Why Attend a Christian College?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My DD and I had a fascinating conversation on why a Christian woman would want to attend a Christian College (either "frankly Christian, meaning attendance at church and biblical coursework is required or "middling Christian", meaning some theology coursework and some church attendance, but not Christian in history only).</p>

<p>It really is an interesting topic - is it better if you have attended a school with a lot of diversity to "specialize" in college and learn more about your faith? Or should college be a time to expand your view of world religions? I can really see advantages to both, and would curious what listmates would think!! </p>

<p>BITE HERE! What's your opinion???</p>

2

<p>Well technically I am Catholic, I go to a Catholic school as well. And am planning to (hopefully) attend a Catholic college. About half of my college list are Jesuit in tradition. The ironic part? I kind of consider myself Agnostic. Lately I’ve become active in my hs’s campus ministry, so hopefully in college I can do the same!</p>

3

<p>Why are you choosing Jesuit schools? (I have heard great things about them, and our DD is considering several - I just want to hear YOUR reasoning…)</p>

4

<p>I’m kind of wondering what the religious affiliation of a school means. Like to what extent is the religion present and/or pushed on the students.</p>

<p>I have applied to Marquette, but I am not at all a religious person. I would actually consider myself an atheist.</p>

5

<p>I have always thought that affillation is just that - a college was founded in a particular tradition, they may have alumni support who support that religion, but the amount of students who practice may be minimal. A college close to us, Biola, requires attendance at chapel, a number of biblical courses, and a statement of faith from all who are admitted and those who teach. That would be the far end of the spectrum. The other side would be University of Redlands, where I attended back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. UR has a christian bent historically, but no coursework or chapel attendance was required and faith was not discussed in any of my coursework. </p>

<p>So what do the list participants think? My philosophy to my daughter is that if you have a faith that is meaningful to you, and you plan to continue it into adulthood, a college that has a selection of coursework in religion, and even a requirement as part of your core curriculum, is a valuable thing. I have told her that if I had it to do over, I would have taken more religious studies courses because
a - they are very very interesting
b - I have never had another opportunity to take formal coursework in biblical history and knowledge. I wish I had the self discipline to have done it on my own, but I have not. Once you hit the work and parenting world, it is much more difficult to schedule this. </p>

<p>Am curious about other opinions…</p>

6

<p>First you have to decide what you mean by a “Christian College”. To my way of thinking, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Quakers, Presbyterians, Lutherans, etc., etc. are all “Christians”, so I would consider Georgetown, Brigham Young, St. Olaf College, Liberty University, Goshen College, and many others all as “Christian” schools (though they may be very different from each other in spirit or in academic programs). Many politically conservative, evangelical Christians for one reason or other use the word “Christian” much more narrowly, to exclude some of these denominations (such as Mormons or Roman Catholics) from the fold. </p>

<p>If your priority is an excellent liberal arts education at a church-affiliated institution then the Jesuit schools and a few other Roman Catholic institutions (such as Notre Dame) are among the most highly regarded, academically, of all these schools. These are definitely Roman Catholic institutions (with high rates of attendance at Mass and required religion courses) but tend to be fairly ecumenical in spirit. Some (such as Georgetown) attract many Jews and other non-Catholic students who are simply looking for the best education that meets their specific career or other needs.</p>

<p>The best Quaker colleges (Haverford, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr) are among the most prestigious and selective American colleges but (like many other historically Christian schools) are no longer actively managed by their founding institutions, so they may not be what you want, unless perhaps your idea of Christianity focuses not on theological doctrine but on community service with a fairly liberal orientation.</p>

<p>Brigham Young (Mormon), St.Olaf College (Lutheran), or Goshen College (Mennonite) are 3 examples of schools that retain a strong affiliation with a particular Christian “faith tradition” or denomination, but may be more or less open to a fairly broad spectrum of political and scientific viewpoints (though one particular faith predominates in the student body). Patrick Henry and Liberty University are recently established, politically conservative evangelical schools that tend to enforce strict codes of personal dress and conduct, as well as the expression of specific viewpoints on a few issues such as the theory of evolution or abortion.</p>

<p>So in choosing a “Christian College” you have to decide where you fit into this landscape. Are you only looking for a school where students tend to share a certain code of conduct (less drinking, drugs, casual sex)? Are you looking for in-depth instruction in a specific religious doctrine? A strong tradition of Christian service to the poor, sick and homeless? Boot-camp for change agents of the religious right?</p>

7

<p>My first reaction after reading post #5 is that you sound more interested in going back to school to study religion than your daughter necessarily does. </p>

<p>tk21769 does a great job summarizing the Christian college landscape. Georgetown, Boston College, Notre Dame, et al, will provide you the opportunity to study religious history, as well as giving you the chance at a superior overall education. </p>

<p>I attended BC many, many years ago, (I think St. Peter was one of the RAs of the dorm next door), what I learned there was the importance of analyzing and questioning my own beliefs. The point of the theology and philosophy classes at BC was to teach you to think on your own. An unchallenged belief is a weak belief; it’s one that is unlikely to withstand the pressures of society or the “real world”. That’s true whether we are discussing religion, politics, economics or science. If you are looking for an environment where students study passages from the Bible and try to get a better sense of what God was saying, then the Jesuit approach to learning probably isn’t for you. Conversely, if you want to graduate with a more global understanding of religions, of the themes that are consistent through nearly all of them, then a place like BC or Georgetown could be what you’re looking for. </p>

<p>Finally, I have to admit to some ambivalence about this subject. I see so many posters on this board looking for a “Christian College” or a “Conservative School” or a “non-party school”, and I wonder if they are missing the point of college. Maybe it’s my BC background talking, but to me the point of college is to expand your way of thinking. You should be challenging your own beliefs and learning about other ideas, not immersing yourself in a cocoon of people who think exactly the way you do. Beliefs and opinions that stand the test of fire are far more likely to be true than the ones blindly accepted. After all, Daniel walked into the lions’ den, not one filled with a pack of kittens.</p>

8

<p>Vinceh, that is exactly what I am getting at - philosophically, what are the possible advantages and disadvantages of going to a school with a religious bent? This is just never addressed in any articles I have read from a balanced perspective, and is an interesting question. What is the value of attending a college that will teach religion and philosophy in this current world??? </p>

<p>Many references on choosing colleges will say “look for something different than what you have experienced.” Her current high school is 40% Hispanic, with all incomes represented although a large percentage are middle class, and is in Orange County, which is a conservative county but has a strong liberal community as well. She belongs to a lively and exciting Christian youth group, but swims water polo with girls and coaches that swear like sailors and pinch bite and kick as part of the game. In comparison to the vast majority of the country, her background is pretty diverse. </p>

<p>She is familiar with SO Cal, so wants to go to the East Coast
She is familiar with suburban life, so wants to go to a big city.
She has been in a school where no religious beliefs are taught or discussed, so ???</p>

<p>Here’s the philosophical question - given that she will in all likelihood land in 10 years in a diverse corporate/education environment, with a lifetime of being exposed to a variety of beliefs, wouldn’t college be the time to really strengthen her own beliefs, challenge herself to learn more philosophically about world religions in an organized rather than catch as catch can over a beer method? And BC is the perfect example to me - you take three courses in theology, but it can be a wide variety of courses - according to our tour guide, most students pick three different religions and do a semester on each. What a great opportunity! </p>

<p>DD honestly is gathering data on various colleges, and I am in the business of supplying data. It is her decision, but I would love other’s opinions to add to my own!</p>

9

<p>Take a serious look at the 28 Jesuit colleges in the US (Georgetown, BC, Holy Cross, Fordham, etc. Complete list here: [Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>

<p>They typically have excellent philosophy and religious studies depts and cover religions other than Catholicism. Islam professor John Esposito taught at Holy Cross for 20 years then founded the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University and is its current director. The Jesuits sponor religious retreats like the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, their founder, and lots of thought provoking speakers and seminars involving spiritual topics and don’t shy away from controversial topics in debate in society. Finally their motto is developing men and women for others so there are a lot of student outreach programs in the local community.</p>

10

<p>Jesuit schools FTW. I’m going to a Jesuit college, and although I’ve been here for less than a month, I’m positive that I made the right decision. Towards the end of the decision making process, I started wishing that I had applied to more Jesuit schools because they have a very different feel from every other school I’ve ever been to. People are friendlier, and more open, but also incredibly nurturing.</p>

11

<p>I agree with SingDanceRunLife. There is a big difference between a “Christian College” and a Jesuit experience. The Jesuit experience is an all around approach to life and learning, not necessarily religion. In fact, the Jesuits are very open to any and all religions and not exclusively to Christian religions. There are many non-Christians at Jesuit colleges who feel very welcome. My D, who is totally NOT religious, blew me away when she was considering Jesuit colleges, but once I did some research, and visited several times, I knew exactly why she was attracted to them, especially considering her NON-religious attitude.</p>

12

<p>Science, Mathematics and Humanities are part of the core curriculum at many colleges. At BC and most Jesuit schools there is the additional requirement of religion, theology or philosophy. Depending on your major and your interests you can take a dozen different classes in these subjects or as few as three. The choice is up to the student. The biggest difference that I see at BC lies in the fact that you aren’t taught dogma, you are taught to analyze and think for yourself. </p>

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<p>Yes. If that’s what she wants to do. The problem I have with this question is that you seem to be an assuming that the beliefs she will be strengthening will be the same ones she walks into the classes with. Unless things have changed radically in the last couple decades, she will be required to challenge her long held beliefs. She will be forced to confront whether her beliefs are well thought out or merely those of a teenager parroting back rote memorization. She may in fact find that her beliefs are lacking, that other philosophies and religions are more in tune with her thinking and attitudes. Is she and perhaps more importantly, are you, prepared for that?</p>

<p>A Jesuit education is about the spirited analysis and debate of ideas. It is first and foremost an open-minded approach to learning. Not open-minded in a liberal/conservative political sense, but in listening and discussing positions that may disagree with your own so that you can learn different viewpoints, as well as come to a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses or your own opinions. You’ll never find a Jesuit on talk radio or TV trying to shout down his “opponent”. Though, if you’re lucky, you might get to see one let a blowhard ramble on for a bit and then have him mercilessly and clinically dismember the talking head’s argument, piece by piece.</p>

<p>If that is the type of education your daughter wants then I think she’ll be well served at any number of Jesuit schools. If you and she are looking for unquestioning reinforcement of already held beliefs, she may find her time better spent in a more religiously conservative environment. </p>

<p>Shoot4moon after having re-read your three posts on this thread, my concern is that you are the one wanting to go back to study religion, not your daughter. If that’s the case, she will get a very good education at a place like BC, but you may be disappointed at how little her beliefs get “strengthened”.</p>

13

<p>Just a word about nomenclature: in general, when somebody says that they are interested in attending a “Christian college,” what they usually mean is a more-or-less evangelical Protestant college that more-or-less includes explicitly Christian doctrine in its curriculum. This doesn’t imply any judgement about whether other people (such as Catholics) are Christians or not.
Christian colleges, as defined above, still exist along a pretty wide spectrum, with very conservative schools at one end (i.e., Bob Jones, Liberty), and more “liberal” and diverse schools (ie., Wheaton) at the other end. Schools that are affiliated with denominations, but don’t really have much religious identity are not really part of this.
I think a kid who wants to go to Bob Jones might have very different reasons from a kid who wants to go to Wheaton.</p>

14

<p>I am a Christian college administrator who was once a high-ranking administrator at a Christian college. I came to find the two concepts - higher education and religious control - to be so incompatible that I ultimately left that role. I believe that selling a young person on the notion of a religiously-controlled (not merely religiously-affiliated) college providing a true “higher education” is a fraud, and it makes me leery of the preparation that graduates of such schools typically have.</p>

<p>The development of critical thinking skills is repeatedly cited by educators as the single most important goal of a higher education. Steven D. Schafersman on freeinquiry.com defines “critical thinking” as “reasonable, reflective, responsible, and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.” He says “A person who thinks critically can ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, efficiently and creatively sort through this information, reason logically from this information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world that enable one to live and act successfully in it.”</p>

<p>Consider how crucial opportunities for the development of critical thinking skills are to the pursuit of excellence by colleges and universities while considering these quotes from, for example, Biola University’s Mission and Values Statements: </p>

<p>“Our business is to inspire student’s (sic) learning so that they are empowered to think and practice from a Christian worldview in their fields of service. Our faculty, students, and graduates seek to grapple with the intellectual, ethical, and cultural issues of our time by partnering in discerning Christ-centered scholarship. We believe that there is truth; it is knowable and revealed in God’s inerrant Word. We believe that holding a biblical worldview is foundational to understanding life and Truth. God has equipped us to uphold truth and sustain community at Biola through Christ-centered and Spirit-led education, scholarship and service that is grounded in Scripture and challenges our community to seek and integrate biblical principles into our fields of study. We believe that all we do should be Christ-centered and based on the teachings of Jesus.”</p>

<p>Can a student truly learn to “reason logically from information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world” at a university that has so clearly done this reasoning for them and pre-ordained their conclusions? While other universities provide opportunities for the kind of critical thought that is at the core of higher learning, it could be argued that Christian-controlled colleges and universities are not true institutions of higher learning at all.</p>

15

<p>Wow. I had no idea. Can I ask where you were, gadad? (PM is fine)</p>

16

<p>Pizzagirl - You know, I’m loyal enough to former colleagues and employers that I hate to name them specifically. But I’ll emphasize that it was not a university that merely has a denominational affiliation like Duke, Georgetown or Davidson, but one that was strongly controlled by its denomination and at which denominational dogma and politics had a chilling effect on teaching, discourse and student activities. Some of the things that caused me to reassess my feelings about religiously-based campuses included faculty members being constrained (and in one case, fired) over allowing discussions that allowed for the plausibility of points of view that conflicted with conservative Christian theology, student life being restricted in ways that were reasonable and practical from the student point of view for fear that religious authorities would be offended, and even the dismissal of a volunteer hairdresser who was assisting with an on-campus preliminary to the Miss America program once it became apparent that he was openly gay. </p>

<p>But the most negative, educationally-antithetical aspect of the “Christian College” experience to me was the basic assumption of correctness about the perspectives that students brought with them to the college along with an unwillingness to entertain the notion that one’s own values can be enlightened by exposure to people and ideas that are different and new. There can be no higher education where that barrier exists.</p>

17

<p>Gadad - interesting perspective. I am curious is you lump all christian schools into the same general category - or if not, where do they fall on a range of spectrum (from the Bob Jones / Liberty’s of the world to the Wheatons)?</p>

<p>I ask because my daughter (a junior) believes she wants to attend a christian college and I have been leery. IShe is going to visit a broad range of christian and non-christian schools this spring so things can change but right now she is very focused on Wheaton as her top choice.</p>

<p>Its obviously her choice but I am trying to help steer her in a reasonable direction. I personally would not be happy with her going to schools at one end of the spectrum (ie Bob Jones, Liberty) but those at the other end (Wheaton, Calvin) seemed to be more reasonable and mainstream from my perspective. Am I wrong?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

18

<p>Wheaton has as good an academic reputation as an evangelical college gets. But their Mission Statement indicates that the college is “Committed to the principle that truth is revealed by God through Christ ‘in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,’ . . . The curricular approach is designed to combine faith and learning in order to produce a biblical perspective needed to relate Christian experience to the demands of those needs.”</p>

<p>To me, that indicates that any insights which fall outside traditional Christian doctrine aren’t eligible to be considered “truth.” I can’t say what happens inside the classroom, but the range of student organizations on the Wheaton campus are posted on the website. On most campuses, you’d find a wide range of socio-political viewpoints; at Wheaton, all the groups seem to reflect conservative Christian values. The one feminist group is the “Christian Feminists Club” which seeks “a Christ-centered, Scripture-based approach to feminism.” Georgetown University, which is a Jesuit institution, still has a Jewish Student Association and a Muslim Student Association. But there appear to be few diverse viewpoints in the campus life at Wheaton, and I’d assume that the same would be true in the classroom as well.</p>

<p>A lot of observers from conservative perspectives decry college campuses as being at odds with traditional values. But the last thing that any enlighted society should want to to be is blindly obligated to a set of values for the sake of tradition. All our values - even our religious ones - evolve and grow over time as more and more truth is revealed (or at least, they should). In the process, they generally become more humane and more just. That new insight often comes from unexpected sources and is a big part of the joy of learning. I’d suggest that it’s by cutting off access to those new areas of insight that evangelical colleges don’t truly engage in the process of higher education.</p>

19

<p>I agree with prior posters who say that Jesuits do an exceptional job. And yes, there is a huge difference between BC and BJ (i.e. Bob Jones University).</p>

<p>I have personal knowledge of Christians of exceptional faith who choose a religiously affiliated college (Gordon College) … and evangelical christians who wouldn’t even consider Liberty University or Bob Jones University “because they’re too liberal.” Nothing short of Pensacola Christian College would do, and all family members attended there. </p>

<p>So I think one needs to craft the “christian school” question very carefully if one is to get a meaningful response.</p>

20

<p>I attended a pentecostal Bible college when I was college age. I think it benefited me on a personal and spiritual level. Also I met my late husband there, which gave me four beautiful children.</p>

<p>I can remember in chapel being told that studying the Bible was far better preparation for life than secular pursuits. And I think there is some truth in that. However, when my late husband died and left me with four small children, I had no skills to even begin to support them. I had to go back to college while grieving, working and parenting in order to keep a roof over their heads.</p>

<p>So, when my eldest was looking at college I steered her away from that same Bible college. Well, I encouraged her to keep it on the back burner until AFTER she graduated from college. She chafed at that at first, but went to Colgate and is a fine young Christian woman now.</p>

<p>Bible college is not the same as a Christian liberal arts university, so my experience is not entirely applicable. But I just thought I would toss it into the discussion.</p>