What's your religion?
Students express attitudes about religion and faith
Erika Schnitzer
Issue date: 5/4/06 Section: News
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According to a recent survey at Harvard University, seven out of 10 students say that religion is either "fairly important" or "very important" to their lives. More than a third of the 1,200 U.S. college students surveyed by phone said religion was "very important," and 54 percent said they were concerned about the moral direction of this country. How do these figures compare to Union students' attitudes?
Campus Catholic Minister Tom Boland believes that "While…a majority of Union students would say that faith is important to them…only a minority of Union students translate that faith into active membership in a campus religious group."
However, there is certainly an increase of student participation in such groups.
Campus Protestant Minister and Interfaith Chaplain Vikki Brooks-McDonald says that although Union students are generally "less observant than [students at] comparable schools, [participation] is on the rise." Perhaps most evident in this increase is that there are currently six religious groups on campus: Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Hillel, Campus Protestant Ministry, Muslim Students' Association, AUM, and the Association of Atheists and Agnostics (AA&A). Brooks-McDonald noted that a year ago, there were only four groups.
When asked why he thinks participation of religious groups on campus has increased, Boland said, "I think Millenials - today's generation of college students - find community to be important, and they come to campus seeking out communities to become a part of, including religious groups. Becoming part of organized religious activity offers the opportunity for meaning and identity in something larger than one's self."
According to a spirituality and faith survey taken of Union students in the 2004-2005 school year, close to 21 percent of respondents say they participate in a campus religious group, though this figure has increased in the past year. The AA&A, for example was founded this past winter.
Campus Catholic Minister Tom Boland believes that "While…a majority of Union students would say that faith is important to them…only a minority of Union students translate that faith into active membership in a campus religious group."
However, there is certainly an increase of student participation in such groups.
Campus Protestant Minister and Interfaith Chaplain Vikki Brooks-McDonald says that although Union students are generally "less observant than [students at] comparable schools, [participation] is on the rise." Perhaps most evident in this increase is that there are currently six religious groups on campus: Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Hillel, Campus Protestant Ministry, Muslim Students' Association, AUM, and the Association of Atheists and Agnostics (AA&A). Brooks-McDonald noted that a year ago, there were only four groups.
When asked why he thinks participation of religious groups on campus has increased, Boland said, "I think Millenials - today's generation of college students - find community to be important, and they come to campus seeking out communities to become a part of, including religious groups. Becoming part of organized religious activity offers the opportunity for meaning and identity in something larger than one's self."
According to a spirituality and faith survey taken of Union students in the 2004-2005 school year, close to 21 percent of respondents say they participate in a campus religious group, though this figure has increased in the past year. The AA&A, for example was founded this past winter.
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