<p>I do not believe in or follow any religion, will this pit me as an outsider or make school less fun? Are religious activities forced on all students</p>
<p>The only religion that is "forced" upon you is the fact that you HAVE to take two semesters of theology. I also don't subscribe to any religion, however, and love BC. It absolutely doesn't make you an outsider, and I don't think makes school less fun, either...and sometimes the theology stuff can be kind of interesting.</p>
<p>Don't let the religious affiliation keep you from going to BC if you love it, it's really not that big of a deal! It is what you make it, I guess.</p>
<p>i guess i cant help you that much because i am catholic (even though im not a religious one) but i dont see religion as being a big deal at BC. like sporti said, the theology requirement is probably the biggest deal but you can pick a wide range of classes in theology to something that seems the most interesting to you. some classes will be taught by jesuits but they are honestly the COOLEST priests ever and will not force religion on you. </p>
<p>the time i felt the biggest influence was parents weekend they had a huge outdoor mass in oneill plaza, and SO many people were there. im figuring a large percentage only went cause theyre parents made them go, like me, but it was really surprising to see.</p>
<p>Religion IS a big deal at BC. Not because it is forced on you, but because it underlies much of what happens at the school. My biggest concern about BC was, and remains, the exposure to diversity of options and opinion. Sure, the culture of service to others is great and commendable, something I would love my D to do more of (because we have not instilled enough of that in her), but I get a sense that it is a bit too all-permeating. Just like you, we are not against religion, and I think that the underlying principles of most any religion are some of the finest examples of thought in the history of humanity. However, too much of anything is rarely a good thing.</p>
<p>When we visited last year, I asked the student panel what is the biggest recent controversy on campus. After an uncomfortable silence, one of the students blurted out "Condoleezza Rice's visit a few months ago". How is that for diversity of opinion?</p>
<p>The student body is not overly religious and while volunteerism is big, only a few people are actually passionate about it. My biggest problem with BC is the lack of diversity of ideas. This place is where ideas come to die. If your looking for a wide range of opinions and viewpoints, look elsewhere.</p>
<p>"When we visited last year, I asked the student panel what is the biggest recent controversy on campus. After an uncomfortable silence, one of the students blurted out "Condoleezza Rice's visit a few months ago".</p>
<p>Actually, that was a pretty big controversy. One professor resigned over it. Students were protesting the week before the commencement. Now there is another one with the attorney general speaking at the commencement at the Law School. I guess some of us just don't like war hawks and torturers. The great Mr. Bill O'Reilly had to weight in about, and blah blah. But if by controversy, you mean the war zone of Berkeley or sanction against interracial relationship, I think you miss us by a few decades.</p>
<p>"My biggest problem with BC is the lack of diversity of ideas. This place is where ideas come to die."</p>
<p>Uhh...care to elaborate ClassicGuitar.</p>