Religious trends among the university population: a case study

<p>Religion continues to attract people's attention in the current Brazilian society. Pluralism and religious transit seem to be present in today's market for symbolic values. Here live affection and disaffection to religious institutions. And specifically in the university environment, how religions are present? Mean something in their lives? This article analyzes the answers of 1446 undergraduate students of PUC-Minas to a questionnaire about their personal and academic life, with focus on the religious dimension of their life. The results are presented in two stages: an overview of religion among university students, and a comparative study of catholic and evangelical youth. Featured topics are: religious affiliation; cycle of religion in biography; education and religious participation; acquisition of knowledge; evaluation of beliefs, prescriptions and leaders; religious diversity and influence on personal and professional life. The analysis emphasyses the appreciation of religion even in secular environment of academia and points the trust in religious leaders as the main link between the students and the religious institution referred to their faith.