. Forum

[EMZE]

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[rgndvo]

"Faith" (i.e. false certainty in extraordinary metaphysical propositions without evidence) makes many people queasy, adcoms included. Couldn't you ground your character in secular terms, at least for the purpose of the PS? Given the racism and religious bigotry accorded my family by Muslims, Atheism is important to me; but I'd never invoke it in a DS.

[Glock]

It's fine as long as it tells a good story and makes you seem interesting.

[EMZE]

I am left with two greatly differing opinions. It seems that rgndvo's position is more his own than what he knows of adcomms. If I am wrong, please give me some context of your first hand knowledge that many adcomms become queasy at the mention of someone being grounded in faith. Glock, do you know of anyone who sucessfully used faith in their DS?

First hand knowledge and or experience would be great.

[rgndvo]

I am contemptuous of superstition because of what it has done to my family (in my beautiful country of origin, they take their magic book seriously enough to stone people [esp. : "teh gay"] to death over it). But with respect to adcoms, my opinion is not merely my own. This advice is supported by Anna Ivey, former Dean of Admissions at U of Chicago:

"I would suggest that you steer clear of your personal relationship with Jesus or other religious topics, which make some admissions officers squeamish."


http://books.google.com/books?id=M6Ujyi ... us&f=false

In any case, I doubt it will much affect your chances. You will live and die on your grades, LSAT, and (to a much lesser but still significant extent) resume. Unless your PS makes you look like a dick (which I'm sure it won't), it won't be a deal-breaker. Still, I would avoid it out of self-interest.

[Seneca]

You should definitely avoid your "personal relationship with Jesus" and similar topics, but I think it's possible to discuss your religious upbringing, for instance, without ever mentioning a deity. There's a PS posted in the samples thread that discusses an applicant's Mormon upbringing. The PS shows how the religious upbringing contributed to a unique perspective and interest in law, but IIRC it doesn't ever mention a higher power, and I doubt even the most sensitive atheist would feel squeamish reading it. I think it all depends on how you approach it, but it's definitely a topic that warrants some extra caution.

[subtle]

You should definitely avoid your "personal relationship with Jesus" and similar topics, but I think it's possible to discuss your religious upbringing, for instance, without ever mentioning a deity. There's a PS posted in the samples thread that discusses an applicant's Mormon upbringing. The PS shows how the religious upbringing contributed to a unique perspective and interest in law, but IIRC it doesn't ever mention a higher power, and I doubt even the most sensitive atheist would feel squeamish reading it. I think it all depends on how you approach it, but it's definitely a topic that warrants some extra caution.

I think TITCR. All PS and DS should show you in the best light. They should convince those reading of your interest in the law and fitness. It definitely shouldn´t be this is what I believe, and this is why it´s right. Go with something along the lines of what Seneca said.

[EMZE]

More out of my own curiousity now, but what is your country of origin? I've been all over the mid east, north africa, Kyryzstan and Afghanistan, and have put in the time to learn arabic, russian, and pieces of pashto/ dari. Since I started this thread I don't feel too bad hijacking it

[Glock]

I am left with two greatly differing opinions. It seems that rgndvo's position is more his own than what he knows of adcomms. If I am wrong, please give me some context of your first hand knowledge that many adcomms become queasy at the mention of someone being grounded in faith. Glock, do you know of anyone who sucessfully used faith in their DS?

First hand knowledge and or experience would be great.

Yes, several. Mentioning God is fine too. There are some potential downsides, but they are few if you make it interesting.

[rgndvo]

Do you really need to know my ethnic origins to evaluate the plausibility of my statement? See, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_topics_and_Islam

And that's only those countries where capital punishment for homosexuality is mandated or explicitly condoned by the state.

Another diddy derived from one of the Islamic books (not the Koran, but the hadith, which is equally regarded as the divinely-inspired word of God) is the execution of apostates: "If anyone changes his religion, kill him?" This is a very plain admonition to murder.

[EMZE]

LGBT persecution isn't unique to Islam. I'm also not trying to evaluate the plausibility of your statement. I have personally and professionally held interest in that part of the world.

Where in the Islamic world are you from? Based on everything you are saying, I am making the assumption that you have spent time there as an adult or were raised there, since you invoke that as shaping your stance on a/theism.

I am just trying to figure out where you are from, since I've spent the last 9 years studying or surrounded by Islamic culture.

[rgndvo]

LGBT persecution isn't unique to Islam. I'm also not trying to evaluate the plausibility of your statement. I have personally and professionally held interest in that part of the world.

Where in the Islamic world are you from? Based on everything you are saying, I am making the assumption that you have spent time there as an adult or were raised there, since you invoke that as shaping your stance on a/theism.

I am just trying to figure out where you are from, since I've spent the last 9 years studying or surrounded by Islamic culture.

Haha and you want my specific biographical information in order to facilitate your "study?" You can always count on TLS for the most unique combination of aspies and passive-aggressiveness.

[EMZE]

I'm sorry you feel that way. My questions were of genuine interest. The name of a country was really all I was looking for.