<p>I have nothing against Catholics, seeing as I am Catholic, but I frankly do not want to go to a school where religion plays a dominant role on campus. I have no problem with a religious presence; I just don't want to see it rubbed in my face all the time. (I've gone to Catholic schools since 4th grade, and I am tired of it!) </p>
<p>So tell me, would a somewhat non-practicing Catholic have a lot of trouble fitting in?</p>
<p>it is not. I call myself a jewish agnostic athiest, and i love the community and faculty here. i love the school.</p>
<p>
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jewish agnostic athiest
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</p>
<p>Or just atheist.</p>
<p>uh...nope.
athiest is only part of my religious & cultural identity.</p>
<p>Hmm...that's good. That was what what I had heard, but I just wanted confirmation (no pun intended) from a student.</p>
<p>Been at Rose Hill for a month now... I love the religious aspect of the school and I'm agnostic bordering athiest. It seems like half of the student body is agnostic and the other half goes to mass every week. Theology courses are obviously based on Christianity, but mine explores other religions as well which is really cool. The Jesuits are the most liberal/easygoing/accepting religious order you could find, and the education you get from a Jesuit instituition is seriously priceless in my opinion. During orientations they just kept stressing the importance of a well-rounded education and spiritual exploration (spiritual does not equal religious). Jesuits love evverrryone... they're very "we love athiests, too" type of people. Personally, I don't think I'd enjoy the school as much if it didn't have the religious aspect.</p>
<p>Also (since I'm starting to ramble): there are some drawbacks. Condoms are not given out on campus. Birth control not available in health center. It abides by Catholic code and such which can be detrimental, but there's a pretty good amount of progressive students on campus who will organize and hand out condoms at bars and such. </p>
<p>Being a liberal, I don't find classes slanted, either. I have a communist professor, actually. </p>
<p>Overall: the fact that the school is conservative/religoius while I am the complete opposite is really a learning experience that I am so grateful for. Things worked out for me, definitely.</p>
<p>If Protestants, Jews and Muslims want to go to a Jesuit university, I think someone should roll out the welcome mat for them. Let the lively discourse begin. </p>
<p>But for the life of me, I can't understand why someone who is atheistic or doesn't want "his nose rubbed in it" would choose a Catholic institution. </p>
<p>There are plenty of wonderful state schools out there where you won't find a crufix hanging above the doorway. </p>
<p>I for one am tired of encountering schools, as my child searches for a college, where they seem to apologize for being Catholic. A student tour guide who "apologizes" for this (and we've seen several of them) is doing his or her university a great disservice.</p>
<p>
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jewish agnostic athiest
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</p>
<p>that makes no sense. Maybe jewish agnostic or jewish atheist might make sense, but all three.nah.</p>
<p>Shoe66, I hope you weren't annoyed by my question, because you seem rather irritated. I think you misunderstood my post. I don't mind "seeing a crucifix over the doorway." I just don't like having to do idiotic religion assignments and adhering to the strict Catholic rules and regulations that haunted me throughout my elementary and high school years in Catholic schools. Don't get me wrong; I am Catholic. I may not be a devout one, but I don't mind if other people are religious. I just don't want to attend a college where people are scolding me for not going to Mass on Sundays. </p>
<p>Basically, I wanted a feel for how Catholic Fordham was (like the topic originally stated). I was not implying that simply having a Catholic affiliation bothers me.</p>
<p>Because you wondered, there are three reasons why I am interested in Fordham:</p>
<p>1) I'm getting a full tuition scholarship there
2) It is in New York, one of the best cities in the world.
3) I'm from Alabama... Alabama's schools are really not so great, and I fear that the religious, "in your face" sort of Christianity would be worse there.</p>
<p>Yeah, also, Jesuit schools are known for having great humanities programs and having a focus on maturing and educating the INDIVIDUAL. that is why many of the schools I applied to were Jesuit. I like their attitude. That is why someone "athiestic" would go to a school like that. And if you are worried about Fordham apologizing about being Catholic, there is no need: they are extremely proud. But there is no nose rubbing. That is just rude, and I like Jesuits because they know where to draw the line.</p>
<p>And GreenDayFan, are you seriously telling me that I can't be what I call myself? Do you have the hubris to decide what I can and cannot be, just because you don't know, have never encountered a Jewish Agnostic Athiest, etc? Your schema obviously doesn't match mine. Do not tell me what makes sense, because what you mean is that it doesn't make sense TO YOU. Instead you should be asking me how, or what this means. Not telling me that I am wrong to define myself as such.</p>
<p>yeah um thats great. im just saying it makes no sense. atheist means denying belief in God. agnostic means doubting God's existance. and Judaism is a religion that believes in God completely and as the creator of Earth. it doesn't make sense, sorry.</p>
<p>"There are plenty of wonderful state schools out there where you won't find a crufix hanging above the doorway."
I went to public school my entire life... Good Friday was "non-attendance day," and the school was almost ransacked for putting up a decoration of a Christmas tree with a cross somewhere in the image. </p>
<p>I chose Fordham because it's different from that. I'm agnostic, borderline athiest. IT DOESN'T MATTER HERE. It's a beautiful school with a really well-rounded core curriculum. I like learning about religion, but I'm not religious. The Jesuits are all about a complete education which state schools don't even think about. My biggest class here is 30 students--most of my courses have 15 people in them. My professors knew my name the first week of school, and quite a few of them I already know on a somewhat-personal level--they know where I'm from, about my family, etc. You don't get this kind of attention at any school. We have required courses in the fine arts, language (proficiency is REQUIRED), social sciences, history, English, science, mathematics. Trust me, a Jesuit institution offers so much more than crucifix above the doorway, and it's ridiculous to think that narrow.</p>
<p>And, by the way, "Jewish Agnostic Athiest" is just a complicated term for "religiously confused." There's no other way around that one.</p>
<p>By the way -- two theology courses are required. One of these courses is "Faith and Critical Reason" which is a historical/philosophical look on religion. It's actually one of my favorite classes. I'm not sure what the second one is, but I'm pretty sure it's a more advanced course and I'm assuming there's options for what it could be.</p>
<p>The second theology course is from a wide array of choices including Religion in Art, Judiasm etc etc.. the list is on the website.</p>
<p>Oh thank God.... I can totally deal with that... Actually, that sounds kind of interesting... </p>
<p>It's not my fault I'm suspicious of religious curriculum.... I have had too many experiences involving time-wasting religious assignments...</p>
<p>jlauer95,</p>
<p>Thanks for explaining. I wasn't irritated by your remark, and I apologize if I sounded critical.
I was educated at a Jesuit school and I know the routine. I have the greatest respect for them.
But I have encountered more than a handful of student hosts who have gone out of their way to profess their dormant faiths. And that bothers me, because these kids seem to assume that distancing themselves from the school's affiliation somehow makes the university more attractive. I'll bet they don't do that at BYU.
One of the schools we've visited is DePaul. They have a gorgeous church on campus. Probably the most attractive thing about an otherwise drab campus. Our student host, however, pointed out that (1) he's never been to Mass there, (2) most students have never been inside of the place, and (3) he prefers to sleep in on Sundays.
I contrast that with Notre Dame, where the basilica and grotto are highlights of the campus tour.
Call me old-fashioned, but if my kid goes to a Catholic college, I expect the school to deliver as advertised.</p>
<p>"these kids seem to assume that distancing themselves from the school's affiliation somehow makes the university more attractive"</p>
<p>With more and more students applying to schools, and more and more students being agnostic/athiest, it's to encourage students that they do not have to be religious to have a good time there. And of course it's to boost numbers. What ISN'T done to boost numbers?</p>
<p>I personally like that student tour guides are honest.</p>
<p>Also, please recognize that when your in college no one will be scolding you for not going to Mass on Sundays. Even in a Catholic college. You go or you don't,...you're a grown-up (or soon to be) so it's up to you.
However, if you go, you might surprise yourself and find comfort, grace and respite there.</p>
<p>Shoe66: I understand your position and agree with it. Private colleges should not feel ashamed of their religious affiliations. To do so would be denying a part of their history.</p>
<p>Irishbird: I actually go to Mass all the time for school. My school has weekly Mass... I'm sorry to say that I just really don't get much out of it, though...</p>
<p>JLauer would like to comment when I went on a Fordham Tour recently with cousin, the tour guide was telling us(parents+high school students) how the religion doesn't play much of a role, and you are very easily able to keep members of opposite sex in dorm rooms without much trouble or any fear of Fordham prosecuting you for breaking the rules.</p>
<p>He even told us the trick was to make friends with a member of opposite-sex in dorm and have her sign in your potential lovebirds as if they were staying in their dorm and have them hop over to yours for the night.</p>
<p>Must say I was pretty shocked, but for the better.
Strangely some mothers of girls were smiling like it was a good thing. I wondered what potential benefeits a mother might see in having her daughter able to sleep with so many guys so easily. </p>
<p>American society confuses me.</p>