More CC Research Help Needed. This time: Schools with a RELIGIOUS atmosphere

[DavidWatts]

<p>University of California at Santa Barbara</p>

<p>Isla Vista in particular is a deeply religious and God-fearing community.</p>

[mildred]

<p>

1. Union University</p>

<ol>
<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>I would like to just say: “ditto.” </p>

<p>That school wants me for their graduate program for reasons only known to them. My academic achievements must give off a “sinner who must be saved” vibe or something. </p>

<p>And I did a little visit there since they send me stuff all the time and they are also in a lovely area which is really pretty this time of year.</p>

<p>And, well, all I can say is: “Ditto.” I cannot answer the questions the way OP would like except to just say, once again,: “Ditto.”</p>

[nightpwnsj00]

<p>Bob Jones University
Liberty University
Pensacola Christian College</p>

<p>All three have ridiculous, almost laughable rules. It’s quite fun to peruse their websites for pure amusement.</p>

[eddieodessa]

<p>Messiah College in Granthan, PA
Required chapel Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Some bible classes required (I think 2).
My daughter is a freshman there.</p>

[1980collegegrad]

<p>[Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>

[sarsfield]

<p>George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. From their website - “In keeping with our mission of Christian higher education, all employees – faculty, administration and staff – are committed Christians.”</p>

[elizabethh]

<p>"University of California at Santa Barbara</p>

<p>Isla Vista in particular is a deeply religious and God-fearing community"</p>

<p>Thanks for the great chuckle to kick off my day!</p>

[hazelorb]

<p>I third? Grove City. I have friends there. Mandatory chapel definitely exists. In addition, there’s a whole slew of liberal arts courses that you can’t take (to transfer back) anywhere else because GCC teaches them specifically with Christian influences. Dating there consists of holding hands. There’s one sorority that has an off-campus house and they “might drink” and are the outcasts of the school apparently. There is something called intervis which specifies the very few weekend hours a boy can be in the lobby, or a room with a wide open door, of a girl’s dorm, and vice versa. And you have to sign them in and out with your RA. Otherwise boys may not be in the dorms of girls and vice versa. And this applies to anywhere someone might live, because you have to live on campus (in regulated apartments or dorms). If a maintenance guy comes in, he has to shout “Man in the hall” to tell the girls he is there. There’s no interracial dating because the campus is almost entirely white. Maybe there’s an asian.
The positives (my friends LOVE it there): small campus so homey feel. GREAT resources - all new buildings and classrooms with lots of technology. Every student gets a laptop from the school. Dorms are really nice. Everyone is really friendly. You won’t be kept up by drunk people. No sexiling. Courses scheduled according to who plans to take what and administration is really accomodating and actually willing to work with you.</p>

<p>I also will point out Villanova. I took classes there as a high schooler. All of the classrooms have crosses with detailed crucified Jesus on them. One professor would write greek quotes from the new testament on the board every day.</p>

<p>I go to UVA, and one of my very close friends, who is your typical southern Christian demure girl, had no idea what sexual steps existed in between kissing and intercourse (we watched the new Great Expectations and if you’ve seen it you know what I’m talking about). So I don’t think it’s restricted to certain colleges. But the point is still funny.</p>

[archiemom]

<p>As for Notre Dame, both of these descriptions are true:

schools where religion plays an important part in the overall culture, university mission, and class offerings, I feel Notre Dame must be included. As Amsbluedevit stated, 85% of the student body is Catholic, there are over 100 masses per week, their mission and commitment to social justice, activities, etc. are most definitely Catholic. The school is not evangelistic, but I fail to see how anyone could spend time on that campus and not feel it had a religious atmosphere.

She says, yes about 85% of the student population is Catholic, but no religious activities are mandatory (I believe you do need to take a couple of theology or philosophy courses in college) and there is a visible tolerance/acceptance towards other religious or even non-religious folks.

When I attended thirty years ago, I was barely aware that there was a Catholic atmosphere. In my entire undergrad time I only had one professor who was a priest and I’m fairly certain that I didn’t ever attend a mass in my dorm. My impression since that time is that there is an increased Catholic presence on campus, but more as it pertains to social justice issues and the individual students themselves who choose to attend.</p>

[archiemom]

<p>And in visiting colleges in the past few years with both sons, my impression is that Villanova emphasizes their Catholic heritage a little more than ND. And both Villanova and ND felt more Catholic in their prospective student presentations than the Jesuit Universities (we visited Marquette and St. Louis).</p>

[ghostbuster]

<p>Are any of these “indicators” necessary for a school to be considered sufficiently “religious”? What about liberal AND devout students who want an overtly supportive religious atmosphere but not mandatory chapel, etc.?</p>

<p>Conservative != religious; they correlate, yes, but neither is a prerequisite for the other. =Keilexandra</p>

<p>Keil: thanks for that. We are on the same page with respect to this issue.</p>

<p>Now to be ecumenical, I would also suggest a number of the Methodist Schools and Lutheran Schools. (Many of the former Baptist Schools have given up their affiliation and “religious orientation:” Wake Forest, Richmond and Furman being the most notable.)</p>

<p>Archiemom: Perhaps you felt that way on Jesuit campuses, because the Jesuits are about education first, in a very broad ethics and ethos, and less about preaching a particular emphasis on Catholicism. Though at EVERY Jesuit college you have MANDATORY 2 theology courses to graduate. But again, this is NOT about who is MORE Catholic and MORE Christian…its simply who offers a “religious atmosphere” in the broadest of terms, and offers religious students the opportunity to practice their faith, CHALLENGE THEIR FAITH IN COURSEWORK, and live with and around people of similar views. </p>

<p>There are schools for every denomination, even the Moravians. Do they count? Of course they do. I would also include Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. </p>

<p>If you are Catholic, you can pick from Franciscan, Jesuit, Assumptionist, Marianist, Benedictine, Redemptorist, Holy Cross Fathers (Notre Dame and UPortland), Spiritan, Dominican, Augustinians, Mercy Sisters…almost every order of Catholic Priests and Nuns…plus some Diocesan Schools like USanDiego.</p>

<p>In all there are 188 Catholic Colleges in the United States: [NCCAA:</a> Colleges by name](<a href=“http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/cgi-bin/MemberDB2?MSQL_VIEW=/search/listbyname/view.txt]NCCAA:”>http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/cgi-bin/MemberDB2?MSQL_VIEW=/search/listbyname/view.txt)</p>

[ghostbuster]

<p>And I dont know how you can feel “less Catholic” on the campus of some Jesuit colleges, most of whom have GORGEOUS cathedrals, churches or chapels, ranging from the post modern (award winning) chapel at Seattle University, to the gothic cathedral at St. Louis University which is stunning in size and beauty. Fordham’s gothic church on the Rose Hill campus is a national historic landmark, has stained glass windows from the King of France (intended as a gift for St. Patricks Cathedral, but somehow got sent to Fordham by the Archbishop, “Dagger” John Hughes, the founder of Fordham. (<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hughes_(archbishop[/url])”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hughes_(archbishop)&lt;/a&gt;. Fordham has many “haunted buildings”, and is included of many, many film productions.</p>

[amsbluedevil24]

<p>One thing I would say is that I have found that there exists a huge difference between a Catholic atmosphere and a “Christian” atmosphere. I put Christian in quotes as obviously Catholicism is a particular sect of Christianity. What I am referring to is the rest of the set of Christian sects.</p>

<p>A Catholic atmosphere is more subtle and sublime whereas, I have found, the “Christian” atmosphere is very overt and in your face. I’m not yet sure as to how I can expand on this.</p>

<p>I hope fellow Catholics and other Christians do not get angry at the way I use Christian in the above.</p>

[berryberry61]

<p>

Are any of these “indicators” necessary for a school to be considered sufficiently “religious”? What about liberal AND devout students who want an overtly supportive religious atmosphere but not mandatory chapel, etc.?

</p>

<p>In the context of the OP’s question, I believe these type of indicators are indeed necessary for a school to be considered sufficiently religious. They may change based on the faith - but here is what the OP stated</p>

<p>

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>Sorry but many of the religious lite schools (such as Notre Dame) mentioned don’t really meet this criteria - ie a BIG role in campus policies, student activities, behavior, or even conversations. just having a presence of catholic students, having to take 2 theology classes or even a few priests as professors does not make a school overtly religious. I myself attended a Benedictine college - and I certainly don’t view it as religious within the context of the OPs question</p>

[SLightManifesto]

<p>

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>That’s what makes me hate religion, especially Catholicism. I love when people are like “Well the Church says abortion is bad, so I don’t believe in abortion.” What tools :)</p>

[Keilexandra]

<p>berryberry - As an atheist, I strenuously disagree that any number of required theology classes does not indicate an “overtly religious” atmosphere. The school would not require theology education if they did not believe that theology (sometimes specifically Christian theology i.e. St. Olaf’s, sometimes any study of religion i.e. Georgetown or Davidson) was integral to a liberal arts education. Many, many secular schools evidently do not believe that theology is more important than the rest of the humanities to a liberal arts education, seeing as they do not require theology/religion courses.</p>

<p>And I’m not Catholic in the least (cf. the atheist self-identification above), but I find it rather offensive that you call Notre Dame “religious lite.” 85% Catholic at possibly the most famous Catholic school in the US, required theology courses, I presume crucifixes displayed prominently–all these indicators presume that religion, specifically Catholicism, is a natural and expected societal norm. Some may choose not to participate, and that’s fine; but the environment cannot be called un-supportive of religious students.</p>

<p>I like how one poster (name now forgotten) described Davidson, an elite, politically moderate LAC in North Carolina–for many religious students it’s much less religious than the norm, and for many non-religious students it’s much more religious than the norm. The school maintains, I believe, a Methodist affiliation and a religion/philosophy course distribution requirement. Yes, I would say that Davison is overtly supportive toward the Christian religion.</p>

[yummytongue]

<ol>
<li><p>Franciscan University of Steubenville</p></li>
<li><p>Catholic. Much more conservative that Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Boston College. All students extremely pro-life, pro-“family”, anti-gay rights, that sort of thing. Run by Franciscan Friars, who are notoriously more conservative than the Jesuits (who run the majority of Catholic Liberal Arts colleges.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Mass, religious events, and pilgrimages to the vatican or to do missionary work is a big thing around there. There is an overtly Catholic atmosphere… you can even see it in the super-conservative way the women dress. And, I don’t think any non-catholics attend… not even christians.</p>

<p>They also have pretty strict guidelines and a curfew.</p>

<p>[Franciscan</a> Homepage](<a href=“http://www.franciscan.edu/]Franciscan”>http://www.franciscan.edu/)
^^ website</p>

<ol>
<li>I’ve visited the college, and most of my family are alums of the school. I know some of the staff, and a lot of current students.</li>
</ol>

<p>fyi, it’s admissions standards are waaaaaaaay lower than Georgetown, Notre Dame, BC… even Fordham.</p>

[ghostbuster]

<p>Franciscans “notoriously more conservative than the Jesuits?” Sorry, I don’t think so! I am Jesuit educated and there are plenty of conservative Jesuits. Jesuits don’t all think alike, by the way. There are very liberal Jesuits and very conservative Jesuits and most are somewhere in the middle. </p>

<p>As for Franciscans, I know a particular Franciscan (Conventual O.F.M.) who is a wise, wise priest and a very dear friend of mine who lives in New York and he is one of the most liberal priests I have ever known. </p>

<p>As for admission standards at Franciscan, I don’t know what they are, but I am sure they serve their constituency very well. And yes, they are likely lower than Georgetown, Notre Dame, BC and Fordham. But that doesnt make it a less worthy school.</p>

[ghostbuster]

<p>And everyone forgot The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC.</p>

[shoot4moon]

<p>We just returned from a college tour of University of San Francisco (Jesuit); St Mary’s College of CA (La Salle) and Santa Clara University. My DD wants a medium sized private college near a big city of her choosing with good business depts. We didn’t even realize that all three were Catholic until a poster mentioned it, but a Jesuit school is of interest to us because we are Christian, and also because my daughter is attracted to the discussion based learning style. </p>

<p>Although SCU and USF both are Jesuit, and both list their student body as 40% Catholic, there appeared to us to be a dramatic difference in translation. SCU told us that they have four daily masses a day. The secretary in reception told the other she was “off to daily mass” for lunch. The tour guide told us there was a four year wait to get married in the chapel, so if we planned to go there and get married, we should register as frosh (I think he was kidding :)… Three theology courses were required, and the professors (!) were required to do a certain percent of their time doing community service. An ethics class was required to graduate in each individual major, funded by a specific donation and within a specific building. </p>

<p>USF, in comparison, appeared more invested in social justice (we felt to an extreme). The info session was disturbingly devoid of the usual discussions of available majors, interesting programs, etc - the ENTIRE focus of the talk was how important it was to learn to think and to give back to the community. I found it personally a turn off - to be able to teach someone to fish, I have to be able to fish. Tell me how you are going to teach me to fish, and why you are good at that. A woman in the back asked a question “My friend told me you were much more Catholic than the other Jesuit schools that she visited.” The info session man’s nearly fell out of his head. He didn’t even have a response. I raised my hand and commented that this was the fourth school we had visited that had said that 40% of its students were Catholic, and that included students who were “born Catholic” to those who went to daily mass. I was wondering about how many theology courses were required. None. How many daily masses are offered. The adminssions guy looked at another woman in the back, who begrudgingly said One, but hardly any students go. </p>

<p>My understanding is that both of these schools would be considered true to the Jesuit heritage of Catholicism and social activism, but I certainly would never consider USF religious in any way from our exposure.</p>