Students’ religious views

Kurt Farrugia, B.Sc. IT, third year.

I think most students are agnostic. However, it all depends on what one considers ‘religious’.

One might believe in the concept of supernatural beings, but does not feel the need to adore them – I would classify these people as non-religious.

Although most science students are non-religious, one still finds a percentage that are quite devoted.

This to me is quite surprising and contradictory, as in science we learn that we shouldn’t believe in something unless it can be proven.

It might be the case that some people fear the consequences of admitting they do not believe in the supernatural.

Others simply do not deign to read books which argue against the existence of a creator-God.

Personally, I am an atheist.

Eric Gerardi, B. Architecture and Civil Engineering (Hons), fourth year.

I don’t think one can generalise as students’ views vary greatly. I can say that most lie in a grey area between the two extreme points of view: they genuinely do believe in the existence of God and life after death but have reservations about certain dogmata and the Church’s mistakes.

Students think seriously about their faith; they question the rhetoric. Religion rarely makes it into conversation, and personally I have never seen it cause any friction between students.

Although they are not afraid to differ from and criticise the Vatican’s views on certain issues, I am disappointed that we are still dragging our feet in acquiring a condom machine at University.

I do not attend Mass on Sunday. I am an atheist and have been so for four years.

Personally, the contradictions in the Scriptures, the history of the faith, and the misrepresentation of it by common people have pushed me away from the faith.

Stefan Buttigieg, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, fourth year.

Considering all students as one group and all as being religious would be a rather sweeping statement, but I would say students in general are spiritually oriented – I believe they give importance to what is spiritual in their life.

At the end of the day, I believe in most cases family background and culture play a very important role in determining the spiritual orientation of an individual, but this might not always be the case.

I dare say there is still a strong presence on campus of students who practise their faith.

This is seen through the constant flow of activities organised by the University Chaplaincy, where a substantial number of University students not only are present for the activity, but take an active part in the organisation and setting up of such events.

As a practising Roman Catholic, I go to Mass on Sundays (or Saturday evenings).

Christopher Spiteri, B.Sc. (Biology and Chemistry), second year.

There are a number of students who are religious, mostly Catholic, who attend Mass regularly.

There are also students who are ‘spiritual but not religious’, which means they believe in a higher divine power but do not really follow a particular religion. The rest are either atheists or agnostic.

I try not to judge students based on what religion they believe in – our age group is a vulnerable one and students are still trying to discover who they are and get to grips with their priorities.

Some people easily accept the religious teachings passed on to them by their parents and teachers; others are more stubborn or more independent and begin to have doubts about their religion and to develop their own religious opinion.

Asking questions has always been a characteristic of intelligence and it is healthy for individuals to question their surroundings.

It’s even more of a paradox if you’re in a course like mine. Science and religion, after all, have nearly always been at loggerheads.

Students either embrace their religion more, because they believe science is God’s plan being put into action, or they stop believing in God altogether, perhaps because religion is based on faith, not facts.

I usually attend Mass on Sundays. However, I’m not going to lie and say I’ve never missed one. Admittedly, when exams are close, I do tend to skip Mass – but I always regret it. God is an important part of our lives and should remain so.

James Schembri, B. Ed. Physics, fourth year.

Students at University are a colourful mix when it comes to religious beliefs and practices. Religious views among University students can be classified broadly into three: active non-believers, ‘passive’ practitioners and practising believers.

Some students are actively agnostic and atheists. Some use religion as the medium to express their non-conformity with society while others start adhering to newly discovered philosophies and reject their childhood religion.

Then there are those who say they are believers but only resort to prayer in times of crisis, under the superstition that prayer is a magic formula to guard off the unpleasant part of life. I find the majority of students tend to fall in this category.

The third are those students who practise their religion with conviction. For them, religion is a lifestyle.

I take religion very seriously and try to make it a way of life: attending Mass as often as I can helps in this.

My faith is the driving force that guides the direction of my efforts and ambitions and keeps my focus and balance in life.

Warren Sammut, BA (Hons) Tourism Studies, fourth year.

I don’t want to generalise, but students are probably more spiritual than religious. Secularisation is a social reality. I think the average Maltese student is influenced enough by culture and tradition and would still observe the Catholic religion by going to Mass on Sunday, on Christmas Eve and so on.

Students who belong to other religions are probably the same. There are those who have forgotten about it and others who adhere to it.

Whichever choice people make, no choice is the right or wrong one when it comes to faith, but merely a personal choice.

As for me, I try to follow my religion as much as I can, and try to make it to Sunday Mass when possible, despite my busy schedule.