• About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Impact
    • Eboo Patel
    • Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Reports & Financials
  • Sectors
    • Higher Education
    • Racial Equity
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Faith & Health
    • Religion in the Workplace
    • Religious Diversity & Bridgebuilding
    • Policy
    • Faith & Civic Life
    • Tech & Interfaith
  • What We Do
    • Courses, Curricula, and Tools
    • Events
    • Grants & Leadership Awards
    • Research
    • Consulting
    • Speaking
  • Magazine
    • Interfaith America Magazine
    • Interfaith America with Eboo Patel
  • Get Involved
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    • Support Us
    • Our Supporters
Menu
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Impact
    • Eboo Patel
    • Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Reports & Financials
  • Sectors
    • Higher Education
    • Racial Equity
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Faith & Health
    • Religion in the Workplace
    • Religious Diversity & Bridgebuilding
    • Policy
    • Faith & Civic Life
    • Tech & Interfaith
  • What We Do
    • Courses, Curricula, and Tools
    • Events
    • Grants & Leadership Awards
    • Research
    • Consulting
    • Speaking
  • Magazine
    • Interfaith America Magazine
    • Interfaith America with Eboo Patel
  • Get Involved
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    • Support Us
    • Our Supporters
Subscribe
Support Us
Higher Education

Why College Students Should Care About Religious Literacy

By
Shauna Morin

January 7, 2021

(Jopwell/Pexels)

Did you know that less than half of students dedicate time in college to learn about people of different faiths? According to the Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS), nearly three-quarters of undergraduates (74%) spend time on campus learning about people of other races (74%) and countries (73%), but far fewer take steps to learn about Muslims, Jews, evangelical Christians, Buddhists, atheists, Hindus, or Latter-day Saints. Without knowledge of different religions and worldviews at their fingertips, many students struggled to correctly answer a series of religious literacy questions included in the IDEALS survey. In fact, 72% of students in the study scored a “C” or below, and a full quarter of them received a failing “grade.”

You may be asking yourself: what’s the significance of a failing “grade” in religious literacy? Given the many competing demands of college, why should I make time to learn about different faiths? The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) offers one answer to this question. Their research found that “a majority [of Americans] … frequently interact with people who do not share their political party (53%) or religion (51%) at work.” To collaborate and problem solve with colleagues who think differently than you do, it’s important to possess a foundation of knowledge that will help you understand where they’re coming from. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that employers are actively seeking hires who possess strong civic knowledge and intercultural skills.

While data points highlight the importance of focusing on religious literacy in college, the most compelling proof might come in the form of first-hand experiences of recent graduates. For this reason, we turned to IFYC’s alumni to learn how the interfaith knowledge they gained in college is showing up in their work lives. In a survey of our alumni across a range of professions, 83% felt that knowing how religious traditions contribute positively to society, as well as possessing knowledge of the history and practices of different religious traditions, would be essential to their professional success.

Recently, we also asked our alumni about situations they encountered at work where it was helpful to draw on a strong foundation of religious literacy. Here’s what we they told us:

These alumni offer a strong rationale for improving your religious literacy, but ultimately, it’s up to you to make time for interfaith learning in college. How can you imagine an interfaith knowledgebase serving you well in your career? How will religious literacy be essential to your professional success? If you consider these questions the next time you’re invited to enroll in a world religions class, join an interfaith dialogue, or participate in a religious diversity training, you just might be inclined to say “yes.”

Share

Related Articles

  • Higher Education

    Why Students’ Worldviews Matter at Public Universities: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Sánchez

  • Higher Education

    How Do We Bridge Deep Religious Differences in Higher Ed?

  • Higher Education

    4 Ways Campuses Are Helping Students Stay Healthy

Latest Articles

Teacher and students working in classroom. (Maskot/Getty)
  • Religion in the Workplace
  • /Emerging Leaders

Five Ways Schools Can Embrace Religious Diversity in Their Classrooms

May 26, 2023
Medical student checking their mobile phone in the hospital corridor during a quick break. (PixelCatchers/Getty)
  • Emerging Leaders
  • /Faith & Health

Why We Are Mentoring Dermatology Students on WhatsApp Groups

May 25, 2023
6th Avenue going through Midtown Manhattan, New York City. (Alexander Spatari/Getty)
  • Faith & Civic Life

How Tim Keller Inspired Me to Live Fully in My Faith

May 24, 2023
Emerging Leader Sabriya Dobbins. Courtesy photo.
  • Emerging Leaders

What Calls Me to Be an Emerging Interfaith Leader in a Time of Crisis?

May 23, 2023
End of content
No more articles to load
Interfaith America, 141 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL 60604, US

© 2022 Interfaith America

Instagram Youtube Facebook Twitter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use