<p>Recently visited St. Olaf with my son, and found much to like. Was wondering how the college is for the respectful but skeptical kid who grew up in a catholic but non-practicing family.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/saint-olaf-college/588406-college-church.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/saint-olaf-college/588406-college-church.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks. I’d love to hear more perspectives.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to visit to make up my own mind about the fit. When I mentioned at a recruiting event for another school this weekend that St. Olaf is on my list, the first question I got is…are you Lutheran. (answer Methodist). Clearly it’s a school that’s strongly identified with the church.</p>
<p>As a slightly spiritual but not really religious person, I too had been a little worried about just how religious St. Olaf would be. However, it has been a complete nonissue this first month, and I actually enjoy talking to other students about their beliefs and having religion be something to think about and discuss. At home in VA, you were either religious or not, and I felt a lot of pressure to decide to be one or the other. Here, yes, plenty of events are held in the chapel, there are a ton of very visible religious groups on campus and the choral music is very classical/Christian, but I love it for the sense of community and happiness that it provides. There is NO PRESSURE at all to do or believe anything.</p>
<p>The topic of religion has come up in non-religion classes a few times (sociology & Great Con so far), and it is just another consideration in our discussions. No hostility or shooting down other people, and no forcing ideas down others’ throats. Just discussion.</p>
<p>Although there are religious clubs/group meetings every day of the week and plenty of people attend them, it has been surprisingly easy to completely avoid religion here (beyond class & friend discussions and random activities/meetings held in the chapel). Really, religion only plays as much a part of St. Olaf life as you want it to. It’s just always available. I love it. 
</p>
<p>Okay, I’m in a really good mood right now (and have been since I got here), so I’ve gotta shout it: I LOVE ST. OLAF!!! And I love talking about it, so feel free to ask more questions. Please?! :)</p>
<p>[St</a>. Olaf Bookstore : General Books List](<a href=“http://www.stolafbookstore.com/GeneralBooksList.aspx?cat=FACULTY]St”>http://www.stolafbookstore.com/GeneralBooksList.aspx?cat=FACULTY)</p>
<p>Go to the St Olaf bookstore, click on ‘books by faculty’.</p>
<p>Then take 10 minutes to go through the list of 144 books.</p>
<p>I found an interesting mix of history, essays, poetry, spirituality and personal development. So this issue is no longer a concern.</p>