Exploring Religious Beliefs Among Students

A look at how religion is expressed on campus.

Jacobs University has the unique identity of being an international university with students from all reaches of the globe. No one denies that this diversity is a major asset to the university environment and contributes greatly to the overall education Jacobs offers its students. However, there is another aspect to this diversity that is often overlooked: faith. Students come not only from a diverse cultural background, but also a diverse religious background. Whether they have grown up in a certain doctrine, are just recently beginning to practice new beliefs, or maintain no particular religious creeds whatsoever, faith can play a role in defining their identity. However, the university setting provides an interesting environment for faith, especially for an international host of students who follow a wide range of doctrines.
On campus, the Interfaith House is the central point of religious activity. It hosts Catholic Mass on Sunday mornings and provides various other services, including a prayer room in the back. The university also supports a number of religious festivals on campus which enable students to share their religious customs with their colleagues in events such as Eid and Deepawali. The University also has a few faith-based clubs registered on campus such as Believer’s Love World and the Christian Fellowship.
I took the time to sit down with Rosalyn Harrison, leader of Believer’s Love World, to discuss the club and also her views of religion on campus. Believer’s Love World is a relatively new club on campus which meets on a regular basis. It stems from a campus ministry that started in Nigeria, which follows the Christian faith, the Holy Bible, and the teachings of Jesus. BLW is part of the Christ Embassy and many members of the club attend a church in downtown Bremen as well. Although typically a BLW campus ministry fulfills the role of a “mini-church” on campus, the club here at Jacobs is different. They meet to discuss issues and religious views using the Bible and its message. They welcome visitors of many different faiths who have participated in their meetings and wish to learn more or to simply discuss faith-based questions they might have had.
I also had a chance to talk to Joy Petrie, a member of the Christian Fellowship here on campus. She follows the Protestant faith and grew up attending church and Sunday School once a week while also participating in various youth group activities. Here on campus, it has become harder to be involved first-hand in the church, but she attends the Christian Fellowship meetings and also goes to church almost every week. She states that religion is one of her priorities in life and she will therefore make the time for it, even when balancing a work-intensive Jacobs schedule.
While talking to both students, I asked them for their opinions on religious presence on campus. They both came up with similar answers: there is a religious presence on campus, but sometimes you have to look for it.
Professor Hans Kippenberg has been teaching religion-based courses at Jacobs since 2008 and he provided me with interesting insights into his views of faith on campus. Professor Kippenberg stated that he enjoys teaching religion here on campus as it is a unique opportunity to interact with students who share the beliefs that he is teaching and hear their opinions on the material. He pointed out that one facet of the diversity on campus is its rich religious variety and that the university should celebrate this as a part of cultural diversity. As religion has moved to a more prominent position in the public realm today, it is important to have an appreciation for a variety of religious creeds. Jacobs provides its students with the opportunity to explore other belief systems and build a sense of religious understanding which becomes increasingly important as society becomes more globalized.
Jacobs University prides itself on its diverse student body which is unique in its wide range international origins, but also in its religious roots. This religious diversity is also a valuable resource for students to gain a wider understanding of other belief systems and an important asset to this university.