How would you describe the spiritual or religious atmosphere at US colleges and universities?

Question

and is it from personal experience or what you've read/heard?

Answer 1

On my campus, religion is not a focus. There is a religious student center, but most of the kids are too busy getting drunk and laid. We laugh at the crazy fundies preaching in Speaker Circle. Kids use those free little Bibles to roll blunts. College students don't go to church. I hardly ever hear about religion on campus.

I might self select for groups that wouldn't be into religion, but in general I still don't see much focus on religion on my campus (where I still work).

There are many people from many countries who practice many different religions, but they keep it to themselves where it belongs.

On campuses in general...I just don't think kids care that much.

Answer 2

I attend a large public university, Indiana University, and can honestly say that it's more or less all over the place. There are a lot of people who seem to lose their morals especially Thursday night through Sunday morning. However, we also have some fanatical Christians who stage rallies outside classroom buildings. They'll have their signs and will yell at people walking past. They pretty much tell anyone that does identify themselves as Christian or display anything that they consider "non-Christian" that they are going to hell. They even, a couple of years ago, called a girl wearing jeans and a large hooded sweatshirt a "harlot." Not all Christians at IU are like them, being a Christian myself, they annoy me. Another large part of the religious atmosphere are those that are devout practitioners of their religion, but non-judgmental. They make sure theit friends are alright on weekends, but don't make negative judgments of people and what they do.

Answer 3

I have experience at 2 universities.

Michigan State: Some of the girls upstairs ran a bible club (I mean this literally, not as a euphemism). I seem to remember there being plenty of campus groups. One thing that really stood out though was the guy who would hang out by the math building (it was a bit of a major crossroads) and yell about fire and damnation. This suggests that at least one person thought that a lot of people there needed salvation. I also once got approached by a taoist who wanted to chat.

University of Georgia: Religion seemed to be more pervasive here. I don't remember seeing anyone hanging out yelling about how people were going to burn there. However, my campus exposure was somewhat less than it was at MSU.

I think the overall conclusion I would say is that there was (at least in some circles) lots of discussion on religion.

Answer 4

The spiritual/religious atmosphere is pretty disjointed at most US colleges. Perhaps no further departure from spiritual or religious identification is made than during the 18-24 years. As a result, you'll often see desperate evangelists on the corners admonishing passers-by of their duty to God, and the impending Hellish punishment if they do not.

Answer 5

My experience is mostly at the University of Colorado at Boulder, but I've also taken classes at the University of Chicago and UCLA. The University of Chicago, of course, is a Jesuit school.

I actually couldn't tell much difference between U of C and a secular school. In general, the students were probably more agnostic than not -- especially in the math/computer science field I've studied in.

But there is definitely a lot of deference to religion, even if there isn't a lot of religion itself. For example, Bill McCartney, who founded the fundamentalist hate-group, "Promiser Keepers", was allowed to use CU property to administer his organization in its early days. Similarly, Muslim students get special prayer rooms and some schools have even installed footbaths -- ironically in co-ed dorms.

So while intellectually, there is a stream of non-theism in academia, I think religious groups are unreasonably appeased at public expense.

Answer 6

Depends on the school. There are lunatic bible thumping colleges with no academic credentials (or value) that think the world is 6000 years old and we're going to be raptured any second. Unless you're a Jesus-freak, avoid these places like the plague.

Answer 7

If you are at a religious based university, you will be coddled and supported.


If you are at a secular university, skepticism rules and religiousity is not very much appreciated as it assumes many things based on faith.

In addition, since religion has entered politics and social issues pertaining to personal freedoms and human liberties, at a secualar university where personal freedom and civil liberties are almost reverred, ANYTHING that comes across as right wing and religious is not vey welcome.

Answer 8

Har de har har folks, NOT THERE, especially in many seminaries. Its a sham, folks. On the whole students are after money, status, getting laid, and proving themselves, and to hell with the rest of it. Its mostly a game even for the professors. My experience, unfortunately.

Answer 9

I would describe it as godlessist, athelustionist, and anti-Christian. It's well known that inside academic circles, the anti-Christian fervor is so extreme, that public money isn't even spent on churches inside colleges.

This is based on what I've heard and read. I would never set foot inside a campus, unless it's Campus Crusade for Christ.

Answer 10

It was the most open minded condemnation I've ever recieved. I'd never been exposed to more points of view telling me how wrong I am about everything.

Edit -

For BNP, my fellow Spartan, Go Green.