Hmmm, maybe we need “Catholic Colleges”? Even though Catholics are Christians, it seems that “Christian colleges” has a fairly specific meaning in higher education. It also seems that some students/parents may restrict their search to colleges flagged as “Christian,” or at least emphasize that feature while checking out schools. There is actually at least one association of Christian colleges (CCCU), and there are books on choosing them, etc.
Whenever we add a forum, it’s because we believe it will see significant use. A forum with little or no activity is worse than useless, as it may draw posts that get no answers. So, we’ll see what we get…
Roger, I think that there should be simply a religious college section because it would get more traffic than simply a Christian College or Catholic College forum. I simply don’t understand why people looking for other religious colleges should not have their own forum. It seems as though that if you’re going to do one religion, you would have to do all religions. I don’t understand how having a Religious Colleges forum would possibly get less people than a Catholic or Christian College forum.
Oh wow I never thought of a forum on athletic recruiting, that sounds like a great idea! I also think that the Catholic College forum is needlessly specific. A forum on Religious colleges would surely be interpreted to include Catholic Colleges, but would also allow for colleges of any faith.
(I know this isn’t supposed to be a topic for suggesting new forums, but I’ve always thought a forum on Non-Traditional and Continuing Education could be useful, as well as a forum on the PSAT/NMSQT.)
I love the idea of “Religiously Affiliated Colleges” and especially, the upcoming forum for athletics. The former will be complex enough, and there will be lots of controversy. I can just hear it now: “catholic colleges are NOT christian colleges!” “Yes, in fact, they are, they just don’t show it - sometimes.” Mr. Dooley, you poor moderators will have to be on 24/7!
Also, the recruiting threads will be great. There will be Division I, II, and II, plus revenue sports, non-revenue sports, obscure sports, gender specific sports… I’ll pray for you! But, I can’t wait to read/participate in/ponder all that will come up on both of these forums!
There seems to be a lot of anti-Catholic sentiment in the “Christian Colleges” forum and a lot of belittling of inquiries about other religiously affiliated schools. I’d suggest changing the name of the forum before the fundies take over and ostracize everyone else.
I agree, shellzie. There is already a request to the moderators in there asking for a “sticky” at the top to keep everyone the post-er doesn’t agree with out.
^ I think that is the point of the seperate forum. I was born and raised Catholic, went to Catholic schools for 10 years, and didn’t realize Christian could mean something else until I had enrolled my kids in a Chrisitain school. I’m still not a “Christian” according to my kids, but we don’t argue about it anymore, I just know what “they” mean. And I know what “they” mean when they want to talk about “Christian” colleges without having to turn everyhing into a debate.
^ That is why I was thinking a name change would actually create less “debate.” It would still be a forum concentrating on religiously-affiliated colleges, and each thread would easily distinguish itself from another by the thread title. The fear that there wouldn’t be enough posts for other DENOMINATIONS and religions is unfounded, because the Chirstian posts would keep it active.
Honestly, I felt really broadsided when I clicked in there - thinking I might have something to add - having investigated two Jesuit and one Lasalian Universities (all of them wonderful) in my daughter’s college search - and had people vehemently saying they didn’t consider me “Christian,” and in essence that they didn’t even want me to look at “their” sub-forum.
If that truly is the sub-forum CC meant it to be, maybe the title should be “Catholics Stay Away,” so that we won’t accidentally click in there and upset “Hunt.”
Hmmm…I did not see that post. I did get a bit of an awakening when I learned what was meant by “Christian”, but it was not a rude one, and I have learned A LOT since then. For the most part, I have never felt the need to stay away, but I have learned that a Catholic or Jesuit school is nothing like a “Christian” one. Further, while I am not truly an “insider”, I am a frequent participant in the “goings on”, and in addition to how awe inspiring “faith” can be to witnness ( sometimes I think I am jealous!), it also amazes me how much ill will it seems to generate. Today I was at a ribbon cutting ceremony for my kids new school, and I can’t help worrying about the likliehood of attacks on the property and the kids as this new school will likely bring attention to itself. My D was on a school trip in Hawaii where ther were repeatedly harrased by other kids because they were singing “songs of worship” on the beach. It just seems to me that even when they try to keep to themselves ( if singing publically can be considered keeping to yourself), they **** people off!
