Christian Colleges and Universities as Moral Communities: The Effects of Institutional Characteristics on Student Religiosity

2015/03/22 by Phil Davignon, Robert A. Thomson · 16 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Epistemology #Law #Phenomenon #Philosophy #Pluralism (philosophy) #Political science #Psychology #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Society, and Development #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Religiosity #Religious belief #Religious pluralism #Religious studies #Social psychology #Social science #Sociology #Sociology of religion

paper · doi:10.1007/s13644-015-0214-5

published in Review of Religious Research 57(4), 531-554 (SAGE Publishing)

openalex publication_date 2015/03/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Research suggests that some Christian colleges function as moral communities that can help sustain religious belief and practice (Hill in J Sci Study Relig 48:515–534, 2009 ). In this paper, we explore several mechanisms by which this phenomenon may occur. Using a survey of college students from 31 institutions belonging to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, we examine how institutional characteristics influence changes in religiosity throughout college, finding that religious homogeneity and the availability of spiritual mentors consistently have significant effects on changes in religious belief and practice. The results are discussed in light of the existing literature on religious homogeneity and pluralism, as well as their implications for administrators at Christian colleges and universities.

Citations

• Higher Education as Moral Community: Institutional Influences on Religious Participation During College
• Faith and Understanding: Specifying the Impact of Higher Education on Religious Belief
• Trajectories of Religious Participation from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
• Nonresponse Rates and Nonresponse Bias in Household Surveys

Cited by

• Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College

Related

• Higher Education as Moral Community: Institutional Influences on Religious Participation During College
• The Religiosity of College Students: Stability and Change over Years at University
• Faith and Understanding: Specifying the Impact of Higher Education on Religious Belief
• The Positives and Negatives of Higher Education: How the Religious Context in Adolescence Moderates the Effects of Education on Changes in Religiosity
• Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College