CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Dear all,

I'm researching on what I call "Christian music schools" for my manga. I don't even know whether such a thing exists but what I'm thinking of is something like Greenville College, where Jars of Clay (my fav band!) graduated from. Most of my characters will be studying in a similar environment so I must know what goes on in there! I want my characters to deal with the same daily issues, feelings, reactions...as REALISTIC as possible.

Problem is I've never been to such a school. If anyone has experienced doing so, pls share with me as much as possible.

Another option would be Christian schools or school with heavy Christian influence...maybe like Notre Dame??? If you have studied or are currently studying in such an environment, pls tell me the following:

1) Classes (do they include general humanities, sciences, social sciences...etc.etc?)
2) Clothing policy or any other rules...strict "no smoking, drinking", disciplining?
3) Co-curriculum activities....music festivals? Daily prayers, worship sessions seminars, leadership training?
4) Myths to dispel? Is it really rigid/strict? How open-minded are ppl? Silenced scandals?
5) Misc: Dorms? Food? Social activities? Do they have pastors? Youth leaders? What's the organizational structure of such a school? How do they balance secular and spiritual issues? Common challenges? Girl boy relationships? Counseling?

I know there's so much for me to ask and learn but I'm quite interested! If there are certain sensitive issues or you just want to discuss it privately with me, pls PM me. I truly appreciate it, thanks!

A big one that comes to mind locally here is Texas Christian University, and Trinity University. You can find them online at http://gofrogs.ocsn.com/index-main.html and http://www.trinity.edu/ Baylor University (also in Texas) is also heavily associated with the baptist church, or at least was at one time. I hope these help!

I graduated from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC (everyone knows where that is right?). It's a private university under the North Carolina Baptist Convention. They have a very strong music program. My degree was religion but I knew many people in the music department as we would do a lot of youth revivals on weekends throughout Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina.

My own university! http://www.mcmaster.ca

McMaster University was originally founded as a Baptist divinty school, which is still part of the campus http://divinity.mcmaster.ca/about

In addition there is also a department of religious studies:
http://www.socsci.mcmaster.ca/relstud/

and music: http://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/

In addition McMaster offers undergraduate and graduate studies in just about every field (humanities, the sciences, fine arts, music) as well as medical (which is highly regarded) and MBA degrees. My own department, electrical engineering is ranked among the top ten in North America. We are also one of the premier research universities in Canada.

As for campus life, the university itself is pretty much secular and multicultural save for the divinity school. Religious services are offered in several locations for different groups, and there are a large number of Christian student organizations on campus some of which are interdenomiational and some of which aren't (although the Coptic Orthodox have the best bake sales). Also, within a short walking distance of campus there are about seven churches and a synagogue.

Then again, this is also the school that inspired the film "Animal House".