Attitudes Toward Religion, Christian Expression, and Conservative Values on Campus

"One would be equally hard pressed, at least as far as American elite universities are concerned, to find one that would identify faith as central to its current approach to teaching, research, and student life….No aspect of life is considered so important to Americans outside higher education, yet deemed so unimportant by the majority of those inside, as religion." Alan Wolfe, Chronicle of Higher Education 2/8/02 page B-7

“The mandatory First Year Preceptorial course is 1 day on Genesis and 4 weeks on Feminism.” Knox College student, 2003

“It is my responsibility to tell students that God is not the answer to any of their questions at Knox.” Knox College professor, 2003

• Four in five college freshmen indicate "having an interest in spirituality" and "believing in the sacredness of life" 
• Two-thirds say that "my spirituality is a source of joy."
• About four in five report attending a religious services in the past year and that they discussed religion/spirituality with friends and family.
• More than three-fourths believe in God, and more than two in three say that their religious/ spiritual beliefs "provide me with strength, support, and guidance."
• Four in ten also consider it "essential" or "very important" to "follow religious teachings in my everyday life"

In April of 2001 nearly 300,000 worshipers, age 15 and older, in more than 2,000 congregations in the United States participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey.

• How to identify a Worshiper
  • Predominantly female (60%)
  • The average age of a worshiper in a Southern Baptist congregation is 49 years old.
  • Fifty-four percent of worshipers in Southern Baptist churches are employed full-time or part-time.
    • Twenty-three percent are retired, 10 percent are full-time homemakers, and 3 percent are students.
  • Worshipers in Southern Baptist congregations are less educated than worshipers in general.
  • Seven of 10 Southern Baptist worshipers are married—75 percent of those that are married are in their first marriage.
  • Forty-two percent of worshipers in Southern Baptist congregations indicated they were attending worship with their spouse at the time of the survey.
  • Forty-four percent of Southern Baptist worshipers have children who live with them.

 Download full Research Report, Southern Baptist Congregations and Worshipers: Supplement to A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, by Phillip B. Jones
          
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