30th Annual Student Research Conference
Religious Tolerance Observed and Expressed by Liberal Arts College Students
Alexander T. Ponche
Dr. Anton Daughters, Faculty Mentor
Religious freedom is a right that, while recognized legally in the United States, has not been universally supported by citizens and lawmakers in a demonstrable fashion. This study evaluates levels of religious tolerance reported on-campus by students in a small liberal-arts university. 174 university students participated in surveys asking about their experience with instances of tolerant and intolerant behaviors on campus in regards to religion. Reports indicate that students overwhelmingly experience tolerant behavior, regardless of religious affiliation. Students belonging to non-Christian faiths did report significantly lower levels of comfort expressing their religious beliefs around other students, and lower levels of safety felt from religious discrimination on campus. These results display a homogenous majority which feels it has not been discriminated against, and highlight the need for increased representation for non-Christian religious students on-campus.
Keywords: religion, tolerance, christian, non-christian, discrimination
Topic(s):Sociology
Philosophy & Religion
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 311-4
Location: VH 1236
Time: 1:45