‘The World’s Largest Baptist University’ inaugurated a new president this past Friday with an interesting choice of inaugural speakers: Jon Meacham, liberal managing editor of Newsweek magazine and a semi-devout Episcopalian. While Meacham’s liberal political views came through pretty clearly his religious liberalism was the most disconcerting in this context. I had understood Baylor to be an unabashedly Christian university that even if mainline could be generally considered a cultural ally (See “Pro Ecclesia” in their mission statement). Here’s an excerpt from an article in the Waco Tribune-Herald covering the address:
Newsweek magazine managing editor Jon Meacham�€™s keynote address highlighted Friday�€™s inauguration of John Lilley as the 13th president of Baylor University.Speaking to a crowd of more than 1,000 at the Ferrell Center, including U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, and Mayor Virginia Dupuy, Meacham examined the balance between faith and reason, stressing his belief in �€œthe freedom to believe or not to believe.�€ï¿½
�€œWithout freedom, there is no true faith,�€ï¿½ Meacham said. �€œFor faith coerced is no faith at all, only tyranny.�€ï¿½
Meacham interspersed jokes with serious discussion of faith and people�€™s intellectual examination of their own beliefs. He told the crowd of an e-mail he received from a man at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., in response to an article he wrote for Newsweek.
�€œThe message was to the point: Dear Mr. Meacham, I am praying for you, but I hope you go to hell,�€ï¿½ Meacham said.
I watched the address here and the reporter’s quote is verbatim [it occurs just after the 1:12 mark on the video, but fortunately you can fast forward]. While I can’t say for sure whether his quote is fair or accurate, it seems most likely that Meacham manipulates his correspondent’s words for maximum laugh effect (it certainly worked!).
While it’s certainly tiring for one’s alma mater to be the constant brunt of these sorts of statements, one gets (mostly) used to it after a while. It’s so commonplace in fact that if it hadn’t occurred at a notable, apologetically Christian university it wouldn’t have been worth mentioning. Rather, the most significant part of his address was what might be considered his theme—in essence, although I’m sure he wouldn’t put it this way, he’s an advocate of the “it’s OK to be religious as long as you don’t believe it too much or practice it too faithfully” school of thought, unabashedly advocated throughout the address. He was explicitly critical of “fundamentalism” several times (using the usual liberal definition meaning essentially “anyone who chooses to take Scripture literally” rather than the more technical definition most of my readers will be more familiar with) professed more doubts than certainties, and generally begged the question as to what benefit he finds in claiming to be a part of a religion he appears to believe little of.
Interestingly the other parts of the ceremony, with organ-played hymns, a doctrinally strong, orthodox invocation and plenty of pomp and circumstance were reminiscent of nothing more so than similar ceremonies I’ve experienced at BJ. Needless to say Meacham’s speech, it’s contents and the audience’s response was a surprise. I guess that leaves the question of what Baylor thinks about it and whether or not they choose to make a statement regarding its content. Since the speaker was the personal choice of the new President (!) my guess is that’s not likely to happen. It will be interesting to see where they end up in the near future.
