Religion In College Essay

In order to set the premise for my argument, I will first begin to define religion and spirituality. On the one hand, religion is “a shared system of beliefs, principles or doctrines related to a belief in a worship of a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator(s) and governor(s) of the universe” and is “characterized by the extent to which students attended religious services, discussed religion, participated in religious clubs or groups, and prayed or meditated, and was thus primarily behavioral in nature” (Bryant, A, N. et. al 2003). On the other hand, spirituality in this context is defined as the “seeking of personal authenticity, genuineness, and wholeness; transcending one’s locus of centricity” and stands for the importance of spirituality in students lives (Bryant,

There is the argument, that decline in religiosity among college students is consequential of the transition of religious affiliation (institution) into spirituality (Bryant, A, N. et. al 2003). It is estimated that such disaffiliation accounts for 30 and 40 percent beginning in early adulthood (Uecker, J. E. 2007). Often scholars attribute the decline to the education one receives, where the “cognitive understanding of the world expands as they experience life apart from their family and within a new social environment”(Uecker, J. E. 2007). Higher education is said to be the introduction to secularization which consequently drives students to “cut ties with organized religion”(Uecker, J. E. 2007). Yet, the disaffiliation college students experienced from organized religion does not signify the loss of faith nor religiosity. In fact, researcher claim, “Religion-for the most part-may be spiritual at the core, but spirituality can stand apart from religion”, leading some individuals to classify themselves as spiritual, but not religious”(Bryant, A, N. et. al