<p>I disagree that the religious influence is greater at Brandeis than many other top universities. The differences are that they are Christian influenced, whereas Brandeis is Jewish influenced. And Americans are more used to Christian practice and symbols so it perhaps feels more natural. Harvard and Yale have large and influential divinity schools. Unitarian/ Universalism was developed at Harvard--and it split off from Congregationalism. Harvard and Yale have large, Protestant chapels (no one would mistake them for synagogues or mosques) that clearly send the message that these are Protestant institutions. Duke's Methodist chapel is the size of a cathedral--and it is the most recognizable building on campus (even more than Cameron Indoor Stadium). A portion of Brown's commencement is held at the First Baptist Church of America. And all of these campuses are amply decorated for Christian holidays. </p>
<p>So why is it that an atheist would feel more comfortable at Harvard than Brandeis? Because they serve shellfish? I don't think so.</p>
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If the atheist wants to hook up, get drunk, then he/she will have trouble at a Christian College. He also might get headaches from all the "God" talks.
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</p>
<p>If you want to hook up and get drunk, there is something very wrong with you as a human being in the first place. I certainly didn't get headaches when I was listening to comedic sketches performed by the Student Health Services at my college.</p>
<p>and liek omigosh, i totally cant live w/out shellfish!!!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg College is 33% Jewish. It is affiliated with the Lutheran Church. I'm not sure of the percentage of students who describe themselves as Lutheran, but I vaguely remember reading an article that put the number in single digits. They were easily outnumbered by those who said they were not affiliated with any religion.</p>
<p>My daughter attends Lafayette College, which has an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. I don't think I've ever met a Lafayette student who is aware of that. The campus chapel hosts Catholic mass, but Presbyterians -- if there are any -- go to services at a Presbyterian church nearby. There is also a sizeable community of Jewish students. </p>
<p>Bottom line is that religious affilation can mean a lot (Pensacola Christian) or it can mean virtually nothing (Muhlenberg) to the average student.</p>
<p>Bonanza it is about the comfort of the individual in the surroundings. Athiests may feel more comfertable in other schools that have Christan roots because the culture there is no longer mainly based off of one religion. But at Brandies that is not the case as shown in the article Keilexandra posted. And if the Jewish culutre is based off the Jewish faith, Judism will come out more storngly there than the Christian faith would at HYP or Duke. For example the ban on shellfish is in place to be Kosher, and the Hebrew on the seal are constnat reminders of the Jewish faith that may bug Atheists. HYP or Duke may have chapels, but every uni. will provide some faith services and have a building directly for that, and architecture at uni. could just be to personal tastes at the time and mean nothing to me religiously.</p>
<p>i agree with the Jesuit schools comment.. yes they are allfiliated with and run by Jesuits but all kinds are welcome. the biggest influence is the Jesuit ideals of educating the whole person (core cirriculum) and service/giving back to the community. theology requirements dont have to be fufilled by classes about catholicism, but with comparative religion courses, or even buddism classes.</p>
<p>and schools like elon and the like that are technially afflilated but you dont feel the presence. i have a jewish friend who goes to elon and absolutely loves it. </p>
<p>but i guess if seeing a church on campus or a cross every so often would bother you then the schools arent for you. but unless you go to strict christian colleges your beliefs will not be attacked and they will be "normal" kids who like to hang out, party, and have a good time in general</p>
<p>You'll be fine at Georgetown or BC but might run into problems at Bob Jones or Liberty U. There are differing degrees of religious-ness in schools. I definitely agree with the Jesuit comments - they're really accepting and hardly pushy with the religious ideals.</p>
<p>Bonanza, it's not a matter of chapels or architecture. Brandeis is a place where Jewish students can be in an acknowledged majority--a "safe space," which I applaud. At other colleges, Christian is the majority, but since Christianity is the majority in mainstream society to begin with, students take it for granted. Is this fair? No. But the strongly non-religious will probably still feel more comfortable at Harvard than Brandeis.</p>
<p>I think they meant this to be a religous college forum but used Christean becasue that is what the most colleges are. They really should change the name of it to religious colleges.</p>
<p>I'm an agnostic, but I'm going to a christian college simply because of the moral expectations...I don't wanna walk in on my roomie and her "hookup"...or find someone passed out drunk on my dorm floor...I guess people who aren't religious still have morals =)</p>