Three Ivy League schools have Christian origins and continue those affiliations presently. They follow a model of Christianity, however, that H. Richard Niebuhr laid out in his book "Christ and Culture" which sees the interaction between the Christian community and culture to be less confrontational and more transformational in nature. Harvard University is the first and oldest of these colleges. Founded in 1636, Harvard was established as a college to train ministers to become professional clergymen. It has, since then, evolved into an institution with more broad educational concerns. Theology has remained an important subject at Harvard and its divinity school has continued to be an important influence in the intellectual landscape of American Christianity. Harvard's Christian outlook is nonsectarian in nature and the divinity school, which generally has students from more than 50 denominations, is a reflection of this eclectic approach to the study of Christianity.
Harvard University
Massachusetts Hall
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-1551
www.harvard.edu
Yale University also reflects this largely ecumenical approach to Christianity. Through its graduate school of religious studies and its school of divinity, Yale scholars and students have an impact on the intellectual climate of American Christianity. Founded in 1701, Yale was established as an institution that was designed to bring the European system of studying the arts and sciences to America. This mission was the brainchild of Connecticut ministers who wanted to train students for service to the church or in the civic arena. In either case, the venture was intended to be a reflection of the Christian origins of the school. Although the school is not evangelical in its orientation, it does integrate this Christian emphasis in much of its curriculum. For example, students in the nursing and law schools are generally free to pursue joint-degrees in conjunction with the divinity school.
Yale University
1156 Chapel St.
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-4155
yale.edu
Princeton University, in Princeton, N.J., has played a central role in the development of American religious and intellectual thought. Although now self-described as nondenominational, the Princeton Theological Seminary has been affiliated with the Presbyterian church in the past. This relationship is said to have ended in 1929, but the ongoing scholarship of the seminary has continued to shape intellectual debates over religion throughout the 20th century. Princeton's most important contributions have been in the ongoing debate between fundamentalism and more "modern" versions of Christianity. Although Princeton's theological emphasis has waned as part of the university curriculum, the university should be mentioned in any discussion of Ivy League colleges with Christian emphases or origins.
Princeton University
Department of Admissions
Princeton, NJ 08544
609-258-3000
www.princeton.edu