<p>Thanks to all who contributed to our "Liberal" and "Preppy" research. Now we're looking for schools with a discernible religious atmosphere.</p>
<p>These are schools where religion plays an important role in the lives of the majority of students. Note, however, that we're not simply looking for colleges with a formal religious affiliation. Many schools have such affiliations yet the religious connection doesn't seem to permeate campus life. There are also colleges with no official denominational ties, yet where religious overtones can be quite prevalent.</p>
<p>Granted, this is a hard one to define, but don't use this thread to do so. No parsing, please. We're just looking for names and rationale. So, if you're familiar with a college where religion of any sort seems to play a big part in campus policies, student activities, behavior, or even conversations, please let us know.</p>
<p>**We need:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>College name.</p></li>
<li><p>Why you call it "religious." (And if one faith predominates, which is it?)</p></li>
<li><p>IMPORTANT: Your knowledge source (how you know this to be true). Please don't go on reputation alone. First-hand experience is key here.**</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>Union University</p></li>
<li><p>Southern Baptist affiliation, strict student conduct code, strong evangelical vibe from students. I’ll put it this way, during greek rush my wife was asked to share her testimony.</p></li>
<li><p>My wife spent a year there before transferring.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It has a huge ministry center with 10 a.m. Chapel every day. Attendance is req. There is a conservative dress code. There a Covenant oath that students take and are supposed to live by. Demerits are given for breaking rules like dress code,profanity, dance policy. Most of the EC’s seem to be centered around ministry in some form.</p>
<p>The D of friends who used to attend our church (but have moved to Ohio) attends Cedarville Univ.</p>
<p>Mandatory chapel, lots of very conservative friends attend, etc.</p>
<p>How do I know this? Many Christians at my school desire to go there. I’ve had many student teachers from there, all of whom were very conservative and religious. Also, one student teacher told me that a girl on her floor did not know about sex until her friends decided to tell her on the night of graduation-- as in, graduation from GCC. Knowing some of my friends who have gone to GCC, I’m inclined to believe this.</p>
<p>BYU for its very strong affiliation with the LDS church. My best friend’s daughter and son attend. The presence of the LDS church is very, very prevalent (even my friend cautioned her daughter about how overwhelmingly “Mormon” it would be for her…and their family are very, very strong “believers”).</p>
<p>I have no personal experience with it, but I know that it has a tangible religious atmosphere. It is a Christian college. And the most religious person in my class went there.</p>
<p>I also know from family members that the town itself is pretty straightlaced.</p>
<p>I second Wheaton College in Illinois (christian college)</p>
<p>A close friend of mine visited it and said it was “very religious”. She said basically all activities happening there are faith-based and I know it’s rated as one of the driest schools in the nation by princeton review</p>
<p>Taylor University
Evangelical Christian
One of my daughters attended and the atmosphere is definitely one which encourages growth in the students’ Christian faith. There is required chapel, but not a demerit system. Christian service is strongly encouraged and students are involved in many mission trips.</p>
<p>Founded by and still affiliated with the Quakers. The school is run, top to bottom, on the basis of the Quaker values of Respect, Integrity, Peace & Justice, Simplicity, and Concensus Governance. Earlham is not an explicitly religious school; i.e., there is no requirment to take religious courses or practice a religion, but I can attest that there is something spiritual in the air there. Earlham emphasizes tolerance, personal growth, and service (e.g., every Study Abroad student does community service wherever the study is, from Tanzania to Tokyo). Students can take a degree in Religious Studies, and the campus houses the affiliated Bethany Theological Seminary. There are many practicing Quakers among the students, staff, and faculty, but there are also those who practice Judaism, Islam, Hindi, all flavors of Christianity, and indeed, atheism. It’s part of that Respect thing. ;)</p>
<p>The students, as students will do, are at times a bit irreverent about such things. Here’s the unofficial chant for the Quakers’ football games, (completely tongue-in-cheek):</p>
<p>Fight, fight, Inner Light!
Kill, Quakers, Kill!
Knock 'em down, beat 'em senseless!
Do it till we reach concensus! </p>
<p>Knowledge source: Self and currently-enrolled D.</p>
<p>The Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges describes it according to the following “Five Key Points”</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Owned and led by the Franciscans who are a visible presence on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Faithful Catholicism permeates every aspect of campus life.</p></li>
<li><p>The faith-centered household system is strong, supportive and notable.</p></li>
<li><p>Forty percent of undergraduates major in theology or catechetics.</p></li>
<li><p>The university has unique ties to the Catholic charismatic movement.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, a Protestant denomination in the Wesleyan tradition. Mandatory chapel, strict rules about dress, sex, etc. </p>
<p>Source: I attend the Church of the Nazarene, many people in our congregation are alumni.</p>
<p>Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Founded by the Christian (Dutch) Reformed Church
Chapel service is offered every day but not mandatory (No classes held during that half hour)
Students are required to take two Bible history courses for graduating
Freshman are required to take a January term class called “Developing a Christian Mind”</p>
<p>My knowledge is based on my son having attended Calvin.</p>
<p>2) If you are a Catholic and you don’t identify with Notre Dame even a little I am shocked. Go to any Catholic high school and a minimum of half the kids there will be talking about how awful Charlie Weis is. Also, step on the campus and it “feels Catholic”. Priests walking around, brothers everywhere, the grotto, the golden dome, touchdown Jesus… Hugely Catholic.</p>
<p>3) I’ve been there numberless times and have multiple friends who go there. I also went to a Catholic high school.</p>