Concordia IS Shanghai - how religious? What's the story?

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Nomad68
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:50 pm
Location: East of nowhere you want to be

Concordia IS Shanghai - how religious? What's the story?

Post by Nomad68 »

I know this is a well regarded school and is clearly only interested in hiring Christian staff but what is the real deal? Are they born again, evangelical types? If you get in at this school are you obliged to join prayer groups, organised church visits, and seminars? There's being religious and being RELIGIOUS :shock: and I am definitely not in the latter category. I would like to hear the real deal especially about their 'ethos' - any info would be gratefully received before I go ahead with my application.
shadowjack
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Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am

Post by shadowjack »

Religious, but from what I understand, not in your face about it. You should be honestly sincere in your views, though, and not just looking for a job. Several friends of mine work there and they love it.
Nomad68
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:50 pm
Location: East of nowhere you want to be

Honesty

Post by Nomad68 »

Actually I was worried about their honesty/intentions. I am quite happy to state my personal situation (and in fact they ask for such) but what I wanted to know was as a believing but fairly lax churchgoer (the big festivals only really) would I be finding myself joining a strident, big C Christian school with expectations that I attend church every Sunday, prayer meetings and faith discussions? My religious background is not like that at all - very low-key and not in the slightest happy clappy, read the Bible every day/week, or Evangelical/Baptist/Born Again. I would feel extremely uncomfortable if Concordia was expecting that from me. So the question remains...
autumnrain
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Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:57 am

Post by autumnrain »

Any info on what the package is like at this school?
txteach
Posts: 51
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2012 1:49 pm

Post by txteach »

My understanding: you need to be a Christian. Students are of all backgrounds and all religions, and while expectations are that faculty are Christian, they also emphasize an open mind towards others and their cultures/backgrounds/religions. Recently the "religious studies" course changed names and is now "spiritual studies" if that helps.

The package is very, very, very good.
shadowjack
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Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am

Post by shadowjack »

My friends who are there are Christian, but certainly not the in-your-face, hellfire and damnation Christians you might read about. They are thoughtful people, practice their beliefs in their daily lives and interactions and are comfortable with who they are.

I can't see them being at a school that is not similar to that. That said, they are definitely faith-based, but from what I have seen, Concordia is a wonderful school.
Teachermom
Posts: 59
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:14 am
Location: Asia

Post by Teachermom »

I've never worked there, but I did meet some wonderful teachers from there, and not "in your face" at all.

Also, I just was on their campus for EARCOS last month--it is gorgeous--really state of the art. I was drooling over their library.

As far as clues to their religiosity, there _were_ Bible verses posted on the walls of many of the classrooms. But there were also posters advertising speakers, and one was on Evolution and Faith (didn't seem anti-Evolution at all), so that was a good sign to me of the climate at the school not being too dogmatic.
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