Fast Forward

Ivy Jungle sends out a monthly Campus Ministry Update – compiling a variety of campus related news and research briefs. Here is one from the April 2008 letter, regarding Donna Freitas research (see earlier post on Sex Education):

Sex and the Soul:   A new book by Donna Freitas of Boston University explores the link between student sexual behavior and spirituality.  Her results, published in Sex and the Soul:  Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance and Religion on America’s College Campuses (Oxford University Press), show that students generally fall into two categories, the “spiritual” and the “evangelical.”   While evangelicals predominantly pursue purity, those who consider themselves “spiritual” are much more immersed in the college “hook up” culture.   Freitas found no difference between private secular, public, and Catholic schools, and was surprised to see that for most who considered themselves “spiritual”,” their spirituality had little impact on their choices and behavior related to love and sex.  Many students did express regret over their choices.  By contrast, Freitas found that students at evangelical institutions had a more integrated view of their spirituality which made a difference not only in their behavioral choices, but also allowed them to articulate a more complete view of sexuality in general.   (Inside Higher Ed April 15, 2008)