3

I'm asking specifically about Science courses.

The Kurt Wise case does not reflect on Harvard though it's a Christian University, I understand that. He rejected it because he was convinced geology was biblical, not actual.

It's just that since high school (a few years after 9th grade, translated), the factor in common in discourse has been that proponents making claims incompatible with what I've learned all have Christian Universities as their Alma Mater.

I'm from Sweden and can study in the United States, anywhere in EU, and Switzerland but not Norway.

I would like to finish my studies in the United States. Am I being overly cautious? Are there differences as to what I will be taught, depending on which University?

My application would be for geology with archaeology as minor.

Improve this question
6
  • 7
    Harvard is a Christian university? I mean sure, it was founded as such, but in what sense is it still?
    – JeffE
    Jul 31, 2019 at 3:52
  • 3
    It's hard to speak in generalities, so won't hazard an answer. But there are certainly examples in both directions. Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Boston College come to mind as Catholic colleges with excellent reputations; I seriously doubt religion affects their science classes. At smaller, less well known colleges, I would likely share your concerns. Then there are schools like BYU, which have a fairly good academic reputation but rather strict moral codes that students are obliged to follow (e.g., no beards without a beard waiver).
    – cag51 ♦
    Jul 31, 2019 at 3:56
  • The big ones participate in the same rankings, research, and recruitment competitions as everyone else. It's a big diverse pool but a very competitive one. You can trust the metrics as much as for any other school.
    – A Simple Algorithm
    Jul 31, 2019 at 5:23
  • 2
    The statement that Harvard is a Christian university is incorrect. In the US there are private universities that are not religious.
    – Dan Fox
    Jul 31, 2019 at 9:10
  • 1
    Uppsala University was also founded as a Christian university.
    – Noah Snyder
    Jul 31, 2019 at 13:28

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

Christian universities in the United States are tremendously diverse. The fact that a particular university is "Christian" tells you only that it is not a government owned university. Almost no other conclusions can be drawn from a Christian identity.

Each university makes its own curriculum. A science department at one university may exclusively teach science based on religious beliefs. A science department at another "christian" university might not employ anyone who knows anything about christianity.

Improve this answer
2
  • 4
    In part, this is because Christianity in the United States is tremendously diverse. The fact that someone is Christian tells you almost nothing about what he or she believes (perhaps beyond a few abstract theological statements whose application to anything else varies greatly).
    – Alexander Woo
    Jul 31, 2019 at 4:58
  • 3
    @AlexanderWoo Even then it might not tell you much, depending on your definition of Christianity- for instance, the Mormons consider themselves Christians, even though they don’t adhere to the Nicene Creed, which was literally written as a definition of “what counts a Christianity” within a handful of years after the Roman Empire decriminalised it.
    – nick012000
    Jul 31, 2019 at 5:37

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .