University life challenges faith

By: Kenneth Dyches/Contributing Writer

Attending a university is a rite of passage for many teenagers and young adults, but for many religious students the exposure to new ideas and people is particularly a heavy cross to bear.

According to a study done in 2010 by the PEW Research Center, approximately 42% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have changed their religious beliefs at least once in their lifetime.

“I think a lot of young adults change their religion because once they leave their household, they acquire the opportunity to choose their own religious outlook on life,” explains Donavan Taylor, a junior biology major.

The pressure of university living can also waylay spiritual pursuit, especially in a secular society in which it is becoming easier to ignore or even reject beliefs that seem outdated and outgrown.

“I’ve been raised in a Christian background, but since college I haven’t really been participating or thinking about stuff like that,” said Amy Lee, a sophomore and undecided. “I guess peer pressure has something to do with it, as cliché as that sounds, but it’s the truth. It’s the trend of falling out, up to the point where God has no place in my life anymore.”

According to the PEW poll, the percentage of unaffiliated millennial young adults is steadily increasing. Of those unaffiliated, 57% find religion in general as not very important in their lives. The remainder simply cannot decide.

“I guess you can say I’m confused,” said Lee.

Patrick Rabulan, a second year graduate student for counseling psychology tells a similar story. However, his story has a different ending. Just like many other college freshmen, Rabulan’s first years in college posed a challenge to the beliefs he had known all his life.

“The independence of college life definitely affected my religious beliefs,” said Rabulan. “I didn’t start seriously practicing [Christianity] until I was in my sophomore year of college. Going to college here at FIU created an environment that allowed me to challenge my beliefs and assess them for what they are in theory and in practice. These beliefs have changed in that they have grown stronger than before.”

Thus, Rabulan became an example of how life in college can prove not only to be a testing ground for one’s beliefs, but also an opportunity for growth and a deepening of understanding. Through perseverance in the early challenges of his experience, Rabulan’s beliefs became realized even further.

Among the other religious and spiritual clubs and organizations on campus, the Multifaith Council stands out in particular. Several organizations of different religious beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, have come together to “nourish the intellectual dimensions of faith as well as the spiritual dimensions of education.” One way they do this is through their joint efforts with events that promote open discussion about religion and spirituality amongst students, such as a roundtable event that occurred last spring semester.

Paul Massingill, president of the Multifaith Council, believes in the interdisciplinary communication among religious beliefs and academic disciplines.

“We’re finding ways to encourage conversation across academic disciplines and different faith perspectives around the questions of truth, faithful spirituality and how knowing and understanding God helps us better know and understand ourselves, one another and the world we share,” said Massingill.

“FIU has done incredible work in promoting diversity on campus in many ways. I see FIU promoting cultural and ethnic diversity and find that the tolerant atmosphere our university maintains extends in part to the many religious beliefs that are represented on campus,” said Rabulan.

Chuck Huang, a sophomore computer science major, recently transferred to the University from China and had similar experiences.

“The university generally provides a free religious learning environment. Back in China our university only focuses on students’ academic well-being” shared Huang. “Here at FIU, we have the privilege to participate in many great campus ministries like Cru and Wesley. They provided great opportunities for me to grow in my faith.”

However, the open atmosphere and opportunities often clash with the religious beliefs of students’ and the academic agenda of a secular university—a reality Huang knows all too well.

“Some professors may not accept students’ answer from their religious perspective. For example, if you write in your paper that God created all the plants and animals, the professor may require you to rewrite your paper,” said Huang.

Massingill understands this point. “Of course there are other ways in which a large secular university is a challenging place to encourage people to seek God and explore their faith.  There will probably always be somewhat of a tension there.”

Even Massingill admitted, “I pretty much ignored God and my faith the first couple of years of college.” It wasn’t until his third year that he became serious about his faith and began attending church.

Taylor, Huang, Rabulan, Lee and surely many others on campus can identify with the tension and struggles Massingill talks about. Yet despite this ever-present tension, he also has hope and vision of moving forward at FIU.

“I do feel like there is a growing movement of students on campus who are seeking to grow in their faith and live out their faith in the world,” said Massingill. “I think religious life and the presence of God-seeking students on campus is going to continue to grow. I’m excited to see how that will help shape the life of our university.”

of falling out, up to the point where God has no place in my life anymore.”

According to the PEW poll, the percentage of unaffiliated millennial young adults is steadily increasing. Of those unaffiliated, 57% find religion in general as not very important in their lives. The remainder simply cannot decide.

“I guess you can say I’m confused,” said Lee.

Patrick Rabulan, a second year graduate student for counseling psychology tells a similar story. However, his story has a different ending. Just like many other college freshmen, Rabulan’s first years in college posed a challenge to the beliefs he had known all his life.

“The independence of college life definitely affected my religious beliefs,” said Rabulan. “I didn’t start seriously practicing [Christianity] until I was in my sophomore year. Going to college here created an environment that allowed me to challenge my beliefs and assess them for what they are in theory and in practice.”

Thus, Rabulan became an example of how life in college can prove not only to be a testing ground for one’s beliefs, but also an opportunity for growth and a deepening of understanding. Through perseverance in the early challenges of his experience, Rabulan’s beliefs became realized even further.

Among the other religious and spiritual clubs and organizations on campus, the Multifaith Council stands out in particular. Several organizations of different religious beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, have come together to “nourish the intellectual dimensions of faith as well as the spiritual dimensions of education.” One way they do this is through their joint efforts with events that promote open discussion about religion and spirituality amongst students, such as a roundtable event that occurred last spring semester.

Paul Massingill, president of the Multifaith Council, believes in the interdisciplinary communication among religious beliefs and academic disciplines.

“We’re finding ways to encourage conversation across academic disciplines and different faith perspectives around the questions of truth, faithful spirituality and how knowing and understanding God helps us better know and understand ourselves, one another and the world we share,” said Massingill.

“FIU has done incredible work in promoting diversity on campus in many ways. I see FIU promoting cultural and ethnic diversity and find that the tolerant atmosphere our university maintains extends in part to the many religious beliefs that are represented on campus,” said Rabulan.

Chuck Huang, a sophomore computer science major, recently transferred to the University from China and had similar experiences.

“The university generally provides a free religious learning environment. Back in China our university only focuses on students’ academic well-being” shared Huang. “Here [FIU] we have the privilege to participate in many great campus ministries like Cru and Wesley, who provided great opportunities for my faith to grow.”

However, the open atmosphere and opportunities often clash with the religious beliefs of students’ and the academic agenda of a secular university.

“Some professors may not accept students’ answer from their religious perspective. For example, if you write in your paper that God created all the plants and animals, the professor may require you to rewrite your paper,” said Huang.

Massingill understands this point. “Of course there are other ways in which a large secular university is a challenging place to encourage people to seek God and explore their faith.  There will probably always be somewhat of a tension there. I pretty much ignored God and my faith the first couple of years of college.”

It wasn’t until his third year that he became serious about his faith.

Taylor, Huang, Rabulan, Lee and surely many others on campus can identify with the tension and struggles Massingill talks about. Yet despite this ever-present tension, he also has hope and vision of moving forward at FIU.

“I do feel like there is a growing movement of students on campus who are seeking to grow in their faith and live out their faith in the world,” said Massingill. “I think religious life and the presence of God-seeking students on campus is going to continue to grow. I’m excited to see how that will help shape the life of our university.”