Religion

Students new to college life can go astray in so many ways including their spiritual path.  

For many freshmen, college life is both exciting and frightening with new responsibilities and opportunities.  

However, due to the distractions of this new life, it's all too common for students to fall off track with their religious values. When Sunday morning rolls around, mom isn't bugging them to get up and go to church. Whether it's laziness or just the need for a full night of studies (or partying), the motivation is lacking. 

Is college distracting students from practicing their religion?

"It's difficult because when you go to church every Sunday, it provides a way to stay on the right path. So not being there on Sundays sometimes makes me feel like I need to get back on track," says freshman, Darius Robertson.

"I believe your religion can't be altered, because what you are taught at home is instilled in you," according to junior, Santana Latimore. 

"It's like school and church are two different atmospheres. And without me going to church, it feels like I lose balance, which effects the way I perform in school," says Akili Paige, a freshman.

Their feelings, while not scientific, seem to be backed up by at least one nationwide study. 

"Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30-both evangelical and mainline-who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23," according to a survey by Lifeway Research in a USA Today article.

The statistics were based on a survey of more than 1,000 Protestant, ages 18 to 30, who attended church at least twice a month every year during high school.

Fifty-seven percent of college freshman questioned their religious beliefs according to a UCLA study published in 2007. This study summarized the reports of 112,232 first-year college students from more than 236 diverse colleges and universities across the country from 2003 to 2007. 

Does this mean students no longer believe in practicing their religions like they did in high school? 

"They don't lose their faith," says Rev. Philip Kollithanth of Christ the King Catholic Church. "I think it's a common trend among students when they go to college that they take a break from active religious participation."

No matter the religion, each faith has likely required some form of preparation to handle the outside world and the things in life that can throw you off track. Some believe that abandoning this practice can cause problems for students who are use to a religious lifestyle.

"Coming from a Christian view, I would have to agree that college alters student's religious practice. Most students in church choose their religion based on their parents. If my religion is who I am, and not something I do, then my environment has no affect," according to Minister Manny Hayes of Kingdom Impact Global Ministries.

However, there are studies that say there is an increase in college student's religious practices over their years in college. This goes to show that when it comes to college students practicing religion, it goes both ways, whether it is positive or negative. 

"Today's entering college students report high levels of spiritual interest and involvement," according to The Spiritual Life of College Students, a National Study of College Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose.

While there are no on-campus houses of worship, there are more than 20 churches within a five mile radius of FSU.  And these are just the places near the university. It comes down to whether or not students are willing to look for them. 

Use as a pull-out quote

"If my religion is who I am, and not something I do, then my environment has no affect."