<p>Before we get too carried away about the absence of religion at U of C, one must consider that Chicago is quite well known for its divinity school: <a href="http://divinity.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://divinity.uchicago.edu/</a>, and has an active Jewish community. </p>
<p>As for liberal vs. conservative, Chicago is often referred to as the birthplace of modern economic conservatism and has perhaps been much more influential in that movement than perhaps any other university, from the WSJ:
[quote]
It is no exaggeration to say that Chicago laid the intellectual foundation for the conservative ascendancy and nurtured the ideas that now drive the debate over economic policy, legal theory and foreign affairs.
[/quote]
<a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110006623%5B/url%5D">http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110006623</a></p>
<p>My S has both very liberal and very conservative friends, it seems to be a good mix.</p>