Spirituality and Students

“No aspect of life is considered so important to Americans outside higher education, yet deemed so unimportant by the majority of those inside, as religion.”

For decades, many public universities and institutions of higher education have worked their hardest to separate themselves from the church all religious ties.  However, in light of current events in our country and the world, researchers have started to examine the role religion and spirituality in the lives of college students. 

When tragic events occur, sociologists take the pulse of the public to measure how much of a role spirituality plays in peoples daily lives.  During and after wars, people are polled about how often they pray and attend church services.  These attitudes are also examined when the economy is on the downhill and when controversial elections take place.  Finally, after years of research and various publications on the issue, higher education professionals are starting to take note of the role religion and spirituality play on college campuses. 

New findings report that parents, who in the past might have chosen a more liberal, public university for their children, are now encouraging their children to consider private schools built on a religious foundation.  Their reasoning?  The rise in underage drinking and promiscuous sexual behavior.  Many parents feel that smaller schools with less of a bar scene might also have fewer pressures facing students. 

In his article Faith and Diversity in American Religion, Alan Wolfe discusses how todays students are moving from a more “religion” centered way of thinking to a more “spiritual” way of life.  He credits this to the outside influences today’s students interact with.  The amount of knowledge and information that students have access to allows them to develop their own ideas outside the confines of a traditional church or house of worship. 

As Student Affairs professionals, we should familiarize ourselves with different religious beliefs and become comfortable discussing spiritual exploration with students.  During these discussions, professionals should be careful not to force their own personal beliefs onto students, allowing students to make decisions and reach conclusions on their own.  If studies show that students are praying more now than they ever have, we should be prepared for the questions they have.  We should develop policies and programs to enhance student development along with religion and spirituality.  

Most Freshmen Say Religion Guides Them

Faith and Diversity in American Religion

Study Documents Students Spirituality