|
Studies
show religion is important to students
By
Lesley Nickus
Online Forty-Niner
Assistant City Editor
Recent
studies suggest that young adults are embracing
religion in increasing numbers at college
campuses nationwide.
UCLA's
Higher Education Research Institute recently
conducted a study that revealed that 77
percent of students surveyed admitted they
pray, and 73 percent said religious tradition
shaped their identity.
Another
study conducted by Clarence H. Thomas, published
in the College Student Journal, concluded
that religion is among the highest priorities
following graduation. Also in his study
is a reference to a previous study where
it was assumed that our generation would
hold materialistic and economic ideals more
valuable, while the conclusion revealed
otherwise. It showed that religion and family
were held in a higher regard.
Mary
Kay Will, a staff member of the University
Interfaith Center for over eight years,
noticed an increased interest in religion
by students of Cal State Long Beach.
"Lots
of new religious groups have been formed
over the past few years. For some, participation
has remained constant and for others, it
has increased," Will said.
This
increase in club formation shows that there
is, in fact, a greater interest in religion
a then there was in years before the creation
of these new clubs.
Aga
Szczesniak, the president of the Catholic
Newman Club on campus also agrees that the
interest in religion has increased in the
form of club membership.
"Since
I started out four years ago I am seeing
more people interested in participating
in what we have to offer as a Catholic club,"
Szczesniak said.
Will
revealed that people who study the correlation
between religion and generations say that
the current generation has more interest
in spiritual matters but stipulated that
they aren't necessarily interested in organized
religious groups such as Latter Day Saints
or the Catholic Church, but are interested
in spirituality itself, a concept that Jane
Magazine recently addressed.
Stephanie
Trong, in an article reported in Jane's
February issue, said that after a four-week
crash course in Buddhism, Southern Baptist,
Kabbalah and Islam, she realized that the
quest for self fulfillment isn't easily
reached but the study of organized religion
helps to develop a unique sense of identity.
"Ultimately,
in the words of a sage named George Michael,
‘I've gotta have faith.' And no amount
of charity work or wearing a red string
bracelet is going to get you or me there.
That has to come from within," Trong
said.
Whether
students are interested in the concept of
spirituality or organized religion, religious
interest is a growing trend among college
students.
"Faith
is a very personal thing," Szczesniak
said.
Those
words ring true on a student's path to self-fulfillment,
whether it is through the study or practice
of religion, or through other means.
For
more information on religious groups on
campus contact the Campus Interfaith Center
on the first floor of the Student Union
or call 985-4369.
|
