<p>I'm a junior interested in Georgetown for its School of Foreign Service. However, I'm a little wary of the fact that it's a Catholic school, because I'm about as liberal and atheist as they come. I've heard mixed opinions about how religious Georgetown is, or how much it expects its students to conform to its religious identity, but I want to know if I'd feel uncomfortable there. Although the "Catholic" label doesn't bother me, religion class requirements/priests on campus/majority Catholic population kinda does (because I want to go somewhere really diverse).
Can anyone help me?</p>
<p>Some of that probably depends on what type of atheist you are.</p>
<p>What do you mean?</p>
<p>The three kids - the only kids - I know who went to Georgetown weren’t Christian. They loved GU. And my daughter is headed there in September for grad school: she’s a rather pointed atheist.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight. So essentially, the university functions just like a secular university?</p>
<p>There are atheists and there are atheists. Some atheists simply say “I don’t believe in god or a personal god, or any other type of deity” and just go on about their lives. </p>
<p>Others not only don’t believe in a god, but also hate all organized religions (particularly the Catholic Church) and would like to see them abolished (in the most extreme case by force if necessary). They tend to be more active and in-your-face about trying to further their anti-religion agenda.</p>
<p>Yes, although Jesuit education does have its quirks. There may be some religion or religion-related requirement, you should look into it. What I’m saying is that Georgetown isn’t known primarily for being religious, and attracts many students who aren’t either.</p>
<p>Sylvan, I don’t particularly identify with the “would like to see organized religion abolished”/militant atheist subset. But it would bother me if anyone preached in my face, tried to convert me, or attempted to box me into ANY religion (lots of people appreciate religious diversity but hate atheists for some reason).
Katliamom, what quirks do you mean?</p>
<p>
Catholics as a rule tend to be rather low-key in this regard. If you don’t anti-preach in their faces, they are not likely to preach in yours.</p>
<p>I heard it is the least religious among Catholic schools. My D is going there in the fall as a freshman, and she is definitely not Catholic.</p>
<p>Shyams, the Jesuits are the intellectuals of the Catholic Church so at Jesuit schools there may be more of an influence of philosophy & academic rigor, as well as social engagement – the traits of the Jesuits – than at secular schools. They may expect you to take some religion-related courses because religion is a vital part of global culture, something every educated person should (in their eyes) understand. In my eyes (and I’m not religious at all) that’s a good thing. There’s plenty on the web about this sort of thing - check it out: quite interesting.</p>
<p>The Jesuit’s mission is to educate, not to convert. My S went to a Jesuit college and my sense was that religious activities were there for those who wished to partake, but it was certainly not pushed on anyone. Most Jesuit schools require one or more religion and philosophy class as part of a core curriculum but they likely do not need to be Catholic oriented (check Georgetown’s requirements). Overall, as long as you are willing to be respectful, you do not need to be Catholic.</p>