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Secular Kid Goes Undercover at Falwell's School

Book about his experience is out now

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – Kevin Roose spent spring break in Florida last year, but instead of boozing with the rest of the college students, he proselytized them. It was all part of the Brown University student’s undercover semester at Jerry Falwell-founded Liberty University, where he “had to follow their 46-page code of conduct: no drinking, no cursing, no hugs lasting longer than three seconds,” he tells Newsweek as he promotes his book about the experience.

Roose, who felt he should get to know the one-third of American teens who are born-again, “had this secular paranoia that they were all plotting abortion-clinic protests or sewing Hillary Clinton voodoo dolls.” Instead, he found that the students are neither “hostile demagogues” nor “a bunch of Beaver Cleavers. They say things like ‘darn’ and ‘crap.’” His book, The Unlikely Disciple, is even for sale at Liberty’s campus bookstore.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (4)]

Liberty University students, Stephen Corey, right, a freshman, and his sister Betsey, a senior, photograph a rock painted to honor the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Tuesday, May 15, 2007, in Lynchburg, Va. (AP Photo/Don Petersen)

A mortarboard worn by a graduate of Liberty University expresses feelings toward the school's former chancellor, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, during 2007 commencement ceremony. (AP Photo)

Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks during the Christion Coalition of America Road to Victory 2000 conference in Washington in this Sept. 29, 2000 file photo. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Boitano, file)

The cover of Kevin Roose's "The Unlikely Disciple." (Amazon)

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On Facebook, God was the No. 1 most-listed interest among Liberty students. At Brown, it was ultimate Frisbee. - Kevin Roose

They're normal college kids. They worry about homework and gossip about girls, and they question their faith much more than you'd guess. - Kevin Roose

We think of evangelicals as unflinching, but Liberty students spend a lot of time thinking critically—and they don't always agree with what they're taught. - Kevin Roose

I bought a Christian self-help book to help with the cursing, 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, where you're supposed to say things like "Glory be!" and "Mercy!" - Kevin Roose

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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Secular Kid Goes Undercover at Falwell's School