The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 40, No. 2 & Volume 41, No. 1 - 180

Saran Donahoo

RELIGION AND POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION
Over the past 20 years, there has been an explosion of research on spirituality within postsecondary contexts. However, we do not have
an equal collection of scholarship on religion
as it relates to college students and postsecondary education. Some researchers have examined the perceived conﬂict between higher
education and religious thought, while others
have attempted to ascertain how students view,
value, and engage in religion while enrolled.

Religion and the Higher Education
Environment
Despite longitudinal data from both ARDA
(n.d.) and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public
Life (Pond et al., 2010) that suggest otherwise, college and university environments
are not natural enemies to religious faith and
practice. Although religious practice among
college students generally declines, this is not
purely the result of a preference for campus
life (ARDA, n.d.; Astin, Astin, & Lindholm,
2010; Bryant, Choi, & Yasuno, 2003; Pond et
al., 2010; Regnerus & Uecker, 2007; Uecker,
Regnerus, & Vaaler, 2007). In fact, religious
practice declines for many young adults of all
faiths whether they spend this time on or off
campus (Mayrl & Uecker, 2011; Regnerus &
Uecker, 2007; Uecker et al., 2007). It seems
unreasonable, then, to hold postsecondary
institutions solely responsible for changes in
religious behaviors (Astin et al., 2010; Constantine, Miville, Warren, Gainor, & LewisColes, 2006; Magolda & Gross, 2009; Mayrl
& Uecker, 2011; Regnerus & Uecker, 2007;
Uecker et al., 2007).

180

Rather than viewing higher education environments as oppositional to religion, some
suggest that college is an ideal setting for students to revisit and potentially revise their religious perspectives. Whether the experience
is positive or negative, higher education does
serve as a site where students explore issues of
religion, question the faiths of their upbringing, encounter challenges to their religious
ideas, and learn more about other religious
traditions (Astin et al., 2010; Bryant & Astin,
2008; Herndon, 2003; Mayrl & Oeur, 2009;
Moran, Lang, & Oliver, 2007). Additionally,
discussions of concepts such as spirituality and
religion promote "the task of higher education
to help people to see from multiple perspectives and live more effectively in a culturally
pluralistic society, and hopefully to create a
more just world" (Tisdell, 2007, p. 549). Similarly, Astin (2004) contended that centralizing
these issues within college and university environments helps to strengthen the connections
that students make with faculty, staff, other
students, and their institutions. Rather than
posing a threat to religion, life on campus can
actually help students to experience growth in
their religious perspectives.

Religious Participation Among College
and University Students
Although religious participation among college
students does illustrate a decline from what
these same students did in high school, this
decrease in activity does not necessarily represent a change in their religious views. As some
scholars suggest, students may indeed experience struggles and dissonance with their religious beliefs as they encounter people, ideas,
and experiences that do not easily ﬁt into

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING
The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 40, No. 2 & Volume 41, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 40, No. 2 & Volume 41, No. 1
