Hey Hulk,
Let me start by saying that everything I am about to add to this debate is purely constructive. I am not seeking to start a passionate, name-calling, finger-pointing scuffle.
I graduated from a Catholic (Marianist) university (University of Dayton). Although I am now Catholic (I converted several years after graduation), I was a self-proclaimed agnostic all throughout my undergraduate years. I actually chose Dayton because of the engineering school (only stayed in engineering 1 semester, but that's another story). Religious classes like you are speaking of at Georgetown and other religious-affiliated schools are not to "endocrinate" you. They are to educate. As a physician, you are going to deal with life and death issues. And in the U.S., about 80% or more of the patients you deal with are going to believe that there is some sort of God on the other side of the life-death equation. If you choose to ignore that fact, then death will be little more to you than the last and most permanent clinical state that a patient will assume. Death is a much deeper issue, and if you fail to recognize that most of the people you deal with are going to believe in some sort of religion, then you are going to be lost and confused on how to deal with people who have these beliefs. At some point, a patient is going to share something with you that has a religious meaning to them. They may ask you about your religion. They may even {gasp} ask you to pray with them. It might be nice to know about their religion to know where they are coming from.
I willing to speculate with some certainty that Georgetown does not have on its charter that they want to convert all pre-meds into Catholic physicians. Catholic education is one of the most well-rounded educations one can receive, even if you are not Catholic. Catholic education seeks to educate the ENTIRE person. As for the religious ed, one of the best places to learn about the religions of the world (including Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Judaism, etc) is from a Catholic institution. Sounds weird, but it's true. I am willing to guess that Georgetown's reasons for teaching religious perspectives on medicine has nothing to do with making you a religious person.
Don't be afraid of religion or religious people. Yes, some religious folk are pretty weird, and some are downright frightening. But most of us, you might be surprised to find, are actually pretty cool people.
I find it rather ironic that in today's culture where "diversity" is the ultimate nirvana that every community, company, and institution should seek, religious people (especially Christians) are treated as the red-headed step children. Keep in mind that true diversity includes everyone. It might make you more open-minded to learn about the religous perspectives of the profession you are about to enter (or have already entered).
Good topic. I am glad to see this being discussed and ALL perspectives being heard.
Originally posted by The Hulk
Random Access, Doctor Girl,
You both make very strong points. Again I retreat to my position that its simply not my personal interest to see religion brought into the doctor-patient relationship from the doctor side. If, however, the course is purely about understanding religious perspectives on medicine from the patients point of view and does not teach ideology on how doctor's should view medicine in the light of religion than indeed my argument is completely flawed. Horaay to both of you! 
