ERIC Number: EJ1456676
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1536-3759
EISSN: EISSN-1539-4107
Available Date: N/A
A Hindrance or a Help? The Chapel Experience and Student Religiosity at a Christian University
Christian Higher Education, v24 n1 p3-21 2025
Chapel is one of the oldest traditions of American higher education and continues to hold a distinctive place among many faith-based institutions today. Although a significant contingent of religiously committed students resonate with an educational environment that incorporates faith and learning, emerging adults today are less affiliated with organized religion than ever before. Anecdotes about the value of chapel abound, but there is little current empirical research dealing with the chapel experience in relation to student religiosity. Using survey data from one Christian university, this study asks: What types of students indicate that the chapel experience has a positive or negative impact on their religious beliefs? We find that religious belief, religious behavior, and religious identity are not related to the perception that chapel strengthened religious beliefs. However, these same measures reduce the odds of someone saying that chapel weakened their religious beliefs. Implications for Christian higher education are discussed.
Descriptors: Christianity, Religious Colleges, Student Experience, Religious Factors, Role of Religion, Beliefs, Educational Environment, Student Attitudes, Learning Experience, Educational Benefits, Barriers, Churches, Church Role, School Space, Educational Facilities, College Students, Journal Articles, Space Utilization, Change Strategies
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A