College Students Stray From Traditional Religious Practices

Whether it be a sports team, musician, or a hobby, it is human nature to attempt to connect with others over shared passions.

Throughout history, religious groups have been prominent in society as a way for  people to connect with each other and express themselves.

At the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, there has been a trend of students straying from traditional religion but continuing to search for spiritual development.

This trend can be seen on college campuses across the nation.

According to Hung Nguyen, Mauthe Center Executive Director, “At the end of the day, a majority of students here want to know how to explore their spiritual life but they just don’t care for organized religion.”

Hung says the Muathe Center serves UWGB students as a nonjudgmental place to come and explore faith and spirituality. It is a safe place for students to ask who they are, what they stand for, and what is it that they want to contribute to the world. In this process they learn about their beliefs, how to have a constructive conversation with not only themselves but also with people around them and with their god.

“There is a huge, huge distrust in organized religion among students. But like most things in life, religion has a potential for good and a potential for bad.” Nguyen said.

Although it is located on UWGB’s campus, The Mauthe Center is its own entity that does not belong to the University, nor does it take public funding.

During his 5 years at the Muathe Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Hung has noticed that students are turned off my organized religion, but are actively searching for a connection to faith.

College students put religion lower on their priority list. “Religion is not a big priority to young people.” Nguyen said. He has seen a trend of students being more interested in exploring and learning about new religions, as opposed to actually practicing their own.

“They find inspirations in celebrity, but not their local priest or rabbi, for example.” Nguyen said.

The Mauthe Center is not a church, although it does host different religious and spiritual ceremonies. The Mauthe Center offers a variety of services on a consistent weekly schedule. These services include: Buddhist mediations, Quakers of Friends, Catholic Mass and other denomination’s services.

The numerical data collected by the Mauthe Center indicates that the Catholic Mass on Sunday nights are the most consistently attended. These numbers reflect on the greater Green Bay community; according to City-Data.com, 71.3% of Brown County residents identify as Catholic.

On average, the Muathe Center serves 1,240 students per academic year.

“We’re not about converting people to any kind of religion. We’re about having a safe, nonjudgemental  place for all of God’s children. Not just a selected few or a certain brand.” Nguyen said.

Student Organizations affiliated with specific religions at UWGB utilize the Mauthe Center’s facilities, but do not directly represent the Mauthe Center.

“His Christian Fellowship” is a religious student organization through UWGB that spreads the Word of God to college students.

“We simply offer a kind hand and the opportunity to hear and learn God’s Word and about Jesus Christ. This is also an opportunity to meet other Christians are other people in general and have fellowship with one another,” the organization’s president, Laura Bitter, said.

The Intertribal Student Council (ISC) is a student organization at UWGB that represents the Native American students on campus. Elizabeth Peterson, member of ISC, feels that it is good to expand your horizons and experience different types of religions and cultures.

“There is not one specific Native American spirituality or religion. Some of the students are more involved in traditional teachings of their particular tribes, and others are more involved with any variety of denominations. Some ISC affiliated members are Catholic, some are Lutheran, some are Mormon, some are Methodist – the list could go on.” Peterson said.

Hung believes that most students still pray, whether it’s taking time out of their day to enjoy nature or having quiet time. They have internal conversations about the tough moral choices in life. Students express their spirituality by doing projects, activities, and being involved in organizations to show how they are involved within their community.  “Their willingness and desire to demonstrate that they are good people and want to make an impact on the world, I think that is how they express their values and their spirituality.”