<p>My D says she doesn't know if she believes in God. She's 16 and that can happen at 16. She's a good kid, honest, ethical, proper, but she's starting to think for herself and this is one of the things she is questioning.</p>
<p>I'm pretty casual about it. God will deal with her, as He does everyone. I myself didn't really start to believe in God until about 5 years ago. God decided to intervene and I had to make a decision. Up to that point I had been pretty wishy-washy.</p>
<p>What do current students think about whether there is much of a Catholic environment on campus? A regulation, by the book, Catholic presence? A la Baltimore catechism type environment of sorts in some places on campus? I'm not foolish enough to think that the entire place would be like this, but perhaps the theology classes talk about Papal decisions, etc.?</p>
<p>At Notre Dame, you will find the whole spectrum, from students who attend daily Mass to those who claim to be atheists. (You will also find a wide range of beliefs, or lack thereof, among the faculty). If she doesn't believe in God and doesn't go to Mass, no one will shun her. If she prays the rosary every day at the Grotto, no one will mock her.</p>
<p>But, make no mistake about it - from the Basilica to the Grotto to Touchdown Jesus to the Golden Dome itself, ND is a very Catholic institution.</p>
<p>Though catholic colleges welcome those of all religions and there are many beliefs among the students, you cannot escape the signs that you are at a catholic school and that many if not most of the kids were raised as catholics. For someone who has been very close and devoted to another religion, it could be an issue. For most kids (that I know) who do not feel that close to their own religions, it is not a problem. However, I do know many Jewish families that are not comfortable with sending their kids to catholic schools and left them off the list. Though they may not be considered or consider themselves particularly religious, they prefer to have a school with a strong Hillman (?) presence and not a clear Christian bias, including that of Catholicism.</p>
<p>In order to orient yourself when you walk out of a building on campus through a door you've never used before, you look up and look at a 17 foot tall golden sculpture of Our Mother Mary stomping on a serpent.</p>
<p>Kevdude, I can't resist, I just have to say--It's 'Our Lady' and she's stepping, not stomping, on that snake (Satan). However, I really enjoyed and chuckled over your vivid description.</p>
<p>My D's going to apply, and I sure hope she gets in!! We are Catholics, by the way.</p>
<p>I'd say the faculty provides a spectrum of Catholic views, too. Some quite liberal, some much less so.</p>
<p>There was a move a few years ago to put ND under the purview of the local bishop in Fort Wayne. They seem to have worked out some kind of truce, as that issue hasn't been in the news lately except for a controversial performance of the Vagina Monologues on campus. In that case, they worked something out that let the performance go on but with an added discussion of the issues raised.</p>
<p>There are many different Catholic groups, that appeal to all types of people: Communion and Liberation, Opus Dei, Militia of the Immaculata, Knights of Columbus and more, but those are probabyl the biggest ones. Not to mention 170 weekly Masses in three languages. And if Our Lady really 17 feet tall? That seems a bit much. And Notre Dame means Our Lady, so let's stick with that title.</p>
<p>She is 16 feet tall, weighs more than 2 tons, and is covered in 23 karat gold leaf, which is redone every 20 to 30 years. Also, are we really nitpicking over whether to call Mary Our Lady or Our Mother? Catholic doctrine and the Notre Dame alma mater indicate that both are equally valid...</p>
<p>In response to the OP, there are plenty of athiests/agnostics at ND. There's no pressure to participate in religious activities, but there are a lot of opportunities for those who want them. I'd say that lapsed Catholics are one of the 2 biggest religious groups on campus.</p>
<p>i think that this is possibly what separates ND from everywhere else in the country.</p>
<p>i mean, there are only a handful of elite athletic schools.</p>
<p>beyond this, there are even fewer (maybe as many as 5) that have superior academics.</p>
<p>but no other school has the third dimension- faith. the notre dame community is the only school i feel which completely encompasses all three of these aspects. and because of this, i truly do believe that ND is THE BEST school in the country.</p>
<p>in all of this, i think that those who are unsure of their faith when they come to ND will truly think about it and find a path they take afterwards.</p>
<p>BobbyC, I really appreciate your comment about Notre Dame's unique qualities that make it stand out from the crowd of other colleges and universities. I think I can now appreciate more what a blessing it really is for me to be able to go there next year! Thank you.</p>
<p>A very controversial play written by Eve Einsler and performed on college campus throughout the country. It has sparked a lot of debate. I direct you to Wikipedia for more information.</p>