TruthBook Religious News Blog

Monday, April 30, 2007
Amanda Wilcosky / Staff Writer / aw283105@ohiou.edu

Spirituality on campus might be overlooked at times, but in a recent Campus Crusade for Christ survey of nearly 2,000 Ohio University students, 75 percent said they believed there is an intelligent designer behind the universe.

The survey was conducted during the Veritas Forum, which occurred April 10 to April 12. The purpose of the survey was to stir up interest and to give students a voice on spiritual topics, said Brian McCollister, OU director of Campus Crusade and Athletes in Action.

Based on the outcome of the survey, spirituality seems to be an important part of college students’ lives, whether they are finding faith, losing faith or are still searching.

A question leads to Christ

For some students, the transition into college provides an opportunity for spiritual growth, which is true for OU senior Ryan Neises, a sports management major. He said his exploration of faith began his sophomore year when someone in his fraternity asked him one of life’s most difficult questions: What happens to us after death?

Considering his inquiry, Neises said he looked to the Bible and eventually became interested in learning more about Jesus Christ. He joined the Greek Life Bible study, a Campus Crusade program that he said furthered his spiritual identity.

"When I first joined Bible study, it was exploring my faith," Neises said. "Since I’ve come to faith, it allows me to supplement it and help me grow."

Now a leader of the group — held every Tuesday at 9 p.m. — Neises urges other Greek students to explore their faiths in an open environment. He said that finding faith has truly influenced his life, changing his previous discontent to constant hope and joy.

"Since I’ve been more spiritual, I’ve had more of an impact on people because it has allowed me to be more of an open person," he said.

Growing apart from faith

Anna Simis, a sophomore theater performance major, has had a much different experience with religion. Instead of gaining spirituality during college, her faith has dwindled. Born and raised Catholic, Simis said she stopped going to church because she began to disagree with several of the church’s doctrines.

The daughter of divorced parents and niece of a gay aunt and gay uncle, Simis said she is unable to negotiate being part of a religion that condemns homosexuality and disallows divorcees from receiving Holy Communion. Simis said she began struggling with her faith in high school and that college has helped to lessen her guilt.

"College reaffirmed my beliefs and gave me the sense that I didn’t have to feel bad about questioning my faith," she said.

While still searching, Simis said that she believes in "a higher sense of purpose" and the good that can come out of religion. She added that she has found other things in life, such as community service, that can be "more rewarding than sitting in mass for an hour."

Science above spirituality

Sophomore Kristin Stover, who has never gone to church and has had no experience with religion, represents the 25 percent of students that expressed disbelief in or uncertainty of intelligent design. A biological science major, she said she was raised in a family that valued scientific pursuits.

"I grew up questioning everything," Stover said. "I think science is about disproving things, but you can’t disprove religion — that’s the line where it gets kind of fuzzy."

When she was younger, Stover said she felt pressured by friends to become religious, a feeling that continued into her freshman year of college. She said she now feels content with where she is in life and finds it comforting that there are others at OU who share her outlook.

Despite not being religious, Stover said she does not consider herself an Atheist because she has not been fully exposed to any faith. Instead of relying on religion, being close with family and friends helps her to find meaning in life.

"The sense of community that people get from church is still there," she said. "It’s all about connecting to people."

Labels: Amanda Wilcosky, Campus Crusade for Christ, community, faith, intelligent design, Jesus, spirituality