Protestant Law School statement of faith?

[PatienceAndLove]

DH is applying to law schools, and at the request of his parents (who are footing the bill for the law school apps BTW) looked at a specific protestant law school.
One of the tenets of applying was signing the statement of faith, one part of which required the applicant to believe in the Rapture.
DH is currently agnotic and did not apply to the school. He could not bring himself to sign such a statement.

Are statements of faith prevalent at protestant colleges/universities? Why? It seems to go with mandatory attendance at chapel… making people believe.

 

[bpbasilphx]

It seems to go with mandatory attendance at chapel… making people believe.

The best they can hope to come up with by having mandatory chapel attendance is external conformity to their rituals.

 

[Rightlydivide]

It seems to go with mandatory attendance at chapel… making people believe.

The best they can hope to come up with by having mandatory chapel attendance is external conformity to their rituals.

The Catholic schools in my area have the same weekly requirement for their high school students at the Catholic school.

But to answer your question, signing a statement of faith is common at the more conservative schools and perfectly acceptable and even desireable in my opinion.
Chances are they do not want an agnostic respresenting their school in the private or public sector.

 

[ralphinal]

The Catholic schools in my area have the same weekly requirement for their high school students at the Catholic school.

But to answer your question, signing a statement of faith is common at the more conservative schools and perfectly acceptable and even desireable in my opinion.
Chances are they do not want an agnostic respresenting their school in the private or public sector.

Let’s say for argument sake that the best school of law (or only) in an area is one that requires a statement of faith to be signed. In doing so, they are doing one of three things. First, requiring people who disagree with them to lie in order to gain the advantage of the better school. Second, they are intentionally forcing those who disagree with them to choose a lesser school or no school at all. Third, they are limiting different opinions in the class and on campus, which would lead me to think that politically they limit discussions as well.

I fully understand the idea that you want to choose who represents you, but this is a backhanded form of discrimination. Afterall, the law school admission process is a “cleaner” way of keeping different people out.

 

[eliasaph99]

Let’s say for argument sake that the best school of law (or only) in an area is one that requires a statement of faith to be signed. In doing so, they are doing one of three things. First, requiring people who disagree with them to lie in order to gain the advantage of the better school. Second, they are intentionally forcing those who disagree with them to choose a lesser school or no school at all. Third, they are limiting different opinions in the class and on campus, which would lead me to think that politically they limit discussions as well.

I fully understand the idea that you want to choose who represents you, but this is a backhanded form of discrimination. Afterall, the law school admission process is a “cleaner” way of keeping different people out.

It is not discrimination.

A school founded for a specific mission, say to educate a crop of Christian lawyers, has the right to take steps to fulfill that mission.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Let’s say for argument sake that the best school of law (or only) in an area is one that requires a statement of faith to be signed. In doing so, they are doing one of three things. First, requiring people who disagree with them to lie in order to gain the advantage of the better school. Second, they are intentionally forcing those who disagree with them to choose a lesser school or no school at all. Third, they are limiting different opinions in the class and on campus, which would lead me to think that politically they limit discussions as well.

I fully understand the idea that you want to choose who represents you, but this is a backhanded form of discrimination. Afterall, the law school admission process is a “cleaner” way of keeping different people out.

Hi Ralphinal, it is my experience that those schools requiring your to sign a statement of faith, generally are no greater than a low level community college at best. So, I seriously doubt that one wanting to get into one of the best law schools will even look at one of those christian schools.

 

[ralphinal]

Who defines Christian? Does the college attached to this law school accept Pell Grant money? Or G.I. Bill? So, if Catholic has scores in the 99th percentile and wants to apply but refuses to sign the declaration of faith, then he should not be allowed in because he is not “Christian?” What about any other denomination, the majority of which do not agree with the rapture teaching? While we are at it, why don’t we make sure that we exclude minorities as well. Are the faculty allowed to teach dissenting views that are legal?

 

[Rightlydivide]

Who defines Christian? Does the college attached to this law school accept Pell Grant money? Or G.I. Bill? So, if Catholic has scores in the 99th percentile and wants to apply but refuses to sign the declaration of faith, then he should not be allowed in because he is not “Christian?” What about any other denomination, the majority of which do not agree with the rapture teaching? While we are at it, why don’t we make sure that we exclude minorities as well. Are the faculty allowed to teach dissenting views that are legal?

The courts sorted these kind of things out long ago.
A school can not admit people based upon religion and still receive federal financial aid.
They cannot discriminate on the basis of race.

 

[Rightlydivide]

Hi Ralphinal, it is my experience that those schools requiring your to sign a statement of faith, generally are no greater than a low level community college at best. So, I seriously doubt that one wanting to get into one of the best law schools will even look at one of those christian schools.

If they are one of the 200 or so ABA approved law schools, they have a rigorous review process and I seriously doubt the community college statement is accurate.

 

[rr1213]

Go to a public law school. The best ones are public anyway.

 

[eliasaph99]

Who defines Christian? Does the college attached to this law school accept Pell Grant money? Or G.I. Bill? So, if Catholic has scores in the 99th percentile and wants to apply but refuses to sign the declaration of faith, then he should not be allowed in because he is not “Christian?” What about any other denomination, the majority of which do not agree with the rapture teaching? While we are at it, why don’t we make sure that we exclude minorities as well. Are the faculty allowed to teach dissenting views that are legal?

I am not using the word “Christian” in my reply to mean a universally accepted definition. Instead, I mean “Christian as defined by that school”.

As RightlyDivide has pointed out, a school has the right to discriminate on the basis of religion.

Also, a school may cooperate with the government in the processing of grants or loans for a student, but ultimately, it is not the school who accepts the money, it is the student.

From any schools perspective, the money from a Pell Grant is the same as money from Dad’s bank account. It’s just money.

 

[JDHallKY]

The courts sorted these kind of things out long ago.
A school can not admit people based upon religion and still receive federal financial aid.
They cannot discriminate on the basis of race.

The school can’t receive federal money, but the students that go there can receive government aid, such as subsidized student loans. This is the way it should be. “Educational choice” isn’t about going to the exact school you want without having to agree to their rules or conditions. It means having the choice of many different types of schools. If a person wants to go to a school that incorporates an evangelical worldview into their curriculum, and such a school has been established, they should have that right. The same for a Catholic who wants to go to a conservative Catholic school. Or an all girls or boys school. If we call everything “unlawful discrimination”, then every single school is going to be exactly like every other school, and there will be no choices to make at all, other than the geographical location.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

The Catholic schools in my area have the same weekly requirement for their high school students at the Catholic school.

But to answer your question, signing a statement of faith is common at the more conservative schools and perfectly acceptable and even desireable in my opinion.
Chances are they do not want an agnostic respresenting their school in the private or public sector.

Yes, but that is a High School. Different story.
They are REQUIRING people to sign this statement, just to apply. And the requiring chapel attendance, everyday. Apparently, adults are not allowed to make that decision themselves.

Someone mentioned that it is the conservative Protestant schools doing this. I have noticed that. It still confuses me.

 

[eliasaph99]

Yes, but that is a High School. Different story.
They are REQUIRING people to sign this statement, just to apply. And the requiring chapel attendance, everyday. Apparently, adults are not allowed to make that decision themselves.

Someone mentioned that it is the conservative Protestant schools doing this. I have noticed that. It still confuses me.

No. Adults are allowed to make that decision. They can decide not to sign the form and not to agree to the schools terms.

In particular, they can decide to go somewhere else. Which, if your husband is agnostic, he probably should do as he would likely be uncomfortable in that kind of atmosphere.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

No. Adults are allowed to make that decision. They can decide not to sign the form and not to agree to the schools terms.

In particular, they can decide to go somewhere else. Which, if your husband is agnostic, he probably should do as he would likely be uncomfortable in that kind of atmosphere.

He is not applying to this law school. His parents (devout Baptist and footing the bill for the applications) asked him to. I have no idea if he has informed them of his decision.

My whole point to this is that I don’t understand

1. Requiring people to sign a statement of faith
2. further requiring these adults to attend chapel every day (or a specified number of days)
   It makes no sense to me.

 

[BrianH]

He is not applying to this law school. His parents (devout Baptist and footing the bill for the applications) asked him to. I have no idea if he has informed them of his decision.

My whole point to this is that I don’t understand

1. Requiring people to sign a statement of faith
2. further requiring these adults to attend chapel every day (or a specified number of days)
   It makes no sense to me.

I do not see a problem with either of them if that is what you are inclined to do.
And in my view, 18 and 19 year olds are still very impressionable, and it makes sense. I have no problem with it, no matter what the church.

 

[ralphinal]

Thank you everyone for the clarification on financial aid. That does clear that up.

I guess I am looking at it from my eyes. In my line of work, there is no difference in discrimination based on creed or religion and race or color. As far as my world is concerned, it is the same. I understand that A private school has different rules, but it is still discriminatory to say “either you agree with me or you are not allowed in.”

 

[BrianH]

Thank you everyone for the clarification on financial aid. That does clear that up.

I guess I am looking at it from my eyes. In my line of work, there is no difference in discrimination based on creed or religion and race or color. As far as my world is concerned, it is the same. I understand that A private school has different rules, but it is still discriminatory to say “either you agree with me or you are not allowed in.”

I think it would be wrong to force them to take people that do not share their religious beliefs at a private school.
I would hate to think what kind of country that would be.

 

[ralphinal]

So, if Notre Dame refused to allow people who did not support the Catholic faith in, it would not be a problem to you? Please, no comment that that would rule out most Catholics.

 

[BrianH]

So, if Notre Dame refused to allow people who did not support the Catholic faith in, it would not be a problem to you? Please, no comment that that would rule out most Catholics.

No, not at all.
It would effect the football and basketball coach but I would think that is their right…and actually I am somewhat sympathetic to the thought. It is a very impressionable time and they tend to be so rebellious at that time anyway.