College App Essay Advice Needed

[Daivia]

I need some help answering this essay. The prompt is:

While Seattle Pacific does not require a profession of Christian faith for admission, we do seek to admit students who will best succeed in and benefit from a Christian learning environment. Please describe your own faith perspective and how it shapes your daily life.

What is faith perspective? Is it my religion, or lack thereof?

(I identify as an atheist, but I don't want to alienate this Christian college by talking about my problems with Christianity and how I think religion is a wad of hooey.)

What do you all think I should do? How can I approach this problem?

(To be clear, this isn't really about religion, it's about how to write about religion. Or lack thereof)

Thanks!

[ertyuio]

If I were writing this essay as an atheist trying to get into a Christian college, I'd go about answering the question by defining my "faith perspective" (I presume they're simply asking for your religion in an underhanded way) as "secularist", while using "atheist" or a variation of the word nearly non-existent in my essay. Atheism tends to have a negative connotation in religious institutions, and I think it would be most beneficial for you to not explicitly front atheism, while remaining somewhat detached. Highlight the fact that you want to learn more about other faiths!

Good luck. (Btw...thanks for the follow on Tumblr! Lol.)