University of Massachusetts Amherst
SARIS - Student Affairs Research, Information and Systems
Spirituality Survey (F95-B)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:Almost three-quarters of the respondents consider themselves to be religious or spiritual. Over half are affiliated with a religious or spiritual organization such as a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other group. On average, respondents report attending 30 events per year at these organizations. Students are more likely to attend religious events when they are at home rather than when they are at school, and they are more likely to do so at the wishes of others than of their own volition. Almost nine out of ten students said it is "very" or "somewhat easy" for them to live their "religious or spiritual life at UMass." An identical proportion said they are "very" or "somewhat satisfied" with "the religious and spiritual climate at UMass."

On Tuesday, September 6, 1995, Project Pulse conducted a telephone survey for the Religious Affairs Committee. The survey was designed to investigate students' religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. The terms "religious" and "spiritual" will be used synonymously in this report. Interviewers utilized a sample of 1520 undergraduates who had been randomly selected from the entire undergraduate population. Interviewers successfully contacted 744 students, and 613 (82.4%) agreed to be interviewed. The final disposition of the sample is presented in Table 1. Sampling error for the survey is plus or minus approximately 4% at the 95% level of confidence.

The survey began with questions regarding the respondents' religious identity and background and their affiliation with spiritual organizations. Almost three-quarters (71.5%, n=437) of the respondents said "yes" when asked "Do you consider yourself to be a religious or spiritual person to at least some extent?" Those who said "no" were skipped to the last five questions of the survey, therefore, most of this report (all but the last paragraph) concerns only those respondents who said "yes" to this question. Of those who consider themselves religious, more than half (54.9%, n=229) are Catholic; Figure 1 displays the top ten responses to the question "What is your religion, or spiritual orientation?" Respondents tend to have the same spiritual orientation as their parents. The correlation between respondents' orientations and their parents' orientations is highly significant (p < .001).

Figure 1: "What is your religious, or spiritual orientation?"

Respondents were asked, "At present, are you affiliated with a particular religious or spiritual organization such as a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other group?" Over half (53.0%, n=231) said "yes" to this question. Those who are affiliated were asked how many times during the last year they attended events sponsored by their organization. On average, respondents report attending 30 events per year; responses are presented in Figure 2. Three out of five respondents (59.4%, n=136) report giving money to their organization. Only one-quarter (24.7%, n=57) said they are affiliated with a campus-based religious group; responses are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2: "During the past year, how many times have you attended religious, spiritual or social events affiliated with your religious or spiritual organization?"

Figure 3: "At present, with which, if any, of the following campus-based religious or spiritual groups are you affiliated?"

Students affiliated with a religious organization were read a list of different types of events which are offered by such organizations and asked if they participate in any of them; responses are displayed in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Percent who participate in events offered by spiritual organizations

All religious respondents (whether affiliated with an organization or not) were asked about their desire to be with others of their orientation, their willingness to share their beliefs, and their attitude toward other orientations. Two out of five (39.3%, n=168) said it is "somewhat" or "very important" that they be together with others of their spiritual orientation; see Figure 5. Four out of five (82.1%, n=353) said they are "somewhat" or "very willing" to share their beliefs with others; see Figure 6. Only six percent (n=27) said "yes" to the question, "Do you feel that your religious or spiritual tradition is the only valid perspective?"

Figure 5: "How important is it to you to be together with others of your religious or spiritual orientation?"

Figure 6: "How willing are you to share your religious or spiritual beliefs with others?"

Respondents are more likely to attend religious events when they are at home than when they are at school, and they are more likely to do so at the wishes of others than of their own volition. Twenty-three percent (n=100) attend events at school, while 37.3% (n=161) attend events at home. Among those who attend events at school, 11.2% (n=11) do so because others want them to. Among those who attend events at home, 31.9% (n=51) do so because others want them to.

Next, respondents were asked about the effects of the University and university life on their religious beliefs and practices. Nearly two-thirds (64.9%, n=279) said it is "very easy" for them to live their "religious or spiritual life at UMass" and another fifth (20.5%, n=88) said it is "somewhat easy." Nine out of ten (89.8%, n=333) are "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with "the religious and spiritual climate at UMass." Only nine percent (n=37) feel that the University's calendar interferes with their ability to practice their spirituality.

Finally all respondents, including those who said they are not religious, were asked about the existence of anti-religious or anti-spiritual attitudes, as well as the presence of antagonism between religious groups on campus. Respondents hear anti-religious attitudes more from students than from faculty or staff. When asked how often they hear anti-religious attitudes from each of these groups, two-thirds (67.6%, n=413) say they "never" hear faculty express them, three-quarters (74.3%, n=455) say they "never" hear staff express them, and only one-quarter (27.6%, n=169) say they "never" hear students express them. Religious and non-religious respondents do not differ significantly in their perceptions of the prevalence of anti-spiritual attitudes. Figures 7 displays the responses to these questions. One-quarter (25.7%, n=157) reported witnessing or experiencing "antagonism between members of different religious or spiritual groups on campus." Religious respondents are more likely to report antagonism than non-religious respondents (p < .01); see Figure 8.

Figure 7: How often do you hear University course instructors, staff members, and UMass students express anti-religious or anti-spiritual attitudes?

Figure 8: Witnessed or experienced antagonism between religious groups on campus by religiosity.