<p>So I discovered that the college is affiliated with the church, more specifically the Methodist Church I think. How does that effect daily life? Is it apparent or more of a title? experiences from Macalester? Any other comments along the same lines?</p>
<p>I think it’s the Presbyterian Church. We’re Jewish and my son says that the church affiliation is not obvious. KP Hong is the Protestant chaplain and not Presbyterian and he may be acting chaplain this year while the Presbyterian dean of religious activities is on sabbatical. Hong speaks at official college convocations but most colleges have a chaplain. My son says KP Hong is a bit of a character and that there’s no religious pressure on campus.</p>
<p>Definitely just a title (except for the fact that it gets us Good Friday off!). I go to Macalester and we’re…pretty atheist. There’s definitely some people in groups like Mac Protestants, but they’re the minority. I’ve never felt a big official presence at all.</p>
<p>are students required to take some sort of religion/theology course?</p>
<p>Nope, and there’s no requirement to state that you’re a theist on your application either (I’ve heard other church-affiliated schools have those).</p>
<p>[Macalester</a> College Religious Affiliation](<a href=“http://www.macalester.edu/academic/catalog/mhra4.html]Macalester”>http://www.macalester.edu/academic/catalog/mhra4.html)</p>
<p>No student should be concerned about his/her religious affiliation (or lack thereof) somehow conflicting with Macalester’s requirements.</p>
<p>Having the chapel on campus is actually really fun. Kids get to go with their friends to celebrate holidays that they wouldn’t otherwise and get introduced to religions they likely would not without the chapel being so available.</p>