Students' low worship rate may give false impression
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — American college students show broad interest in spirituality, but their involvement in formal religious activity sags while on campus, a new study by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute says.
The institute, known for surveys of student opinion, tabulated questionnaires from 3,680 juniors on 46 varied campuses as part of a multiyear project on campus religious and spiritual development.
Only 29 percent of the students said they regularly attend religious services, compared with 52 percent when these same students were freshmen. Few said their spirituality or "religiousness" had greatly increased during college years.
However, students registered strong "yes" responses on whether they discuss religion or spirituality with friends (78 percent), pray (77 percent), think beliefs provide support and guidance (74 percent), say beliefs help develop identity (73 percent) and consider religion personally helpful (71 percent).
Despite that interest, 62 percent said professors never encourage discussions of religious or spiritual matters.
Institute director Alexander Astin said spirituality and religion are "far more important" to students than many in higher education assume.
The response rate for questionnaires the institute mailed to randomly selected students was 32 percent.
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