Spirituality on the rise on college campuses

Post-Gazzete ^ | Ann McFeatters

[Asphalt]

WASHINGTON -- Today's colleges are hotbeds of religiosity and prayer where compassion may be on its first major campus upswing since the 1960s, according to a survey released yesterday by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The poll of 112,232 freshmen at 236 colleges and universities found eight in 10 saying they attend religious services, believe in God and care about spirituality. More than two-thirds pray.

[EagleUSA]

A little ray of hope for our youth.....in the face of the faithless, valueless left of academia.

[billorites]

I teach PT in a small, private New England college.

I get regular emails from the Christian group on campus announcing meetings, prayer groups, etc.

Both students and faculty are involved.

Not sure what denomination, but apparently their services involve pizza.

[Zeppelin]

I attend a state school (The University of Texas) and am proud to announce that the Christian presence is surely felt here.

[Asphalt]

My sister is at Princeton, arguably one of the most liberal schools in the country, she attends several christian groups, and I believe there are others.

[maestro]

?...... The poll of 112,232 fresh-men at 236 colleges and universities found eight in 10 saying they attend Creator-God religious services, believe in Jesus Christ and care about praying in His (Jesus) name (spirituality). More than two-thirds pray in Jesus name?

....sure....

/PETA

[radiohead]

I'm at the UW in Seattle and whenever the campus groups are out on the lawn, the religious groups are very well represented.

Considering this is left-of-Lenin Seattle, where spirituality consists of praying to the gay rain god or some such, it looks like they're doing pretty well.

[maestro]

?...... The poll of 112,232 fresh-men at 236 colleges and universities found eight in 10 saying they attend Creator-God religious services, believe in Jesus Christ and care about praying in His (Jesus) name (spirituality). More than two-thirds pray in Jesus name?

....sure....

/PETA

[PrincessB]

I attend mass at the Newman Center at a University on occassion. The place is always packed. They baptize several students each year. Often they are roommates of someone who is religious and never experienced religion at home. They see these students with a purpose and a sense of peace and want this in their lives too. Some of these students have branched out into the neighboring parishes and are doing great things.

[NYer]

According to the UCLA survey, 80 percent of students are interested in spirituality, 76 percent are searching for meaning in life, 74 percent discuss life philosophies with friends, 81 percent attend religious services, 79 percent believe in God, and 69 percent pray.

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Pyro7480]

Did you see the Divine Liturgy, or did you program your VCR/DVR to record it? I missed it because I was at a lecture where the son of Blessed Karl of Austria was speaking.

[dangus]

>> According to the UCLA survey, 80 percent of students are interested in spirituality, 76 percent are searching for meaning in life, 74 percent discuss life philosophies with friends, 81 percent attend religious services, 79 percent believe in God, and 69 percent pray. <<

Not credible. 69% pray, but 81% attend religious services? What is the question, "Have you ever attended a religious service?" "Yeah, sure, when my step-father-in-law married my step-mom-third-removed for the fifth time, I went to the service."

[dangus]

Don't get me wrong... I'd love to believe this, but it just isn't consistent with reality.

And to people writing saying how the Neumann Center is packed, or something like that... Are we talking a center that holds 1,000 students out of a university of 87,000 students, 40% of whom are Catholic? Get my drift?

[murphE]

Wiccans consider themselves "spiritual".

[Salvation]

Great news. I know in my son's case that this is true.

[NYer]

Did you see the Divine Liturgy, or did you program your VCR/DVR to record it?

Watched it in streaming video at work with the volume turned down to 1 ;-D. Will post a Novendiales thread later with images from the liturgy - the commentator kept marveling at the colorgul liturgical garments worn by members of the various Eastern Churches and how chant was such an integral part of the liturgy.

If you missed it, the program will be repeated this evening at 10pm. It was truly awesome to hear the Maronite chants - especially the Qadeeshat (even with speakers down low), emanating from the Vatican.

[mike182d]

The Catholics here at Florida State University are unbelievably on fire, its incredible.

[pro610]

I know first hand that there is Truth in this.
My daughter goes to an extremely liberal college.I was quite worried because she is ultra Conservative.
Within 4 months a large group of Christians were able to find each other.
Christian parents should not underestimate our children.

[It's me]

While students regularly engaged in religious practices were far more likely to be politically conservative than liberal, religious skeptics were more likely to be liberal. Those who go regularly to church are much less likely to believe that abortion should be legal, that sex out of marriage is permissible, that gays should be married or that marijuana should be legalized. Forty-four percent of those highly engaged in their religions favor increased military spending, compared with 30 percent who are less involved in religious practices.

INteresting... and obvious, really.

[freeperfromnj]

Good post. Thanks for the uplifting news.