So I am not religious at all and know you have to take 2 theology classes while there. Is there anything else I need to know and are there way to get out of the theology classes by taking greek/roman religion instead of catholic?
First - the requirement is one course titled “faith and reason” class that all freshman take. The second is a theology elective, most focused on scripture or Catholicism but includes options to study Hinduism or Buddhism. I doubt there’s any way to get out of these requirements, but it’s not like they’re forcing Catholicism down your throat. You can always look at the information in more of a historical context if religion makes you uncomfortable.
Second - it’s not unreasonable for a Catholic college to expect students to learn about Catholicism. If Catholicism is a problem, is a Catholic college the right place for you? Most religious-run colleges have theology requirements, it’s not unique to Catholic institutions.
Third - even in a non-theology class, you may have professors who are priests/brothers/nuns. Would that be an issue?
Fordham is a Jesuit school, which means it will be the most welcoming to those of other faiths/no faith. Jesuits are educators. Their goal is to develop students into critical thinkers - and it’s OK if that critical thinking includes questioning Catholicism. But there will be visible signs of Catholicism around campus. There will be students from all faiths - there will be students who are agnostic and student who are athiest. No one will force you to express any religion,but it is a part of life. Have you toured the school to see if the visible presence of Catholicism is enough to make you uncomfortable?
Aside from the two theology classes and statues/crosses/priests/people doing religious stuff around campus, you can forget Fordham is Catholic if you want.
Yeah pretty much everyone I met didn’t give a crap about religion
There are very few religious people at the school. You’ll have no problem since nothing is forced on you.
I have plenty of non-Catholic (Jewish, Hindu, atheist etc.) friends who are very comfortable at Fordham. You are required to take one theology course that is more Catholic-based (the teacher understands not everyone in the class is Catholic) but you have a choice for the second one and it can be something like World Religions etc. In general religion is on campus for those who want to partake, but it is not pushed on anyone. The Jesuits have a reputation for being educators first and foremost and I have found that to be the case. In general, I would say that you should be OK with seeing some Catholic symbols around campus and that you should be respectful of religion if you attend Fordham.
I know that kids this age might think its not cool to be religious. But it always cracks me up that they apply to a Catholic university, and one whose express stated objective is to become the preeminent Catholic university in America, and then come on CC and ask questions about whether its too religious as if being religious is something bad. How about people embracing religion and Catholicism?
There are plenty of church going Catholics at Fordham. Mass is well attended at Rose Hill. The Theology Department is very strong and one of Fordham’s most well known around the country. There is nothing wrong with taking Theology courses and nothing wrong with being religious.
While being respectful of others faiths or non faith is highly encouraged, in order to foster open discourse and sharing of values, the bottom line is Fordham is a Jesuit Roman Catholic university. Its primary function is not to be a convent or seminary, but to educate young people, 60% of whom are catholic and a high percentage of whom come from catholic high schools, and prepare them for life as adults in the real world. The Jesuits take a holistic approach to doing that, and many of the lay faculty as well who are spiritual, and which includes the embrace and support of one’s soul.
Campus Ministry is very strong at Fordham and they offer weekend retreats that are simply fabulous.
For every student who decides to attend Fordham I strongly encourage them to embrace the core requirements and the theology courses.
My D is a junior at FCRH. She is not Catholic. She is having a wonderful experience and has made great friends. Some are religious, many are not at all religious.
Last November, when my H and I went to parents weekend, we went over to Fr. McShane to tell him how happy we were with the education my D was receiving and the experience she was having at Fordham. I mentioned my D’s religion to him, and the first thing he asked us was “is she comfortable here?” That question summarizes the attitude towards people of other faiths at Fordham. All are welcome, and all are made to feel welcome.
I don’t think the OP or anyone on this thread is even remotely implying that “religion is bad”. It is more a question of the OP discerning if Fordham might be a good fit given his/her particular beliefs. There are many people who apply to Fordham because it is an excellent university in NYC – some of them do not begin to consider the implications of the school being a Roman Catholic/Jesuit institution until it comes down to final decision time. Other people apply to Fordham in part because it is a Catholic university and they are looking for religion as part of their undergraduate experience. Different factors are important to different people and as so eloquently state above all are welcome.
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Please do look at the core curriculum requirements and consider Jesuit values such as cura personalis, as well as your desire to be a part of a community that includes religous expression and religious people. The new tag line for Fordham is “living the mission.” No one is required to “be religious,” as we all keep saying. But I would turn it around a bit, and ask what about Fordham is a match for you, if anything. There are so many colleges, each with their own personalities and qualities.
One of my daughters has a “Religion and Critical Thinking” class that almost always devolves to “My experience as a Christian,” which makes it difficult for the 2 students in the class who are not Christians to participate, and which, frankly, is more confessional than pedagogical. Other classes are survey classes, in which, depending on how much content is based on Christianity, being Christian-educated may prove an advantage. This daughter and her friend are very happy at Fordham, but it would be a mistake to say that religion plays no part or that people are unaffected by the religious apects of the education.
@KvotheFan Yeah, “Faith and Critical Reason” reason is required and probably deals with Catholicism. But for the second Theology requirement you can take classes like “Classic Buddhist Texts” and “Hindu Lit and Ethics”.
There is a difference in individual needs and attitudes. There are atheists or lapsed catholics at Fordham. Plenty of them. There are Jewish students. There are even Muslims. And there are Hindus. And there are people who are hostile to all religion, which always makes me wonder why they picked Fordham. But for most, if they are just “not religious” they go about their business and its not problem for making friends and having great roomies. One of my kids’ closest friends was an agnostic/former catholic. Very very close. She just wasnt into organized religion. She did very well at Fordham and had lots of friends. They talked, shared, discussed and all grew up together during their four years. And she is coming to my kids’ wedding…a catholic wedding.
So attitude is key here. 
I’m a born-and-raised atheist (though not anti-religious in the slightest, grew up in a family in which a variety of religious faiths are represented and respected) and have done very well in theology classes, and kept in touch with the theology professors I’ve had. One of my biggest supporters in my freshman year was a Jesuit priest, with whom I am still in occasional contact. They all know I am not Catholic, and it has never even been remotely an issue. Everyone is here as an educator first. As far as I am concerned, the extent to which you interact with religion, beyond the two required theology courses, is up to you. I’m really fascinated with religion in an anthropological way, so I’ve enjoyed my theology courses and my interactions with people of faith here. But, other atheist/non-Christian friends of mine feel differently, and avoid religion as much as they possibly can, and are still happy here.
In my experience, the theology faculty are not at all here to convert you. I’m not sure what you’re envisioning re: the theology classes, but mine were much more about talking about the history and context of religion, and about analyzing religious texts as texts, rather than about pushing beliefs on you. It sounds like Kvothefan’s daughter had a very different experience than I did in theology classes, and I’m sorry about that. Personally, I’ve never felt any particular belief system pushed even in the slightest in a theology classroom. In fact, my New Testament class this semester was taught with the assumption that none of us had ever read any of the NT before.
I’ve even been to a few campus ministry events to support friends or hear certain faculty members speak and have never felt uncomfortable or out of place. They are generally good about accepting you where you are spiritually and not pushing religion on you.
At least in my experience, religion here is a non-issue. I wouldn’t let it make your choice for you.
Hi, I’m interested in Fordham and I’m also wondering of the religious aspect.
Someone that went there told me she felt that people weren’t open minded which might not be true.
I also want to know how the religious aspect of the college affects daily campus life?
- I’ve heard there’s a curfew of other genders in your room.
Ashlyvez, I assume you are not in the current accepted student pool and are considering applying to Fordham next year.
There is a 300am curfew for opposite sex genders in rooms. I dont think that is too stringent. I think that is actually a problem. But that is me.
Read the thread. Its a Catholic Jesuit University. Fordham is amazingly open, diverse and tolerant. If you want a school with no religious values and no theology requirements go to a state school.
Most come to Fordham because its Jesuit. They are seeking Jesuit values and ethos.
Its not forced on you, but its available to those who seek it. And its fabulous.
Alexander De Tocqueville returned to France after visiting the United States (more than 200 years ago) and remarked to his countrymen about what made the USA so special was its tolerance. That is what Fordham is all about.
When you get in the dorms, I am sure you dont want your roomie’s boyfriend hanging out until all hours…that would be creepy and rude and disrespectful. Kids are kids and hormones are raging and mom/dad are evading! LOL. But rest assured, if you think Fordham is party central, they will show you the gates at Fordham Road or Southern Blvd faster than you can spin your head around three times! Its an academic school. People need their sleep and a minimum of drama to focus on their studies.
I’m a student here and I don’t find people closed minded.
Yes, there are some rules because the school is Jesuit but students generally figure out ways around them when they want. For example the health center doesn’t give out birth control (so go to the drug store down the street), there is a 3AM curfew for opposite sex guests (not an issue if you live in same dorm, otherwise ask a friend of your significant other’s sex to sign them in the dorm for you). etc.
If you want religion in your life it is readily available, if you don’t it is not pushed on you. Some come to Fordham because it is a great school and others do want the Jesuit aspect. In terms of day to day life, you will see priests, crucifixes, a nativity scene at Christmastime around campus but that’s about it. You should be respectful of religion if you come to Fordham and keep in mind that theology and philosophy course are part of the core curriculum.
You will also see a Menorah at Hanukkah (although DD says they light all the candles on the first night…) and prayer rugs for Muslims in the Chapel. My daughter has always felt comfortable at LC.