College is a time to grow individualised perspectives of the world through diverse interactions we have with people and experiences. Religiousness at college can play a large, or small role in your life as a student depending on what it means to you.
While a majority of the Outlook editors were raised in Catholic households but attended public schools, a few attended religious primary or secondary schools, or regularly went to weekly services. Although many of the editors felt that they were raised with religion, others disclosed that they were not pushed to be religious. One editor said, “My mom is kind of religious, but my dad isn’t really. Neither are very strict about beliefs but my mom holds some principles like saying grace before dinner.”
For some, there is something about college that makes religious traditions more difficult to maintain. Many of the editors feel that it is hard to attend religious services while in college, however, others feel that religiosity is possible to uphold no matter the circumstance. One editor shared, “I think religion is very important to me. I still pray every day and make the conscious effort to go to mass.”
The meaning of religion can transform once you come to college. You may be raised with an understanding of religion that changes once you begin to feel more independent about making your own personal decisions. “I realized that you don’t have to go to church or any other services in order to believe in something. You can worship on your own if you choose, or just pray when you feel that you need to,” said an editor.
The more we are educated the more we learn about varying beliefs. Throughout history people have used faith to justify abhorrent acts. In recent events terrorists have used religion to to justify horrific acts.
Some feel that the decrease in religiosity in young adults is because of continuous corruption in organized religion. One editor used the analogy, “one bad apple spoils the bunch. One bad impression can leave a person turned off to the idea of any organized religion.”
For some, college is meant to be the time of our lives. A period where twenty-somethings can experiment and throw care to the wind, sometimes straying from their religion.
“Most college students just want to go crazy and disaffiliate with the beliefs their family instilled such as no drinking, no smoking, and go to church every sunday,” said an editor.
Others dislike the notion of religion completely, believing that it restricts their intellectual freedom.
One editor felt that science is more rational than faith. They said, “We really do not need God to explain the universe. Just because we do not understand something, doesn’t mean God did it. Science continues to advance and explain how the world works.”
Whatever your beliefs The Outlook editors hope you continue to stay open-minded and respectful of the diverse makeup of our college campus. Diversity at college is best enjoyed when individuals are respectful of one another, and willing to learn about those that might be different than themselves.
