By Bob Smietana
College students are almost evenly divided into three camps when it comes to faith, according to a new study released Thursday (Sept. 26).
About a third, 32%, are true believers. Another 32% are spiritual but not religious. And 28% consider themselves secular.
Researchers from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., asked students nationwide a series of questions about their spiritual, political and moral values, ranging from belief in God and worship attendance to climate change and same-sex marriage.
About 70% of the religious students were Christian, as were about 43% of the spiritual students.
Most of the secular students, and about a third of the spiritual students, were so-called “nones” – those with no religious identity, said researchers Barry Kosmin and Ariela Keysar.
While very few Americans identify as atheists or agnostics, a growing number fall into the “none” category. Polling from the Pew Research Center found the number of “nones” among all Americans grew from about 15% in 2007 to just under 20% in 2012.
Read more at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/26/college-students-god-religion/2875627/