Big name presidents of Christian colleges...still no strong sciences

[BillyMc]

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I don’t really follow your logic of why Christian colleges don’t build up significant departments in math and physics (specifically).

You’re right, looking back, I did not convey that point very well. What I meant was that a lot of science and math professors with secular educations (the large majority of math/science PhDs) may have reservations about working at a Christian school, because of the unfair reputation given to Christian colleges that they are anti-science.</p>

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I also don’t think that you can make sweeping generalizations of Christians who are young earth and say they think science is a lie. You mean they think what a lot of secular scientists have to say is a lie?

I mean that the vocal minority of them in the news suing schools over teaching evolution often give Christians and believers in a God-made world a bad name. There are the people who are very loud about thinking that secular scientists are wrong or the work of devils or what have you, and they are given more attention than the many many more Christians who are much more agreeable and wanting to learn about science, whatever their interpretation/beliefs.</p>

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What Catholic universities are strong in math and physics? Are they truly Evangelical Catholic schools or just going through the motions like the University of San Diego here in town?

Notre Dame and Boston College both have math and physics grad programs of some note, though Catholic schools do tend to focus on undergraduate studies somewhat more than graduate studies. I can’t think of any that are evangelist in the way that they don’t try to convert non-Catholics, but they have varying levels of “religiousness,” so to speak. Jesuit schools (like Georgetown, Boston College, Fordham) tend to be more liberal and have more of a religious mix (~50% Catholic), whereas Notre Dame is more conservative (though in the Obama/McCain mock election, they went 50/50, so it’s pretty much a perfect split) and is seen as “more Catholic” (~85% Catholic, >90% Christian).</p>

<p>At various Catholic schools, there were non-Catholic students and professors ready to attest that they felt comfortable in their religions there because of the value placed on faith. However, many non-Catholic students wouldn’t fit a Catholic university very well, and there’s nothing wrong with that; I wouldn’t fit an Evangelical university very well, either.</p>

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I guess what I’m asking about Catholic Universities such as the above is, do they hold fast to Catholic doctrine? One of my dearest friends is a Catholic (I would be considered more aligned with Reformed and Evangelical with a charismatic component) and she is leary of Catholic colleges that are pro-abortion and don’t hold to fundamental Catholic doctrines.

There are no pro-abortion Catholic colleges, and none allow campus stores to sell contraceptives. However, some have more liberal students, and a couple have significant gay communities. All Catholic liberals I know are economically and usually socially liberal, but always very anti-abortion, so I wouldn’t imagine that being a problem.</p>

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We are not Catholic and my children would most likely not attend a Catholic college/university but they have certainly enjoyed their music experience and the people on the campus of USD.

There seem to be nice people on a lot of campuses, so that’s always a good thing.</p>

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But I digress. Yes, I was originally talking about Evangelical Christian colleges such as Wheaton, Grove City, etc. that do have fairly strong math and physics but don’t offer enough for a student that comes in with significant college level experience in these areas.

If I were you, I would email a couple of math/science professors at these colleges. They might have a thing or two to say that might interest you or answer your questions.</p>