How Christianity is Experienced on a College Campus

This is a qualitative study of the experiences of traditional college students who choose to attend a Christian organization on the University of New Hampshire campus. Information was gathered through both ethnographic research and two indepth interviews. The results of this study showed that college had a significant impact on how religion was experienced, whether it increased religious inclinations or decreased them. The social expectations of the Christian organization represented a specific way of life, with specific rules to follow. Most students expressed dedication to these rules and adopted them into their own life. A few members chose to only include some aspects of the religion, and the group, into their lives. Results show that involvement in this organization and religion had affect on daily life. The larger implications of this research show the importance of the unique experience being Christian in a college setting