftists from Father Coughlin to Jim Wallis to refer to progressive politics. I don’t think it’s reckless to point that out.
“This is further complicated by the fact that a few weeks after, Jerry Falwell Jr. stated that Jesus wasn’t interested in politics.”
This is a valid position, but I agree that it is inconsistent with some of the university’s actions in the past. But commencement speakers often reflect different political and religious priorities from the universities at which they speak.

UNBELIEVABLE! Thank God they don’t represent me! (But the media will think so). They might as well have Pat Robertson warm up the crowd with his compassionate, loving words about the Haitians not having a chance because the Devil’s in charge over there now. I pray, dear Lord, save us from ‘your’ foolish people! This lack of Christian good sense makes me want to cry tears of anger!

“That fact that people will misinterpret a statement does not make that statement reckless.”
reck?less [rek-lis]
?adjective
1. utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless (usually fol. by of): to be reckless of danger.
2. characterized by or proceeding from such carelessness: reckless extravagance.
I didn’t say his comments were reckless because people will misinterpret him. I said they were reckless comments because they will have consequences that he did not consider beforehand (or did consider, but didn’t care). One of those consequences is that people will misinterpret him, and for the pastors of Beck fans, he just made properly handling scripture more of a mine field than it already is.
I agree with you that the term “social justice” is loaded, and I don’t use it. Maybe we need to come up with a better term.
Still, I think the original topic was American Civil Religion and Liberty U’s role in it as it relates to Beck. You haven’t really interacted with that assertion at all, but have only been defending Beck. My previous posts were not so much about Beck, but about ACR at LU. Again, Liberty can have whoever Liberty wants as a speaker. My point is that Liberty confuses the Gospel message. Beck’s presence only proves the point.

I know what reckless means, thank you.
“One of those consequences is that people will misinterpret him, and for the pastors of Beck fans, he just made properly handling scripture more of a mine field than it already is.”
Do you have any evidence that this is the case? You are asserting that Beck’s listeners will misinterpret him, and using your assertion to dismiss Beck’s statements as reckless. But I don’t see any reason why this should be the case. The only people who are misinterpreting him are those (e.g. Jim Wallis) who gain politically from doing so.
“I agree with you that the term “social justice” is loaded, and I don’t use it. Maybe we need to come up with a better term.”
Or, instead of criticizing Beck, who isn’t even a Christian, we can turn our admonishment to those who willingly misuse the term to provide a cover for their political agenda.
“Still, I think the original topic was American Civil Religion and Liberty U’s role in it as it relates to Beck. You haven’t really interacted with that assertion at all, but have only been defending Beck.”
I’m not defending Beck as much as I’m defending Liberty. I don’t think the school has done anything unusual here. I don’t particularly see this as a manifestation of civil religion.
Beck agrees with Liberty faculty on political issues generally, and is not a Christian. The is necessary but insufficient to demonstrate an embrace of civil religion.

Paige Patterson has spent most of his life opposing theologically sound women who desire to be leaders in ministry, but apparently has no problem sharing the stage with Mormon celebrities.

Kevin S.
“Do you have any evidence that this is the case? You are asserting that Beck’s listeners will misinterpret him, and using your assertion to dismiss Beck’s statements as reckless.”
Plenty of anecdotal evidence from several years in church work. But since you wouldn’t believe it anyway, I won’t waste my time.
“I’m not defending Beck as much as I’m defending Liberty. I don’t think the school has done anything unusual here. I don’t particularly see this as a manifestation of civil religion.”
Then I suppose that this is where the conversation ends. Beck’s presence is proof of civil religion, it is the product of it. I’ve tried to lay out to you my own observations as a graduate of the institution who worked closely with several of the Deans while there. An insider’s knowledge, if you will. If you don’t accept my first-hand observations as legit then there is nothing left for me to say.
I do suggest you do some reading on the topic ACR.
“The Myth of the Christian Nation” by Boyd
“UnChristian America” by Babcock (ironically an LU prof)
I give you the last word.

Couldn’t Liberty just find someone a little less polarizing than Beck, or is that their whole point? Aren’t there authentic conservatives out there that could bring a principled address to a student body who is already predisposed to the Republican platform? Wouldn’t it be in the best interests of LU to have someone like, say, Ravi Zacharias or someone from First Things or even the Weekly Standard>

As a person who spent her childhood overseas, I have always been struggled with the assumption that (American) patriotism is a Christian virtue. God’s Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom, and no earthly kingdom can ever take its place, no matter how great it is. Furthermore, any earthly kingdom that cannot look at its own faults honestly, repent and learn humility is in grave danger of repeating the atrocities of so-called Christian kingdoms in the past.
That being said, I’m wondering how Liberty U’s (and Glenn Beck’s) American form of “Dominionism” fits with Dallas Willard’s in The Divine Conspiracy? Any thoughts?

Don’t know why my comment was not posted, maybe it was the links posted in it?
@Colleen (#40) nails it.
Nothing to do with being Mormon, or conservative, or political ? should be no valid reason why school would have to select a like minded individual. There is a great deal to share from all.
But the issue is with bringing an insane madman to speak in a scholarly institution. A ranting clown who’s on the record saying it all about “making money”/entertainment and it isn’t really about politics. To the tune of $32M per year. (see recent Forbes magazine article)
And to add to the list that Colleen made, his on air fantasizing about killing Michael Moore with his bare hands?

I agree with Naum (#56). Colleen (#40) nailed it. No need to say more.

“Plenty of anecdotal evidence from several years in church work. But since you wouldn’t believe it anyway, I won’t waste my time.”
So, in summary, you don’t have any evidence that this is how Beck’s listeners are reacting to his comments.
“An insider’s knowledge, if you will. If you don’t accept my first-hand observations as legit then there is nothing left for me to say.”
I’ll accept your observations for what they are, generalizations based on your own collection of anecdotal experiences. However, you came clean as someone who hates politics, so it strikes me that your conclusions based on anecdotal experience might be jaundiced somewhat.
I have read much of Boyd’s work, and am very familiar with his arguments in Myth of a Christian Nation. To me, Beck’s ideas, however poorly expressed, do not directly contradict Boyd’s arguments.
Beck blurs the line between commentary and entertainment. But the characterization of him as some sort of madman, and the characterization of Liberty grads as unthinking jingoists needs better support than has been offered by the commenters here.

I am a current Liberty University student who is graduating in May. I am excited to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. On the other hand I am not excited for graduation.
Many students are opposed to having madman Glenn Beck at our school. I disagree with it so much that I will not be going to graduation. I think that it is really sad that I will look back on my achievement of graduating college with a sour taste. My family who has reserved a hotel 5 months s in advance and is traveling 8 hours will be having a graduation breakfast at 10am on May 15th.
At Liberty, the individual departments break up after the speaker to walk and receive their diploma. This is my only silver lining.
Not only has our school allowed a man who called 9/11 victim?s families ?cry babies? come to address us. I feel that our Chancellor has been very unprofessional to student objections. He has challenged students? negative comments on facebook. (Hardly the place to debate as he is a Chancellor of a University) His wife Becky used negative ad hominem attacks on a student who presented logical and respectful personal disagreements on facebook. She attacked him because he listed that one of his favorite bands is The Beatles; she said that he listened to ?cultist? music.
I can?t believe what has happened to the school. When I entered, Jerry Sr. taught us to be respectful even if you disagree. He used the school as an amazing ministry- which was very present on campus. And now I feel like it is all just a university that gives a polarized political liberal arts degree which is contrary to its original vision. Jerry Sr. always talked about his vision: well educated Christians making a peaceful, positive influence for Christ on a global scale.
To quote our undistinguished speaker it is enough to ?make the blood shoot from my eyeballs?

It seems to me that most people posting here have no affiliation with Liberty University.

Robert, you are close. What you are seeing are partisan politics at work. Each of these anti-Beck posts are easily referenced back to sites like MediaMaters and HufPost. Additionally, the “911 families” comments are easily debunked by going back to original sources. Individuals like Leigh are showing their Progressive roots and fear Beck because he is outing their entire movement.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Progressives are feeling the pain.