• According to the College Transition Project, 68 percent of those interviewed said it is "very true" or "completely true" they go to youth group because they like their youth pastor.
  • The second most popular reason was "I learn about God there," which was followed by 58 percent who said "It's fun."
  • Other reasons listed as "very true" or "completely true" by at least 50 percent of the students included "I feel comfortable there," "I've always gone to church/youth group," "It's a place where I can learn to serve," and "It feels like a real community."
  • The least likely reason students listed was that their parents make them go or that they feel guilty if they don't go.

UCLA--While today's college students have a very high level of interest and involvement in spirituality and religion, there are important differences among student subgroups, most significantly between African Americans and Whites, and between men and women, according to new research from UCLA.

• 95% of African Americans believe in God, compared to 84% of Latinos, 78% of Whites, and 65% of Asian Americans 
• 91% of African Americans pray, compared to 75% of Latinos and 67% of Whites 
• 53% of African Americans attend religious services frequently, compared to 42% of Whites, 39% of Latinos, and 35% of Asian Americans 
  
• The Spiritual Life of College Students: A National tudy of College Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose, Full Report.    Spirituality in Higher Education, Higher Education Research Institute, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA

Only 6 percent of clergy and 11 percent of laity believe their own church is very involved in local politics or political issues

• 36% of ministers stated their church is somewhat involved in local political issues
• 7 % of clergy say their church is very involved in national politics
• The only type of political involvement deemed appropriate (a rating of 4 or 5) by a majority of ministers and laypeople is encouraging the congregation to vote