While college students are notorious for dropping out of the pews, a new study shows that attendance decline does not amount to a lesser interest in spirituality.
"Many students are emerging from the collegiate experience with a desire to find spiritual meaning and perspective in their everyday lives," said UCLA Emeritus Professor Alexander W. Astin.
A UCLA study, released Tuesday, found that college juniors are more likely to be engaged in a spiritual quest compared to when they first entered college as freshmen. The study showed that 41.2 percent of freshmen in 2004 reported they considered developing a meaningful philosophy of life "very important" or "essential." Three years later in 2007, a majority (55.4 percent) of the students agreed.
Moreover, 48.7 percent of freshmen in 2004 said "attaining inner harmony" is "very important" or "essential." The statistic jumped to 62.6 percent by 2007.
"The data suggest that college is influencing students in positive ways that will better prepare them for leadership roles in our global society," said Astin, co-principal investigator on the research project.
The rise in spirituality also comes as more students feel depressed, overwhelmed by everything they have to do, and feel that their life is filled with stress and anxiety over the three years in college.
"Spirituality in Higher Education: Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose" is the first longitudinal research project of its kind and is currently in its fifth year. Data was collected from over 14,000 students attending 136 colleges and universities nationwide. Researchers at The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA surveyed students as entering freshmen in the fall of 2004 and again in the late spring of 2007 at the end of their junior year.
The study found growth over the three years in students' spiritual values, such as integrating spirituality into their life and becoming a more loving person. Also, compared to three years ago, more juniors reported wanting to reduce pain and suffering in the world, being thankful for all that has happened to them, and higher levels of ecumenical worldview - including a commitment towards improving their understanding of other countries and cultures. The study further found that juniors are more likely to agree that "non-religious people can lead lives that are just as moral as those of religious believers" compared to when they entered college.
"Looking towards the future, we can envision a college educated workforce that is more inclusive and accepting of persons from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and at the same time more caring and more collaborative," said UCLA Emeritus Professor Helen Astin, co-principal investigator on the project. "These qualities are critical to an effective workforce of the future."
Despite the rise in spirituality, college students are not making it out to religious services. While 38.6 percent attend religious services less frequently, only 7 percent increase their frequency of attendance after entering college. Attendance drops from 43.7 percent in high school to 25.4 percent in college, and the rate of non-attendance nearly doubles from 20.2 percent to 37.5 percent.
The study also found a slight decline in students who believe in God or engage in traditional religious activities. While 77.1 percent of freshmen reported believing in God, 74.2 percent of the students as juniors said the same. Prayer also decreased slightly from 69.2 percent among freshmen students to 67.3 percent three years later.
Among other findings, students were found to be more liberal in their political ideology and attitudes toward socio-cultural issues with 34.3 percent of juniors in 2007 saying they are liberal compared to 28.6 percent in 2004. Compared to when they were freshmen, juniors are more likely to agree that same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status, abortion should legal, casual sex is okay if people like each other, and the death penalty should be abolished.
The spirituality project was launched in part on the realization that the relative amount of attention that colleges and universities devote more attention to the "exterior" - accomplishments in fields of science, medicine, technology, and such - than the "interior" - sphere of values and beliefs, emotional maturity, self-understanding and spirituality.
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Seems like the natural cycle for the younger generation continues. I'm glad the human race hasn't lost a step.
Nevertheless, we always have to take care that we fear God and not the world.
Be not afraid, but be of good courage.
This same thing happened in the '60s and the fall-out wasn't pretty. I hope these young people who are so disillusioned (as I once was) will come to find the One who made them, sent His only Son to die for them, is the only One who truly cares, will give them a reason to live, and eternal life as well.
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
I find it interesting that Jesus Himself was acustomed to going to church. It would be wonderful that the followers of Christ would follow His suit.
People have more excuses about not going to church than Carter has liver pills.
If we are going to be Christian (meaning Christ-like), ket us follow the pattern set by our Lord.
Quit using lame excuses for not going.
Start going and pray for the Holy Spirit to use the Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher to speak to you through God's Word. Then become a doer as well as a hearer of the Word. Look around and pray for the families that are there. Every family in this nation is dysfunctional in one way or another.
That's why the Bible tells us to pray for one another, bear one anothers burdens, exhort one another, love one another etc......
Read Hebrews 10:25
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
You must know that God's ultimate plan for you is to be conformed into the image of His Son!
Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Let's wake up people...quit rolling over and hitting the snooze button.
"The study also found a slight decline in students who believe in God...." That is the real story in the article. Sad. So very sad. Lex, your comment is spot on. Peace.
Is it just me, or does the language of this article make it sound like a good thing? Or am I the only one who doesn't think this is a positive development?
'Cause "spirituality" is not the same as "Christianity." One can certainly be a passionate Christian without being a member of a church, but "attaining inner harmony" can be expressed many ways - and all but one end very, very badly.