<p>My grandparents are trying to send me to a few high schools next year that are extremely religious. My only problem with this is that i'm not really religious at all...I have gone to church and been to church retreats but I don't actually belong to a church. Do any of you go to a school like this, but don't really attend church or practice a religion? They all want me to sign agreements stating that i'll attend church weekly and assist in worship, etc but I feel weird signing that.</p>
<p>I go to a religious high school and I am agnostic. We have to go to chapel once a week and pray quite a bit. My school is super tolerant though. There are a lot of people at my school who do not believe in the religion. There are a few people in my high school who are openly gay. I'm sure it varies by school, but the religious stuff at my school is just annoying. It's not really a problem. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks. The main school they want me in has chapel once a week, but then some kind of prayer group 3-4 times a week which makes me think it's going to be really religious. That, and the fact that they won't let you in without a recommendation from a pastor. I have no idea how i'll get in...</p>
<p>They won't waive religious classes i've missed either, so does anyone know of something online where I could make up credits?</p>
<p>I went to a Catholic school, and it was dreadful honestly. I wasn't Catholic (I am Wiccan) and even though I never pushed my religion and rarely even mentioned it, I was relentlessly persecuted for not being Catholic and they always announced my name in people to pray for at church. Good luck.</p>
<p><em>Disclaimer</em> I attended 13 years of Catholic school and am personally tired of it. I also live in the Bible Belt.</p>
<p>At my Catholic school, every class has to start with a prayer and everyone has to take a religion class every year. I told me religion teacher straight up that I decided to not get confirmed and stop being a member of the all-boys Catholic Church. I cited various reasons such as intolerance of homosexuals, not being relevant to today's world, etc., and he commended me for thinking for myself instead of blindly following what he says. Other religion teachers in the school are devoutly Catholic and follow the law to a t. Some of the teachers don't believe in half of the things the are forced to teach, but they do it because the job is easy. </p>
<p>People tend to believe what they are told without questioning anything. The school is also VERY conservative and Republican, and someone being liberal is generally looked down upon, so it is pretty hard to assert one's beliefs and not expect criticism. One of my friends took a vow of silence for a day to honor all homosexuals who are unable to be open about their sexuality. He was met with some open criticism.Their attitudes seem to be the prevailing attitudes of all of the schools in the area</p>
<p>The intolerant nature of some of my classmates has led me to strongly dislike my school and choose another part of the country to go to college.</p>
<p>Ahh romanigypsyeyes, i'm scared now. I think there's a Catholic school on the list and I live somewhat near you. (I sound like such a stalker)</p>
<p>Pramirez, that's what i've heard from other people in Catholic and Christian schools. I prefer to keep religion and school separate so this all kind of bugs me, that and their lack of sports/extracurriculars/art/foreign language options/ap and advanced classes.</p>
<p>im hindu and i go to a catholic high school except for the fact my school is super liberal and we read books about gay people in english ap.</p>
<p>We are not Catholic, but D has attended Catholic HS and it has been a fabulous experience and tremendous education. You need to know about the school before you go - it could be an intolerant, dreadful place, as posters above have confirmed, or it could be open and accepting. If the latter, a great benefit, IMO, of a religious school is that it can teach to values, and permit questions of morality and theology that other schools might not because it would not be viewed as PC. My D has a great knowledge, and appreciation of literature, partly based on understanding the Bible. She also knows more about other major religions than most of her friends. And, BTW, kids in her school include those who are openly gay, atheists, agnostics, etc., and they are all welcomed and included.</p>
<p>I go to a Catholic school and they don't make you sign a waiver to go to Church every week (and to be honest, I barely go at all). They do, however, make you take Religion courses all four years and attend mass once a month. There are people at my school who aren't Catholic but are fine with the school, which doesn't push religion so much as they push general community and community service. </p>
<p>It can be a good experience depending on the school and who you have. My school is pretty open, but some religious schools might not be as open. It's best to get to know the school first.</p>
<p>^^^my catholic school is same as little mermaids. it depends on if your school is diocesan or run by a religious order tho</p>
<p>religion needs to die</p>
<p>Ditto islandgirl1960, thelittlemermaid, and tennisboy1005</p>
<p>Catholic schools here too. Love the school; it's accepting of other beliefs, both personal and religious.</p>
<p>Religious schools can provide excellent educations, because they're usually small, community-centered, and have philosophy/theology options that would, like someone else said, not be allowed in public systems. All of these things can be done terribly wrong, like at romanigypsyeyes, and be more stifling and route. But they can be done very well. Most Catholic schools (a decent example of a religious school, being the largest denomination of private schools) are aware that plenty of their students aren't Catholic or even Christian. The ones in my area are pretty accepting. </p>
<p>You can't be intimidated by mass or prayer or the occasional stodgy teacher, of course. But I wouldn't worry too much. The best thing to do is to visit the schools to get a sense of just how religious they are. Listen to teacher's lectures, teacher's talking in the halls, whether or not kids regulate their personalities around faculty. And ask the kids what they think. Most kids would be honest enough to tell you that their school isn't the place for a non-church-going liberal (or whatever you may be). You may be surprised; the uniform-clad Catholic school near me has a reputation for being the "fun" school around.</p>
<p>I go to a Catholic high school and it isn't overly religious. We are required to attend mass once a month and take a religion class each year, but they don't force the religion on you at all. I am not Catholic and the only problem I ever encountered was when they asked me to do something during mass and I had to explain that I couldn't because I wasn't Catholic; they didn't have a problem with it though, they just went and got someone else.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I went to a very, very evangelical (best word for it) christian school for elementary and middle school. They were not tolerant at all. Very fire and brimstone if you didn't share their faith.</p>
<p>So overall, I second the above advice to visit the schools. Ask the students and just get an overall feel for what its like. I could tell the difference between the two schools I went to right away. There a lot of "religious" schools where it really isn't that big of a deal, it might not be that bad at all</p>
<p>Catholic girls are freaks, in a good sexual way.</p>
<p>Thanks for the imput. These schools that they're really considering just don't seem like the right fit though. They're run/attached to churches and I already know that a Baptist run school isn't likely to be that accepting (based on my experience in their churches, my mom was raised in one) so i'm a little weary. I will try my best to check them out though, I really want to.</p>
<p>And I laughed at what you said, dank...I won't comment any further...</p>
<p>Sadly, dank08's comment isn't far from true.</p>
<p>Yeah, i've noticed that with some friends that went to Catholic schools...</p>
<p>Most Christians schools are no better than public schools, the only difference is a Bible class, prayer, and chapel for about an hour a week. Quite frankly, most students don't seem so Catholic at all.</p>
<p>Just make sure you fit in with a group of students so you're not left out.</p>