The Religious Dorm at the Public University

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/education/the-christian-dorm-at-the-public-university.html?_r=0


Resident assistants leading a discussion about various religions at the Newman Center dormitory at Troy University in Alabama.

By KIM SEVERSON
Published: October 3, 2013

TROY, Ala. — There are many clues that life at the newest residence hall on the campus of Troy University is not centered on parties and beer.
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In the lobby, students with Bibles gather to offer Christian testimony. On a dorm-room door, a chalkboard holds a passage from Psalms.

And in the 2,300-square-foot Catholic-run ministry center, evenings are given over to clergy-led discussions on the meaning of God and a few good-natured rounds of “Stump the Priest.”

Citing reports from students who say they are hungry for more faith-based options on campus and national surveys that show a strong interest in spirituality among college freshman, officials at Troy, Alabama’s third-largest public university, this semester opened the Newman Center residence hall, a roomy 376-bed dormitory that caters to students who want a residential experience infused with religion.

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[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. yet, all reliable studies have showed the opposite, a strong, growing

and measurable turning away from religion, spirituality, and other fairy tales.

In fact in college kids, 27% are neither religious nor spiritual, a far greater number than ever measured before. There is more good news. Those who are religious tend to be white, old, and live in the south. Which explains much of what is wrong with the south these days.

[cbayer]

2. That leaves 73% that are either religious or spiritual.

The problems with the south are multifactorial.

There are high rates of religiosity in black and latino populations. Do you think there is something wrong with them as well?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. Just saying that the growing numbers of nonbelievers is healthy sign for society.

Now, if our ideas about gun ownership had similar trends.

[cbayer]

5. I agree with you about gun ownership.

I'm not sure that one can equate nonbelief with health, though.

[fitman]

4. I have no problem with religious dorms

just as I have no problem with gay dorms..don't like it? Don't move into one.

And I'm borderline atheist/agnostic