How religious are Jesuit schools? Forum

[bistduverrueckt]

Just out of curiosity how religious ARE Jesuit schools anyway? Specifically GULC and Fordham. I don't really see it being a problem for me either way but I am curious about it.

[Underground404]

Warum fragst du? (I just noticed your name)

I attend a public university, so I can't speak from experience, but I've gathered that it's not overly religious. The impression that I've gotten is that the Jesuit law schools focus on themes like social justice, which derives in part from their religious convictions. However, in the study of law, it's difficult for religion to guide the overarching content. I would talk to people at the school if you're still concerned though.

[BlueDiamond]

I'm at a Jesuit undergrad (neither of these two schools you asked about). However, from my experience you can't tell any difference from a large public school (which I transferred from) except for having a church somewhere on campus and the option for religion classes in undergrad.

[beachbum]

I'm at a Jesuit undergrad (neither of these two schools you asked about). However, from my experience you can't tell any difference from a large public school (which I transferred from) except for having a church somewhere on campus and the option for religion classes in undergrad.

+1, also at a Jesuit undergrad.

[ran12]

Most of the higher ranked aren't. Liberty is. Notre Dame is sort of.

[jcunni5]

Went to Jesuit undergrad not very religious at all, in fact they don't like alot of the Church's teachings
-GULC definitely isn't

btw Notre Dame and Liberty aren't Jesuit hence why they are probably more religious

Most of the higher ranked aren't. Liberty is. Notre Dame is sort of.

[BlueDiamond]

lol, Liberty and Notre Dame aren't Jesuit schools..

[HeavenWood]

lol, Liberty and Notre Dame aren't Jesuit schools..

Liberty isn't even Catholic...

[beachbum]

lol, Liberty and Notre Dame aren't Jesuit schools..

Liberty isn't even Catholic...

whoops.

[bistduverrueckt]

Thanks guys for the insight--yeah that was basically what I thought. Since I've gone to schools with no religious affiliation all my life I was just wondering if I'd experience a crazy amount of culture shock should I end up at either of those.

[kk19131]

I used to pronounce that word "jay suite".

[bistduverrueckt]

I used to pronounce that word "jay suite".

That just made my day

[ran12]

Sorry I was thinking religious schools for some reason.

[2014]

I'm at a Jesuit undergrad (neither of these two schools you asked about). However, from my experience you can't tell any difference from a large public school (which I transferred from) except for having a church somewhere on campus and the option for religion classes in undergrad.

I'm at a public school with a chapel on campus and quite the extensive religious department

[HeavenWood]

I'm at a Jesuit undergrad (neither of these two schools you asked about). However, from my experience you can't tell any difference from a large public school (which I transferred from) except for having a church somewhere on campus and the option for religion classes in undergrad.

I'm at a public school with a chapel on campus and quite the extensive religious department

I go to a public school with a cathedral of learning.

[Informative]

GULC, BC and Fordham are not going to have a very religious feel. However, an institution run by the diocese like ND or Catholic University is going to have a greater emphasis on religion.

[nealric]

Other than the small chapel in the basement (which is across the hall from a kosher kitchen), there are few signs of GULC's Jesuit-ness. I don't think I had a single prof that was actually Catholic.

[Perch]

I used to pronounce that word "jay suite".

That just made my day

+1!

[BCLS]

Jesuit Ivy

[nathan.]

I'm at a Jesuit undergrad (neither of these two schools you asked about). However, from my experience you can't tell any difference from a large public school (which I transferred from) except for having a church somewhere on campus and the option for religion classes in undergrad.

option for religion classes? I go to a Jesuit undergrad and we are required to take three theology classes...

[sundance95]

Other than the small chapel in the basement (which is across the hall from a kosher kitchen), there are few signs of GULC's Jesuit-ness. I don't think I had a single prof that was actually Catholic.

This. I think the only sign of religiousity at Gtown is that there are actually offices for all of the chaplains (both Protestant and Catholic, along with a rabbi and an imam) within the law school itself, in the basement as nealric noted. Gtown is committed to having spiritual counsel available to all of its students, and since the law center is across town from the UG campus this is their solution.

Full disclosure: I don't attend GULC but have a 1L friend there and an LLM friend there. Also, the GULC Protestant chaplain actually married my wife and I (he was her chaplain when she attending Gtown UG). He is awesome.

[furrywalls]

I'm willing to bet they aren't handing out birth control at the school's clinic.

[sundance95]

I'm willing to bet they aren't handing out birth control at the school's clinic.

This is a good call, actually. On Gtown's UG campus condoms aren't sold, anywhere.

[Raramuri415]

I went to Gtown undergrad. I am not particularly religious. I would say that for students that want to do faith based activities there are ample resources/opportunities. For those who are not religious, you aren't required to do anything outside your comfort zone. Had to take 1 theology class and could be about anything (Islam, Hinduism, etc...). Its present without being obtrusive.

[applepiecrust]

Also Georgetown undergrad. I love the Jesuits and I am agnostic, gay, pro-choice blah blah blah.
It's only as religious as you want it to be: the religious resources are there if you want them, but they are not intrusive.

The only possibly intrusively religious things here are 1. lack of contraceptives on campus (= not an issue for me :p); 2. crucifixes in the classrooms (not sure if they have them at GULC too though); 3. lack of official recognition for the pro-choice student groups (though I think GULC sponsored internships at Planned Parenthood and there was a lot of drama over that).

But, in general, the Jesuits are just awesome.