Church Culture to Campus Culture: Exploring Christian Youths' Experiences of the College Transition

• In Event: 165 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. Religious Experiences of College and University Students

Abstract

The study investigates how the college transition impacts youth raised in Christian cultures. Eighteen qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to explore challenges faced, strategies for navigating tensions and reconciling cultural differences, and generally, how religious identities and understandings of religion altered in response to college. Results suggest three major respondent types: Exitors (individuals who exit their childhood faith during college), Shifters (individuals who switch to another denomination during college), and Keepers (individuals who retain their faith through college). Data suggest that respondents perceive the intellectual and social climates of college to be at odds with a Christian worldview; most likened the transition experience to a culture clash and discussed attempts to navigate and mitigate tensions. Key sources of tension include college academics, college drinking culture, sexual relationships, dealing with religion’s residual influence post-faith exit, constructing a non-religious moral code post-exit, and interacting with non-Christians. Keepers responded to tensions by retaining and growing in their faith, Shifters by switching denomination, and Exitors by dissociating from religion completely. The study supports recent quantitative research suggesting that the relationship between attending college and youth religiosity isn’t unidirectional but is mediated by factors like college peer group, early experiences with religion, and campus culture.

Author

• Alessandra Lembo, University of Chicago