Enhancing a Sense of

Development of Student Religion and Spirituality

Becky Auman, McKenna Koewler & Rachel Glines
 Learning Objectives
1. Acknowledge the differences - Increase basic knowledge of religion, spirituality, & secularism

between religion, spirituality, - Address the differences regarding religion, spirituality, & secularism
- Recognize the role that religion & spirituality plays in attendees’ own
and secularism.
lives

2. Assess a situation centering - Identify 1 spiritual development theory

around student religious and - Apply student development theory to student affairs practice
spiritual development. - Recognize & respect other’s perspectives aside from one’s own

3. Address students’ religious - Understand how to connect students to resources for further
and spiritual needs through exploration of religious & spiritual topics
support services. - Identify 3 sources on the campus of Wright State University
Ground Rules
● Experiences
01 Respect ● Perspectives
● Persons
● What you already know
02 Reflect ● How you learned it
● Knowledge you gain
● Embrace discomfort
03 Resign ● Engage in conversation
● Implement and Share
 Religion
Text MCKENNAKOEWL515
to 22333
Religion
“the service and worship of God or the
supernatural; commitment or devotion to
religious faith or observance”

- Merriam Webster Dictionary

The Big Six
1) Christianity
2) Islam
3) Unaffiliated
4) Hinduism
5) Buddhism
6) Judaism
Christianity
noun Chris·tian·i·ty \ ˌkris-chē-ˈa-nə-tē , ˌkrish- , -ˈcha-nə- , ˌkris-tē-ˈa- \

: the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture,
and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies

● Practiced by 31.2% of the world’s population

● 16% of adults 18-29 in Ohio identify as Christians
● Sacred texts: The New and Old Testament of the Bible
● Sacred Place: Jerusalem
Islam
noun Is·lam \ is-ˈläm , iz- , -ˈlam' ˈis-ˌläm , ˈiz-, -ˌlam \

:the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in
Muhammad as his prophet

● Practiced by 24.1% of world population

● Practiced by 1% of Ohioans
● Sacred Text: the Qur’an
● Sacred Place: Mecca
Unaffiliated
adjective un·af·fil·i·at·ed \ ˌən-ə-ˈfi-lē-ˌā-təd \

:not closely associated with, belonging to, or subordinate to

another; in a religious context having no association with
organized religions

● 22.8% of adults in the United States identify as religiously

unaffiliated
● 34% of Ohioans aged 18-29 consider themselves unaffiliated
Hinduism
noun Hin·du·ism \ ˈhin-(ˌ)dü-ˌi-zəm \

:the dominant religion of India that emphasizes dharma with its resulting ritual
and social observances and often mystical contemplation and ascetic practices

● 15% of the population worldwide practice Hinduism

● 0.7% of the population of the United States practice Hinduism
● Sacred Text: The Four Vedas
● Sacred Place: Varanasi
Buddhism
noun Bud·dhism \ ˈbü-ˌdi-zəm , ˈbu̇- \

:a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Siddhārtha
Gautama that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by
cultivating wisdom, virtue, and concentration

● Practiced by 7.1% of the world’s population

● Practiced by 0.7% of the population of the United States
● Sacred Text: The Ripitaka
● Sacred Place: The Bodh Gaya
Judaism
noun Ju·da·ism \ ˈjü-dē-ˌi-zəm , ˈjü-də- , ˈjü-(ˌ)dā- , British also ˈjü-ˌdi-zəm \

:a religion developed among the ancient Hebrews and characterized by belief in

one transcendent God who has revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the
Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and
rabbinic traditions

● Practiced by about 14 million people worldwide or 0.2% of the

world’s population
● Practiced by 1% of the population of the United States.
● Sacred Text: The Tenakh, The Torah, and The Talmud
● Sacred Place: Jerusalem
Secularism
“Indifference to or rejection or
exclusion of religion and religious SPIRITUALITY

considerations”

- Merriam Webster Dictionary

 Spirituality
Text MCKENNAKOEWL515
to 22333
Spirituality
“the quality of being concerned with the human spirit
or soul as opposed to material or physical things.”
Identifying Student’s Beliefs
Spirituality Assessment
https://goo.gl/RA2ApX
Discussion Questions
1. Find 3 commonalities between your spirituality type group members.
2. Do you feel your spirituality type fits with your beliefs?
3. What surprised you about your results?
4. What are some ways these results can help you connect with
students and/or peers?
Lover
● Good negotiator
● Spontaneous
● Handles the unexpected well
● Wants to make an impact on others
● People-oriented
● Warm
● Permissive as a parent, and play-oriented as a mate
● Interested in careers in human services—clergy, teaching, health
care
Mystic
● Able to inspire
● Highly ethical
● Diplomatic
● Seeks intimacy, both spiritually and relationally
● Good understanding of others
● Dwells in possibility
● Contributes a special vision of possibilities for relationships
● Interested in the arts, the church, counseling,psychology, education,
and health care
Prophet
● Strong-willed
● Pragmatic
● Makes a good intellectual partner
● Passionate about relationships—has a vision of
ideal relationships
● Often interested in science, law, computers,the
arts
Sage
● Organized, gets things done
● Reliable
● Respects self and others
● Self-confident
● Loyal
● Industrious
● As a parent, teaches children values; as a spouse, is a helpmate
● Approaches life in an objective, analytical manner
● Focuses on reality, the way things are
● Interested in business, management, banking,construction, the
military
CHART COMPARISON
BREAK TIME
 Incorporating Theory:
Astin, Astin, & Lindholm’s
Spiritual and Religious Measures
Astin, Astin, & Lindholm’s
● Recognized missing pieces of
previous theories
● College is a journey of
self-discovery
● Self-discovery can happen
through spirituality and religious
measures.
 Spirituality Measures

Spiritual Quest Equanimity Ethic of Caring

Who Am I? Can I Overcome? Caring About Others

Charitable Involvement Ecumenical Worldview

Care for Others Sense of Connectivity
 Religious Measures

Religious Commitment
Following Practices
Religious/Social
Religious Engagement
Attendance of Practice
Conservatism
Commitment to Beliefs

Religious Struggle Religious Skepticism

Impact on Experiences Challenges on Beliefs
Case Study
With the case studies presented:
1) Apply Religious & Spiritual Measures Theory;
a) Determine what stage your student is in.
2) How did you approach and handle the situation?
Removing Our Lens
 Proverbs Activity
Directions:

1) In this room, is a person with a similar proverb from a different culture.

2) Find this partner and discuss the similarities and what the proverbs could
mean.

Example:

Not everyone who has a cowl on is a Don’t judge a book by its cover.
monk. (Russia) (United States)
 Proverbs Activity
1) He makes a mountain out of a molehill. He makes a wine cellar from one raisin.
2) God is a good worker, but he loves to God helps those who help themselves.
be helped.
3) You can force a man to shut his eyes, You can lead a horse to water, but you
but you can’t make him sleep. can’t make him drink.

4) If you climb up a tree, you must
climb down that same tree.
5) I will not cry over a mishap and injure
my eyes.
6) By trying often, the money learns to
jump from the tree.
What goes up, must come down.
It is no use to cry over spilt milk.
Practice makes perfect OR If at first you
don’t succeed, try, try again.
Student Crisis Simulation
Student Crisis Simulation
1) One person will be assigned the role of a student, one will be assigned
the role of a Student Affairs Professional
2) Playing the role assigned, guide the student through their spiritual crisis
Discussion Questions
1) What was challenging about this activity?
2) How did this activity make you feel? Uncomfortable, fine, enlightening?
3) How could you apply this to the functional area you are interested in?
4) What were the takeaways from your discussion?
Resources
Working with a partner, create a
list of resources we could use to
refer students.
 Wright State Resources
● BOLINGA Black Cultural Resource Center
● Latino, Asian, and Native American Affairs (LANA)
● The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally (LGBTQA)
Affairs
● Veteran and Military Center
● Career Center
● Office of Student Activities
● Women's Center
● Multicultural Center
 Resources
Buddhism. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Buddhism

Buterbaugh, J. (2014). Believe it or not: The meaning of spirituality on campus. Students reflect on their experiences sharing and exploring religious and spiritual beliefs
on campuses. Penn State News. Retrieved from: http://news.psu.edu/story/324080/2014/09/02/campus-life/believe-it-or-not-meaning-spirituality-campus

Christianity. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christianity

CNN Library. (2017, September 4). Christianity Fast Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/christianity-fast-facts/index.html

Cummings, M. (2015). Let’s Talk Spirituality, A Quick Guide to Getting Deep with Students. The Student Affairs Collective. Retrieved from:
https://studentaffairscollective.org/lets-talk-spirituality-quick-guide-getting-deep-students/

Dalton, J. (2004) Supporting Students’ Spiritual Growth in College: Recommendations for Student Affairs Practioners, Journal of College and Character,5:10, DOI:
10.2202/1940-1639.1406 Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2202/1940-1639.1406

David, V. & Sykes, E. (2013). Religion and Higher Education: Concerns and Solutions. Parameters of Law in Student Affairs and Higher Education: Counseling and
Student Affairs. Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cns_law

Faulkner, Bill. (2018) Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Students in Residential Settings. ResLife. Retrieved from:
http://reslife.net/hp/addressing-the-spiritual-needs-of-students-in-residential-settings/

Hinduism. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hinduism

 Resources
Islam. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Islam

Jablonski, Maraget A. (Ed.). (2001). The Implications of Student Spirituality for Student Affairs Practice. New York, NY: New Directions for Student Services.

Judaism. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Judaism

Lipka, M. & Gecewicz, C. (2017). More Americans now say they’re spiritual but not religious. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/06/more-americans-now-say-theyre-spiritual-but-not-religious/

Neinast, H. (2003). Spiritual Types Discussion Guide. Method X. Nashville, TN: The Upper Room.

Penn State University. Diversity Activities for Youth and Adults. College of Agricultural Sciences: Agricultural Research and Cooperative Education. Retrieved from:
https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/members/projects-resources/diversity/diversityactivities.pdf/view

Pew Research Center. (2014). Age distribution among adults in Ohio by religious group. Retrieved from
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/compare/age-distribution/by/religious-tradition/among/state/ohio/

Pew Research Center. (2017, April 5). The Changing Global Religious Landscape. Retrieved from
http://www.pewforum.org/2017/04/05/the-changing-global-religious-landscape/

Pew Research Center. (2012, December 18). The Global Religious Landscape. Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
 Resources
Pew Research Center. (2015). The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050. Retrieved from:
http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/

Pew Research Center. (2018). Religious Landscape Survey. Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/

Sheldrake, P. (2017). 10 Facts About Spirituality. Oxford Press’s Academic Insights for the Thinking World. Retrieved from:
https://blog.oup.com/2017/07/10-facts-spirituality/

Smietana, B. (2013). College Students Divided on God, Spirituality. USA Today. Retrieved from:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/26/college-students-god-religion/2875627/

Unaffiliated. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unaffiliated

United Religions Initiative. (n.d.). Buddhism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs

United Religions Initiative. (n.d.). Christianity: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/christian-beliefs

United Religions Initiative. (n.d.). Hinduism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/hindu-beliefs

United Religions Initiative. (n.d.). Islam: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/muslim-beliefs

United Religions Initiative. (n.d.). Judaism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/jewish-beliefs