Any Practicing Christians?

[Anonymous]

My DC has attended a fairly well-known private school for a few years. My husband and I are Christians and although I wouldn't say we are outspoken about our religion, we don't try to hide it. (Arguably, we should be more outspoken about sharing something that is so dear to us and central to our lives, but we generally don't discuss our religious views unsolicited). So far, we don't know any other parents at our school who are Christians and wonder if there are any/many parents at so-called "elite" schools that consider themselves "born again" Christians?

[Anonymous]

You appear to be defining Christians as only those who are "born again" Christians. It would help me to answer your question if you would clarify: do you consider practicing Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, or Presbyterians to be Christians?

[Anonymous]

My DD is too young for school yet, but when I'm trying to put out 'feelers' for likeminded believers, I mention stuff in small talk about my personal relationship with Jesus--not just about regular Christian disciplines but about a daily devotional/Bible reading, Bible study, etc.. Without putting any pressure or guilt on others, if you reveal a bit about your own walk with God, that will let them know where you stand and if they share your beliefs or want to, they can talk to you about it.

[Anonymous]

I do not consider myself born again, but Christianity is a big part of our family life and our sense of community. We attend church regularly, active in church affairs, etc. Both DH and I come from Christian families. Our kids go to a Big 3 school, where religiosity is played down. I am very confident that my children get the right mix of secular-Christian education. I don't share too broadly about my faith--even though it is a source of joy and comfort--because I believe people find their own paths to God. I also really like that my kids are around people of other faiths.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks to both PPs. I guess by "born again" I'm referring to those with a personal relationship with Christ (or actively seeking a personal relationship with Christ), whether Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, etc. At my DC's school, we've met some parents who attend church, and some who believe in a "higher power," but when we have put out "feelers" like those the PP mentions, we have not met any other parents with an interest in Bible study, or who view their faith as a "daily walk" or something that informs their parenting or other decisions on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

If I were looking for a new bible study, the last people I would solicit are the parents of other children at our DC's school. Tolerance for and support of all religions is an important part of our school community. I would not dream of even feeling out other parents on their religion for that reason. My DH as well as many members of his extended family are or have recently served as leaders in their churches (Baptist and Prebyterian), and he agrees with me on this.

We believe in separation of church and school, for want of a better way to put it. Our child attends a school that historically had a Christian affiliation and the daily chapel tradition continues to this day, but they have worked hard to make it a community that tolerates all viewpoints. We think that's the right balance for the school and I would be uncomfortable with something different.

[Anonymous]

OP again -- Thanks, 11:15 -- I definitely appreciate the "separation of church and school" viewpoint. Most people (maybe everyone?) at our school wouldn't know that we have strong religious views and we like that our DC is being exposed to people of all different religions and backgrounds. I guess my initial question was just more out of curiosity -- do people who consider themselves "very religious" attend these schools? Because of the inclusive atmosphere the schools try to encourage (rightfully so of course), and because religion can be such a sensitive subject, it is difficult to get a "read" on this. And of course, many people might feel it is not the "right" question even to be asking. But as my DC grows older, although we would love for her to have a diverse set of friends, it also is important to us that she has opportunities for friendships with students with similar views as our own. Perhaps the place to find this is at our church and as you say, the school community is not the place to "feel out other families" on their religion. Food for thought for me - thanks!

[Anonymous]

11:15 here again. OP, just to give you some encouragement - my DH's two best friends in the world, who we still keep up with and go to visit (we are now in our 40s - eek!) are people he has known since he met them at age 3 in Sunday school. They didn't even attend the same high schools!

[Anonymous]

Thanks 11:15 -- that is encouraging!

[Anonymous]

OP, we are at a Big 3 and we are committed Christians (or born again as you put it).There are many at our son's school who attend church but I have yet to meet anyone one else for whom Jesus (church) is a large part of their lives like with us. Having said that if all the christians keep their christianity to themselves like we all seem to be doing, we are unlikely to meet others are we? Our son's school is more christian than anything else (although they celebrate all religions) and chapel services etc are all based on the christian faith ( christian hymns, reading from the bible, etc) which pleases us.

[Anonymous]

Our family is Christian and occasionally we go to church on non holidays. Our daughters are at NCS and I think the school does a good job teaching the stories of the Bible and in later years about other religions. The lean in the cirriculum is definitely towards "analyzing and comparision" rather than forming a close relationship with god... i.e. the students do not memorize prayers at a young age or get their sacraments at school. The services (twice a week once with their division then the whole school cathedral service) are esentially non demominational Christian services. That being said I would say there are a few families where religion is very important -- notably Catholics and some muslim students. Overall its been a very accepting community but I dont know if you will find automatic Christian connections -- you may have to seek them out.

[Anonymous]

OP again. 13:02 -- Yes, this discussion has prompted me to reflect even more on whether I am keeping my "light under a bushel" in the interest of "sensitivity" and on how I might expect to connect with other like-minded believers when often I do keep my Christianity to myself! However, I do find it interesting how, at least over time, you can "pick up" a fair amount about a person's views on church, faith, etc from even casual or superficial comments and from the briefest of interactions. It is interesting to me to hear that you also have not yet met anyone for whom faith is a large part of their lives. I'm not sure what this means. That committed Christians just don't necessarily "get identified" or "connect" in these environments because it is appropriate to keep school and religion largely separate (even in the area of personal interactions)? Because committed Christians feel that tuition is better spent elsewhere? Because Christian families prefer Christian schools? Or maybe Christians just don't make up as significant a part of the population as I thought and so they make up only a small percentage of these schools, which particularly strive to be diverse?

Thank you 13:22 -- I have been interested to know what it is like at St. Alban's/NCS.

[Anonymous]

PP 10:56 here. I used to work at a non-profit sponsored by an evangelical denomination. Nearly all my co-workers sent their children to schools within the denomination (far out into the exurbs), and I feel like they and their children self-segregated in a way that "kept their light under a bushel" by virtue of making themselves absent from "mainstream" society.

[Anonymous]

" So far, we don't know any other parents at our school who are Christians and wonder if there are any/many parents at so-called "elite" schools that consider themselves "born again" Christians? "

Very few Christians "are born" again. They never "died" in the first place. Why do you care? If it really is an "issue" for you, you should have checked it out before you enrolled.

[Anonymous]

I would feel extremely uncomfortable with a born again Christian or any person of any religious background approaching me and prying totally unsolicited into my life outside school. Ditto at work. If you want to meet people who share your faith, meet them at church or attend a more religious school. If I mention that I attend a particular church/synagogue/mosque, then feel free to follow up. Just don't invade my privacy.