<p>What is the religious life like at Davidson? Does a large group of students generally go to church on Sundays and do a lot of students participate in religious groups? Also, are the majority of students protestant? </p>
<p>Also, politically, are a lot of students socially conservative (on issues such as abortion, marriage equality, etc)?
Comments or insight on this are/is appreciated!</p>
<p>My impression is you can find a group to go to church with at Davidson, though a large group might be an overstatement. I think the majority are Protestant but many of them are likely not religious.
From what I’ve heard politically, the majority of the students are socially liberal. You’d be hard-pressed to find a student body at an elite school that wasn’t. However, if you are socially conservative I’m sure there are other student who are also, but they are in the minority at almost any college campus.</p>
<p>1234abc1, you’ll be pleased to know that Davidson students are moderately liberal and majority Democratic. A majority are Protestant, but most are “Christian in name only” (i.e., they don’t go to church on Sundays). There is a minority of active Christians on campus, but it’s a minority. At least this is how it was when I was there, 20 years ago.</p>
<p>Don’t believe the above is correct at all. Unless things have changed a lot recently, Davidson tends to be preppy conservative in its student body leanings.</p>
<p>Preppy, yes, but moderately liberal and Democratic. The two are not exclusive.</p>
<p>I recall running a mock election during a Presidential election year (pre-2008). The Democrat won overwhelmingly.</p>
<p>Also, look at the list of student groups on the Davidson website: multiple gay-rights groups, multiple ethnic diversity groups, but few “right-wing” groups. Project Life? It has nothing to do with abortion. There are a bunch of religious groups, but from my recollection they each had just a few people in them. There is also a Muslim student group, a Hillel, various multifaith groups, etc.</p>
<p>In short, the place has a conservative minority, but a moderately liberal majority, and the “Christians” there are mostly secularized.</p>
<p>I’m a current Davidson student. Davidson is surprisingly diverse in both these areas. Students from all different backgrounds experience ideas with which they would have never come into contact with before. Unlike many schools, where either a conservative or liberal consensus dominates, Davidson is probably closer to 45-55, conservative-liberal. People have strong opinions but don’t try to push them on you. They are typically open for a true discussion, rather than trying to convince you. Religious life is something at Davidson about which you have complete control of your involvement. There are many religious groups and the members are very active. However, many students are not involved in religious groups. Religious affiliation is never something that divides; most people are open to others’ opinions. It would be completely wrong, however, to dismiss the religious opportunities available on campus. They are very open to religious and non-religious students, more focused on bringing people together than exclusion. </p>