To our boys, Everett, Emmett, Ellis and Elijah, who let me be away when they deserved it most. To our sons Everett, Emmett, Ellis, and Elijah: you have inspired me and pushed me—even though you are too young to realize it—to be a better man and to be the godly father you deserve; I pray that you all know how much I love you and how you are all true gifts from the Father. To my parents: your guidance and shaping has made me the person I am today; I am eternally grateful to you both and grateful for the example you have set before us.
To my sister: your determination and love inspire me; I am honored to be your brother. To all the teachers and mentors who have influenced my life: I am forever indebted to your love and guidance; Thank you. John David Trentham for the vision and leadership he brings to the Doctor of Education.
Trentham when I was considering applying to the doctoral program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Finally, to my brothers and sisters at Crosshaven Baptist Church: thank you for your blessing, encouragement and support throughout this endeavor.
RESEARCH CONCERN
George Marsden, The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994), 6). Reuben, The Making of the Modern University: Intellectual Transformation and the Marginalization of Morality (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996), 84. But with the advance of human knowledge and the growing diversity of art.
One proposal in the General Education of a Free Society report was that of the Great Books program. However, the committee rejected this approach – at least in its entirety – as inconsistent with the modern college and university of the day. The survey results were then compiled, reviewed and delineated in the data analysis phase of the research project.
These limiting areas were identified in the initial survey questions submitted in the quantitative portion of the research. 71 Similar terms found in research - such as religious devotion and religion - should be considered synonymous with religion for the purposes of the study.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Hunsberger later developed the Short Christian Orthodoxy (SCO) scale—a condensed version of the original CO scale—which included only six measurable items. Wheeler, "The Nature of the Relationship between the Style of Parenting and the Religiosity and Spiritual Well-Being of College Students" (Ed.D. diss., Biola University, 1989), 8. 23 Bruce Hunsberger, "A Short Version of the Christian Orthodoxy Scale,” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 28, no.
As the following pages will attempt to show, there was little in-depth study among students of differences in Christian orthodoxy. Then, research on the impact of higher education on the religious development of students will be presented. The SCO scale includes only six measurable items of basic Christian orthodoxy, but retains most of the psychometric strengths associated with the original scale.
However, that review showed that there has been little in-depth study of the true extent of the impact of public college affiliation on the religiosity of the college student. The following questions guided the collection and analysis of the data for the proposed research study. The SCO scale contains only six measurable items of basic Christian orthodoxy, but retains most of the psychometric strengths associated with the original scale.
This qualitative part of the research was not for validation purposes; it sought to serve only illustrative purposes to draw implications and provide examples in the research conclusions. A seven-point Likert scale ranging from -3 (strongly disagree) to +3 (strongly agree), with 0 as a neutral point was used to answer each question in the original version of the survey.12. It is the degree of acceptance of the content of such statements that this scale is designed to assess.
The purpose of these interviews was to get a bigger picture of the factors influencing the participant's faith trajectory while in public college. 13 Bruce Hunsberger, "A Short Version of the Christian Orthodoxy Scale," Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 28, no. This qualitative portion of the study was not for research validation; it only served to provide illustrative purposes for making implications in the research conclusions.
The final section evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the research design, focusing on opportunities to improve the consistency of identifying factors related to weakening trust in core Christian doctrines among public college students. After describing the general demographic characteristics of the research sample and the public high school senior or freshman delineation, I examined each of the three quantitatively oriented research questions.
CHRISTIAN FAITH TRAJECTORIES
Of the 114 participants who identified as non-Christian, twenty-eight (24.56 percent) reported a decrease in belief in core Christian doctrines, eleven (9.65 percent) reported an increase in belief in core Christian doctrines, twenty the third (20.18 percent). a stability in belief of core Christian doctrines, and fifty-two (45.61 percent) gave a stability in disbelief of core Christian doctrines (see figure 8).
NON-CHRISTIAN FAITH TRAJECTORIES
Of the eighty-four participants who identified as Christian when they entered college but no longer hold to that faith identification, seventy-two (85.71 percent) provided one. Faith trajectories for participants who identified as Christian upon entering college but no longer adhere to this faith identification. In analyzing the results from the online survey questions regarding faith, I used a dependent or paired t-test to look at the difference in past versus present questions.
NO LONGER CHRISTIAN FAITH TRAJECTORIES
CONCLUSIONS
The research findings were presented based on the results of the statistical analysis and the qualitative analysis. The first question of the research examined the key factors associated with decreased confidence in core Christian doctrine among public college seniors and recent graduates. Based on the results of the dependent (or paired samples) t-test, a significant decrease in trust was found in all six faith-based statements in the online survey.
These demographics consisted of (1) identification as Christian, (2) college senior versus recent college graduate, (3) church attendance, and (4) geographic location of the institution. Three of the four considerations were found to be significant predictors of the composite score over time associated with a decreased confidence in core Christian doctrines among students attending public colleges and universities. The geographic location of the college was a non-significant predictor of decreased trust among college students.
This research suggests that there is a relationship of decreased trust in core Christian teachings and public college students. Adolescent children who identify as Christian need to understand the principles of the Christian faith (i.e., core Christian doctrines) and their significance in establishing a Christian worldview. One respondent admitted: "The problem of evil was very difficult to articulate a proper defense against." Respondents also noted that the inerrancy and reliability of the Bible, issues related to gender identity, exclusivity of Christ (i.e. the Christian religion), issues of creation theory, evolution, morality, the person of God and election/predestination are difficult to defend or believe
Although not a direct research focus of this study, a significant decrease in mean SCO scores was observed in this research sample versus those found by Hunsberger - the developer of the SCO scale - and Fullerton - the co-developer with Hunsberger of the CO scale. . This research identified eight areas of Christian faith that public college students feel least equipped to believe in or defend. A second application for this research is to communicate to students and families the realities of declining confidence among public college students.
First, the study summarized core Christian doctrines into six faith-based statements through the use of the SCO scale. What is your current belief regarding the statement, "The Bible may be an important book of moral teachings, but it was no more inspired by God than many other such books in human history." What is your current belief regarding the statement, "The concept of God is an old superstition that is no longer needed to explain things in the modern age."
A Short Version of the Christian Orthodoxy Scale." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 28, no. The purpose of this research study was to examine factors associated with decreased confidence in core Christian teachings among public college students.
