College students and religion

African-American students are more likely than other students to believe in God or to attend religious services on a regular basis, according to the results of a survey of college freshmen conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute.

According to the study, 95 percent of African-American students believe in God; 84 percent of Latino; 78 percent of white; and, 65 percent of Asian-American students. Attending religious services regularly follows a similar trajectory: 53 percent of African-American, 42 percent of white, 39 percent of Latino, and 35 percent of Asian-American students attend religious services regularly.

Women are more likely than men to be involved in charitable activities of some kind, while men are more likely to be religious skeptics. Women are also more likely than men to pray.

Additional results indicate that while most freshmen believe in God, fewer than half follow religious teachings in their daily lives. Not surprisingly, the study found that most students were interested in grappling with big questions like the meaning of life.

Nathan D Wilson
www.nathandaywilson.blogspot.com