Students' beliefs are stronger than their actions

 

A recently released UCLA study of students nationwide has reportedly found that though 79% of college students believe in God, only 40% consider it essential or very important to follow religious teachings in everyday life.

More than 60% of the students surveyed believed that one can grow spiritually without being religious. Do you think they are right? And what do you make of the contrast between students who say they believe in God and the smaller percentage that considers the everyday practice of religious teachings essential?

The majority of the students polled believe in God. Less than half regularly follow their religious teachings. Again, more than half of all of the above believe that they can grow spiritually with an organized religion.

The purpose of religion has always been to unite, starting with the family, the group, the state, the nation and, in this century, world unity.

The Creator, whom most of us call God, has given mankind laws to live by. The Ten Commandments are the basis for our laws today.

All of our morality has come from the influence of religion, and religions came from the Creator.

None of us, least of all college students, were born with an inherent moral code; it was passed on to us from our families.

The fact that 79% of those surveyed believed in God is certainly a plus for all of us.

A poll of those who have traveled this life for 60 years or so would show a higher reliance on a Creator in every one of the categories.

When you are young, you think you will live forever; as time goes by, you become less sure and tend to seek spiritual strength.

BARBARA K. CRAMER

Secretary, Baha'i Faith

Glendale

Of course, one can grow spiritually without being religious. In fact, it may be the prevalence of hypocrisy in religious leaders that turns students off to the practices of organized religion.

Churches calling themselves spiritual in many cases aren't. The Crystal Cathedral symbolizes acquisition of physical wealth and emphasizes entertainment, at least that's what they seem to glorify on their website.

Many organizations are overtly political, from Catholic bishops denying communion to those who vote for defenders of abortion rights to the North Carolina Baptist preacher who ousted congregation members who dared mention they'd voted for Kerry. The recent Terri Schiavo case illustrated the lengths to which some politicians will go to get the money and votes of extreme right-wing fundamentalists. I believe a truly spiritual person would have left that family alone in their grief and sadness.

I don't see anything spiritual, moral or ethical in the behavior of Focus on the Family. They sent someone to complain to the La Cañada school board about "Bat Boy," causing a lot of unnecessary agitation around the foothill community. The group is also behind "Prayer Sunday," where they urge churchgoers to support the ending of the Senate filibuster so all of the president's right-wing judicial appointments are approved. The National Right to Life Committee is also urging members to change Senate rules to allow confirmation. None of this activity is spiritual. It's all political.

College students can see the obvious contrast between what's said and what's done. Murdering doctors who perform abortions aren't "pro-life," no matter what Operation Rescue says. I'm delighted when young people see beyond the cynical exploiters who wish to use them.

SHARON WEISMAN

Atheist

Glendale

The discrepancy between the percentage of those who say they believe in God and the lower percentage of those who say religious values ought to be used in everyday life is not that surprising. Think about it: It's quite easy to say, "Sure, I believe in God," but it's quite difficult to live a scrupulously moral life. In the words of Jesus, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, how can one gaze at the heavens and note all the wonder and beauty and order and not believe in God? But judging from the messages of all the Hebrew prophets, "believing" is not enough; one's actions matter, also.

The New Testament Book of James has the famous quote, "Faith without works is dead." In a culture that values "success" and money and things as much as ours does, it's no easy task to try to keep the Ten Commandments in one's daily life. It's tough to live up to the Golden Rule and to love one's neighbor as oneself. To live one's religious values has often cost the person who would live such a life of faithfulness his life. Look at how some of the Hebrew prophets suffered; remember the price Jesus paid; and don't forget the price paid by Martin Luther King Jr., and Mohandas Gandhi. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Protestant minister hanged by the Nazis for opposing Hitler, wrote a book called "The Cost of Discipleship." "Believing" is easy; putting that belief into actions is not.

THE REV. SKIP LINDEMAN

Church of the Lighted Window

United Church of Christ

La Cañada Flintridge

Our college years are quite demanding, but they can be fun as well. The freedoms we enjoy are exhilarating, and the education is enlightening. The challenges to our religious beliefs help us make our faith our own, and not something we just inherited from our parents.

But whether we're in college, the integration of our faith into everyday life is exactly the point. Practicing our faith helps us deal with daily pressures. Practicing faith reminds us that there is an eternal purpose beyond "making the grade." And the book of James soberly reminds us "that faith without works is useless."

When we come to know God, he begins a life-long process of making us more and more like Jesus Christ. We begin to realize that pleasing him, even in simple, everyday ways is the most important thing in life. We learn that when we seek him first, he provides for all the things that used to concern us.

It seems to me that most of us are somewhat distracted and under pressure these days. Instead of letting our worries crowd God out, why not honor him first and let him crowd our worries out?

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church

Burbank

If you ask someone coming out of a synagogue or church "Do you believe in God?" the worshipper will be shocked. "What type of question is that? Of course I do. Why else would I be here?" If you ask the same worshipper if they consider themselves religious, they will inevitably smile and whisper "not really. I lead a secular, nonreligious lifestyle."

The obvious question is why would people who do not consider themselves religious spend their valuable Saturday or Sunday morning hours in a house of worship? Doesn't this smack of hypocrisy? In actuality, the above scenario is not hypocritical at all; it is simply human.

Belief in God determines our moral behavior and acts as the foundation of a positive lifestyle. However, as human beings, we are not perfect, and we do not always meet our religious expectations. So, while I believe in God and try my best to fulfill the values instilled in me by that belief, as a fallible human being it is inevitable that sometimes I may not meet my goals.

Many of the respondents to this survey may say that they do not consider it essential or very important to follow religious teachings in everyday life.

However, their strong belief in God is testament of the opposite. I suspect that they are probably leading a far more religious lifestyle than they think they are. Hence the seemingly confusing, but very human response.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN

Chabad Jewish Center

Glendale

Why would we expect religion to be part of life when we've done everything possible to marginalize religion and ensured that reality can exist without the spiritual?

Look what's happened in this country. It seems that the only definition for a Christian these days is one who is opposed to gay marriages and stem cell research and ready to bail out before Armageddon. We've all but forgotten the essential elements of Christ's message to love, to nurture, to forgive and to find the spiritual in every aspect of life.

Genocide is taking place in Darfur, children are dying in Iraq, and Third World countries are bursting at the seams, jeopardizing our nation's security.

In our cities and towns, drugs, sex, AIDS, prejudice and violence are killing our children emotionally and physically. Religion has something to say and do about these ills. Unfortunately, it's much easier to avoid the challenges of life rather than championing them. When some members of the religious community dare to voice themselves, they are marginalized by the press into various religious camps.

So, what do we expect from college students? For them to take religion seriously? No, it is the opium that keeps people pacified and unable to take responsibility. It's the reason why we as a society are so consumed with runaway brides, celebrities and other tabloid news instead of working for justice and peace through the spirit.

There is no question in my mind that the spiritual life is what is lacking in our society. In college communities, students are willing and even eager to partake of the spiritual as long as there is purpose and meaning to their efforts.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Glendale

The figures in this week's question are most revealing. Some 79% of the students in a study believe in God. Only 40% say religion is important in their daily lives. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what is going on here. More young people are interested in spiritual things; fewer young people are interested in religious matters. I would guess that this trend is going to become even more pronounced in the future.

Someday, most of us are going to figure out what our young people have already found out for themselves. It is this: Rigid, narrow religious ways of life are passing away, and good riddance. Softer, gentler spiritual ways are coming to the forefront. Our world will be a better one when this shift in consciousness comes to full fruition. As I see it, to be spiritual is to love God and love life and love others and to love self. To be religious, on the other hand, has evolved into one being loyal to a specific, rigid set of rules and regulations.

The old must pass away; the new must be given its chance. The rigid must bend, or it will break. Nothing "broken" is ever worthy of our interests. Our young people have come to understand that if religion is not broken already, it is on its way to being just that. Religious organizations that have lightened up are on the move. Those hanging on to old, worn-out ways, stressing guilt and fear, are disappearing fast. Our youngsters have figured this out sooner than most of the rest of humanity.

THE REV. THOMAS E.

WITHERSPOON

Unity Church of the Valley

La Crescenta