OOS Auburn University--looking for input

WDE1994
Fri, 21 Feb 2020 18:14:30 +0000

Hi Hardy8635,

In my opinion, being non-religious is a potential consideration but really not a big deal.

I would say that with anything, if you express your opinion about being non-religious and that religion is “bad” or other, you will bring up a hornets nest since most people highly defend their religious beliefs.

One thing potentially different at AU… there are no Jewish Fraternities or Sororities, like UGA or UA. Those young men and women join alongside their Christian, non-religious, etc peers, which I kind of like.

Auburn is extremely conservative, like most small southern towns will be. There are churches and programs and church social groups that do have an impact on the student body, but again, not being part of one in no way is reflective on your son. If any of his friends/classmates/roommates are members of these religious organizations, he will probably be invited to come along, as a kindly gesture and as a innate desire to help/love/recommend/“save”, etc everyone else…extremely normal.

I"m Catholic and had best friends who were Methodists and Baptists who invited me to their church EVERY Week, knowing I was of a different faith. I went along occasionally because they were my friends and I was curious. Great people. They never swayed me but glad I was able to see a different perspective. Part of life.

On the basis of having a Jewish ethnicity, I would highly doubt that would ever actually come up in any college setting. I don’t think kids today really care about someones’ nationality, which is a great behavior to exhibit towards fellow students and people.

My recommendation is…if your son doesn’t want to be around a majority Christian student body and doesn’t want to see/hear Christian conservative values often discussed - a non-southern campus may be the way to go.

Religion is personal involvement. Participate or don’t. Again, IMHO, being secular on AU’s campus should not be any hand-waving, flag-raising, noticeable event.

For the roommate profile, yes, the religious affiliation is typically listed. I would say there is two-fold reason for mentioning it…
A) Saying you’re religion A, or religion B is a good way to express to other folks that I"m honest, won’t steal your diet Coke from the fridge, care about you as a friend and have grown up in a way that is renowned as trustworthy and nice.
B) With so many people having a religious affiliation, it is another way to potentially meet another person who believes what you also believe and may help them stay focused in their faith, or potentially have someone to go to church with for weekend service.

For my son, his future roommate is a Christian, but he has no idea to what affiliation he belongs and may not ever even ask. It may come up, but for my son, he wouldn’t care either way.

I hope this helps in some way. Good luck.
PIng me if there is a way for our boys to connect prior to the Fall.