<p>SMU has a fairly large Republican population, but it seems pretty open-minded by my experience. I’ve met a few Buddhists, Muslims, and atheists there too. It’s not incredibly diverse, but it might be more diverse than, say, Wheaton.</p>
<p>LSkaiWalk - </p>
<p><<< How do non-catholic christians and others fit in at these catholic schools?? >>></p>
<p>I have that same question. We visited Marquette University in Milwaukee this past weekend. It is a Catholic Jesuit University. Son is a politically liberal Methodist. I wonder how he would fit in there as well as at Wheaton which we have also visited.</p>
<p>yeah, i’d still like to know that.</p>
<p>im interested in LMU, USD, and Santa Clara</p>
<p>on some research i learned that jesuits its generally pretty diverse, and not some all catholics. and that normal catholic universities are usually pretty diverse, but not quite as ideal as jesuit, but still decent.</p>
<p>anyone wanna explain that?? non-catholics at a catholic??</p>
<p>Generally speaking, Jesuit colleges are fairly liberal, but not overly so. But I’ll put it like this: I’m going to Le Moyne College in the fall, and although I’m pretty extremely liberal which comes from living where I have my entire life, I don’t find it too conservative.</p>
<p>There are a number of small Catholic schools that are intellectually grounded in the Great Books tradition: University of Dallas, Thomas Aquinas in California, and the micro-sized Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (about 90 students) in New Hampshire.</p>
<p>I would suggest going to the websites of the following mainline Christian denominations. They will all have a section on the schools that the denomination supports. Most of the colleges listed will be of a moderate to liberal bent. Some will be historically black, if that matters.
[Our</a> mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. - UMC.org<a href=“United%20Methodist%20Church”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.pcusa.org%5DPresbyterian”>http://www.pcusa.org]Presbyterian</a> Church (U.S.A.)<a href=“Presbyterian%20Church%20(USA)”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.elca.org%5DHome”>http://www.elca.org]Home</a> - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America<a href=“Evangelical%20Lutheran%20Church%20in%20America”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.ucc.org%5DUnited”>http://www.ucc.org]United</a> Church of Christ<a href=“United%20Church%20of%20Christ”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.rca.org%5DRCA”>http://www.rca.org]RCA</a> - Reformed Church in America: Home<a href=“Reformed%20Church%20in%20America”>/url</a>
<a href=“http://www.episcopalchurch.org%5B/url%5D”>www.episcopalchurch.org](<a href=“http://www.umc.org%5DOur”>http://www.umc.org)</a> (Episcopal Church)
[url=<a href=“http://www.disciples.org%5DChristian”>http://www.disciples.org]Christian</a> Church (Disciples of Christ)<a href=“Christian%20Church%20-%20Disciples%20of%20Christ”>/url</a></p>
<p>"anyone wanna explain that?? non-catholics at a catholic?? "</p>
<p>I’m not sure I understand your question, but the Jesuit schools we checked out seem to value a very broad view of religion. I think anyone with even the slightest interest in religion, and tolerance for a pretty broad choice of religion classes and lectures/services would be pretty comfortable.</p>
<p>This contrasted quite a bit with those schools my kids high school invites to their “Christian” college fair. ( Biola, Azusa Pacific, Point Loma etc). In that context, I am interested in hearing which if any of those are considered “liberal”.</p>
<p>Our daughter is considering St Olaf in MN. We are practicing Catholic and politically democrat; open minded, liberal leaning. Is she likely to feel in line or out of line with the general population at St Olaf? She is attracted because she thinks kids who would be attracted to such a school are more likely to be kind and giving. In addition, she has not ever felt attracted to or comfortable with the party scene. She is hesitant about it because she’s afraid it might be too conservative, politically and possibly less likely to be tolerant of her left-wing thinking. Thoughts, anyone?</p>
<p>I go to Le Moyne College which is a Jesuit school, and while most of the student population is Catholic, it’s no problem if you’re not. I myself am not, and I fit in just fine. It’s true that Mass isn’t really my thing, but it’s not completely out of my element either because I’m Episcopalian. I’m very liberal, definitely democratic and all that jazz, and even still, I absolutely love my school and feel absolutely comfortable here.</p>
<p>I heard Messiah was pretty liberal. They even have a GLBT group on campus</p>
<p>I second Point Loma Nazarene in Cali. I’d also recommend Eastern Nazarene in Mass., right outside Boston. Most Nazarene colleges require faculty members to be Christians, but are very much about asking questions and challenging beliefs. Conservative social atmosphere, though, so it depends on what you mean by “liberal”.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for intellectually or theologically liberal schools then Point Loma Nazarene and Eastern Nazarene are great. If you’re looking for socially liberal than you want something else entirely.</p>
<p>Definitely the Jesuit ones, namely the east coast ones like BC and GT. The Jesuit order is very liberal in itself, and this translates directly to the school. (You can’t really help it being in two of the most liberal cities) Also Berkley and Holy Cross. </p>
<p>Obviously all the Catholic ones would be more liberal that the Protestant ones for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>I’d suggest a Jesuit school- even though you aren’t Catholic, it’s probably the best atmosphere you can get that’s religious and openminded. Otherwise, maybe a Lutheran school such as Concordia? The ELCA is pretty liberal. I’m not an expert in Christian schools though, being a Unitarian Universalist myself.</p>
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<p>Catholic universities? Hardly. Don’t generalize based on the status of a couple barely-Catholic, laughably unorthodox colleges.</p>
<p>
Excuse please. This one struck me as funny, with no disrespect intended. Like a Jew or Jehovah’s Witness trying to lend insight into Christianity. They’ll have some intriguing insights, but not a clue about the essence. Like me trying to lend credence to Mike the Archangel.</p>
<p>In this vein, and it’s a minor digression, I’ve just read God’s Harvard by Hanna Rosin, a gal of determined Jewish faith. It was in the $5 give away pile. And understandably.</p>
<p>The book is about Patrick Henry College, an interesting case study in itself. But it’s nearly unbelievable that PH’s pres authorized this Wash Post religion columnist as the early “biographer” of this Christian experiment. While well written and thoroughly observant, her piece is, well, I’m not even sure what it is. A book about PH and some of its players. Perhaps worth reading if one is considering attending, and it does lend some insights from a far distant view …</p>
<p>But again, not hard to figure out why it was in the give-away pile. I’ve not a clue who the target audience might have been, as Ms. Rosin set out in her exploration of this land so foreign to her heart, if not her head and hand’s writing. A really odd book, that in my opinion, fails mightily in serving to promote PH, an essential in the early life of any educational experiment like this one. The end impression portrays anything but “God’s Harvard.” In fact, just that title exposes it all, doesn’t it. </p>
<p>What Christian would ever dream of creating a place like Harvard!</p>
<p>Indeed, that might be deemed a nightmare! :eek:</p>
<p>I think it’s sad the way people are just throwing out the Christian college they know, without really offering good advice. For instance, nominating Point Loma or Wheaton as liberal colleges is absurd. The clues to a liberal Christian university are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Allows alcohol on campus</li>
<li>No rules about same sex visting hours</li>
<li>Seeks non-Christian faculty</li>
<li>Is NOT a member of the CCCU</li>
<li>Does not require any form of mandatory chapel attendance</li>
<li>Was founded by a religious institution, but no longer has formal ties</li>
</ol>
<p>Now this isn’t to say that drinking or having a girl in your room after 12:00am is “liberal”, it’s just to say that conservative schools tend to take a proactive stance on these issues. The first few schools that come to mind as liberal and “Christian” are Baylor, Fordham, SMU, Georgetown, and Boston College.</p>
<p>I just stumbled on this thread and wanted to add that Austin College in Texas is a fabulous example of a “liberal” Christian college. It still has ties to the Presbyterian Church (by covenant) but doesn’t have “mandatory” chapel anymore. It does have great programs like InterVarsity and an outreach program connected with the Presbyterian Church called “ACtivators” but it also has an active LGBT group and is very accepting of all beliefs and views – religious, political, etc… Seriously! Perfect example – it’s a “Presbyterian College” with a Jewish president!</p>