My son is an accepted student for the class of 2020. While he is jewish, he really does not practice religion. I understand the religious education component of Notre Dame (taking religion classes). He can take a theory or history of religion class to meet his educational obligation.
I presume most students at Notre Dame regularly practice their Catholic faith and that is great. Obviously, the school does what it does to incorporate religious practice into everyday life at school. Generally, I just wonder if my son would feel like an outsider in this environment? Just want a good fit for him.
I am nonreligious, and do not feel like the Catholicism is overbearing or too much. It may be different for someone with a different religion, but as an agnostic I don’t think it’s really noticeable. Finding Theology requirements might be a little difficult as most First Theo classes are based on introduction to Catholic beliefs, but I’m sure they are out there and your First Year advisor would be very willing to help you figure it out. Nobody flaunts their religion (because 81% are Catholic) so every day, it’s not really in my “field of vision” so to speak. But there are influences of Catholicism everywhere, from dorm masses every night to crucifixes in every room. Has he visited? Maybe an Admitted students day, visiting classes and moving around with the students, would help him figure out if ND is right for him.
To add on to what @feartheENGR said, there is one section of freshman theology (“Fundamentals”) that is for students who have no or limited exposure to Christian doctrine. Your son could mention this to his FY advisor and ask to be placed in the course.
On a different note, I cannot honestly say that I have met a single Jewish student here at Notre Dame. There are a large number of agnostics, atheists, and non-religious, but very few (if any) Jewish students. Again, just speaking from experience here.
My D is non-religious and is thriving. I agree that there are probably not many Jewish kids there and also agree that attending Admitted Students days would help him decide about fit.
@flyingpig11: I would expect that any student joining Notre Dame becomes part of the Notre Dame family - belonging to the community, making friends and fitting in, and having that for life.
One of the things I love about Notre Dame are the stories and traditions. So I hope you don’t mind if i post the following since it is on the subject. Keep in mind, Father Hesburgh ended his run as President in 1987, so this occurred decades ago, and probably many decades ago. While the bullying to the Jewish student might have happened in many places at the time, I have to wonder if the result would have been the same in most places. this is from the NDSMCObserver, 4/2015:
“This year is replete with many “WWBTDTTD” examples at Notre Dame. The multitude of remembrances at Hesburgh’s funeral gives pause and exemplifies how grand iconic personages of our time set great, decent standards. My favorite story is one retold in the spring edition of Notre Dame Magazine. The Catholic roommates of a Jewish student at Notre Dame belittled and bullied the Jewish student to the point that he left the University. Hesburgh, after learning of their unchristian — and youthful, stupid — intolerance called them into his office for a sit-down. Hesburgh ordered them to travel to the Jewish student’s home and convince him to return to Notre Dame. Hesburgh said that if the Jewish student did not return, the Catholics could not return either. Fortunately, all of the students returned together and graduated from Notre Dame.”
Definitely a place, though the (religious inspired) rules around the single-gender dorms can grate on anyone from time to time. And don’t get me started on the fight we had to have to let students have a Gay Straight Alliance (I never joined because I wasn’t interested, but was part of the fight because I thought it should be allowed).
I was a Catholic when I started at ND, but lost all religion after a year or so. I never felt pressured to go to Mass in the dorm or at the Basilica, and only did so once after dropping religion, to hear a friend of mine sing in the choir. There is absolutely respect for different beliefs (or lack of belief).
The theology requirement kind of sucked at the time, but now I’m glad I took it, because I can talk in an informed manner about an important topic (though not really in the way most people talk about religion casually). The first one everyone has to take is basically “Into to the Bible and what Catholics think about it,” and was kind of boring. The second one could be anything, though, so I took “Atheism and the Question of God,” which was great.
The religion doesn’t influence any part of the academic program, other than the theology department. Departments/schools are pretty much self-run and most professors aren’t Catholic (from what information I have).
Hi There: May I ask you if your son decided to attend ND? If so, how is he enjoying it? My son, who is Jewish and spent all of his school years, with the exception of high school, at Jewish day school, has his heart set on ND. He has a 34 ACT, and ECs and recommendations are stellar. His GPA, at a 91% (3.7) is a little low. As a third-generation Duke legacy (grandfather, both parents, heavy time and financial involvement), we believe he has a much better chance at Duke, but he would have to apply ED. Our older son is a Junior there. We would hate to see him squander his chance at Duke only to be rejected by ND. Can you give any guidance as to whether ND is looking to attract Jewish students?