Is religion forced upon Georgetown students?

Question

I'm an atheist, and I just read that you need to take two courses in Philosophy and Theology at Georgetown University. These courses seem interesting to me, so I wouldn't really mind having to take them (I think I'd actually enjoy it). Is this the only religion-oriented thing that is required of students? I wouldn't be required to go to services or observe any holidays, would I? And would there be a problem with being an atheist and going to Georgetown?

Answer 1

Are you serious ? Catholics (Jesuits especially) are the last people on earth who would try to force you into any religion.

College level philosophy and theology course have absolutely nothing to do with Catholicism. They are simply intro's and examinations of the different thought processes that have shaped humanity and our history for millennia. You may be an atheist, but that doesnt mean that there is no value in understanding humanities concepts of society and God.

You will not be required to go to any services...especially since Catholic's have Masses, not services...but don't worry...you won't be forced to go to one of those either.

Oh ...and you wont get any Jewish holidays off...just good Holy Days of Obligation like All Saints Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

I guess the bigger question is....Why would an atheist want to attend one of the finest Jesuit Universities in the world ? Cant you just go to some PC liberal arts state university ?

Response to 2 Comments Up: There are many schools that are just as good if not better than Georgetown that are not run by Jesuits for the expressed purpose of educating Catholics. Why should an atheist go to a University that has so much to offer Catholic students when they are not interested in taking advantage of any the religious aspects of it ? Seems like going to MIT to study art history... he/she should leave the spot open to a kid who wants to take advantage of what the university is all about. The fact is...Georgetown is a Catholic university run by Jesuits for the benefit of Catholics. I went to college in NY...and Yeshiva University has some great programs and reasonable tuition; but I'm not Jewish so it would have been a bit silly for me to go there as I would not be getting as much out of the school as a Jewish student would. I didn't sacrifice my education by making this choice...I just chose intelligently.

Answer 2

I studied in a sister university of Georgetown and have worked in other sister schools. Respect for the well founded opinions of others is very much a tradition in the Jesuit schools. You will be expected to respect the religion of your classmates. You will be given an invitation to participate in religious services, but the decision to go or not is up to you. You might even get a few holidays off with no obligation to go to church.

Answer 3

Georgetown is a Jesuit (Catholic) university, but even within the realm of Jesuit universities, there is a range of Catholicity, and Georgetown is by far on the less observant end of the scale. The Jesuits are known to be rebels within the Church, so you would probably find that there is a surprising openness, compared to other Catholic universities. You will not be required to go to services or to to do anything particularly religious, and my experience as a faculty member at another Jesuit school is that even many of the Catholic students tend to take Theology classes focused on other religions, just because they feel they already understand their own and want to learn more about others. I've been working at a Jesuit school for decades, and I'm not Catholic, not even Christian, and I've never been shown anything but absolute respect.

Having said that, though, and as someone who comes from a family populated by atheists and agnostics, I do have to give you one warning. You do need to respect the Catholic nature of the university, and the importance of the religion to many of those there, if you decide to take advantage of its offerings by becoming a student there. If you are a person who can quietly decide that while you don't share these beliefs, but respect the rights of others to have them, you might do fine there. Your willingness to take the theology and philosophy courses indicated to me that you might fit into this category, and you can get along fine. I find, for example, that on occasions of great joy or tragedy, I choose to go to mass along with my colleagues and students, not because I buy all of the details of the religion, but because I want to share with those in my community. I can respect the role that a shared religious tradition plays in forming that community.

On the other hand, if you are the type of atheist who constantly wants to scoff at the beliefs of others, if you see it as your duty to point out the ridiculousness of organized religion or the lack of a factual basis for the existence of God to everyone you meet, then you will find ANY college with a religious tradition to be very uncomfortable. If you feel a need to throw your atheism in their faces, it is like being an incredibly bad guest in someone's home.

I have a friend who, while Christian, thinks that Catholicism is some kind of a cult. I've heard her make derogatory comments about the religion, including some made while she was visiting me at work. At one point, when she was looking for a job, she became interested in one at a Catholic school, because of the overall academic reputation of the school, and I had to gently point out to her that this would be a really bad match.

Answer 4

Studying Theology does not mean believing in it or practicing it. The same goes for history. Just because you study about knights in armor on horseback doesn't mean you have to go buy a horse.

Edit: Just want to add a couple thoughts:
Link of interest:
http://www7.georgetown.edu/student-affairs/reslife/diversitystatement.html

And 2 comments down... He probably wants to go to Georgetown because of it's location and reputation as an excellent school. Can't *you* just go to some state run college and sacrifice the quality *your* education because your religious beliefs don't match someone elses?