English 280: The Journalistic Essay

By Paulo Borges

By all appearances, Christian religion is losing its illumination on the campus of Bridgewater State College over the course of the years.”Christian church is annoying and boring…I was forced to go to Catholic Church when I was kid, but I’ll never go there again!” said Jared Ingersoll, a 22 year old student, living on Campus at Bridgewater State College. Jared reported that, after coming to college he got the freedom of choice and lots of different life realities that he was not exposed to when he lived under his parents’ authority.

Ingersoll is one among thousands of Christian students at Bridgewater State College, who replaced their Christian religious belief for other new college choices. There are Churches on campus; however Christian beliefs are fading away in their lives progressively to the point that some of them say they don’t know what they are when the issue of religion is brought up. Naturally, there is always an exception to the rule. There are others who choose to be in church. They maintain their firm Christian beliefs and keep going to church. Christian church attendance is diminishing day by day particularly on campus where the Catholic and Christian Fellowship church are struggling for survival.

Ingersoll’s experience constitutes an extraordinary illustration of someone who rejected the Christian church and belief embracing a new college lifestyle. For example, he said that his parents baptized him in the Catholic Church when he was a little boy. After being baptized, he kept going to church because his parents particularly his mother, used to force him to go to church every Sunday. As he was not grown enough to change his options, so he kept doing what pleased his parents. “At the age of 17 to 18, I started making my own decision” said Ingersoll.

He affirmed that he decided not to go to the Catholic Church anymore. However, he went to other Christian churches such as Baptist and Methodist churches. Even though he moved to a different Christian church, his ideas about boredom, darkness, corruption, coldness, monotony and spiritual brainwashing in the Christian church didn’t change.

In contrast with the church, college life is completely the opposite. “When I came to college, I had lots of new choices such as: sleeping as much as I want…hanging out with friends…having sex…drinking… partying and go to clubs” said Ingersoll.

According to Susan Muller and Dixie L. Dannis college marks a time when life-change is typically high, the authors designed this study to determine whether life-change was related to the degree of spirituality, the “directing” component of health, among a college student cohort. Participants and Methods: The sample group, consisting of 180 northeastern US undergraduate college students, completed the 48-item Life Attitude Profile-Revised (LAP-R) and the Schedule of Recent Experience (SRE) in the fall semester of 2004. Results: Findings indicate that college students, who reported experiencing higher levels of life change, both positive and negative, also scored lower on spirituality. Nevertheless, these students had scores indicative of a higher desire to find spirituality, even though their motivation to do so was low. Conclusions: Although life changes among college students likely will remain high, lower spirituality can be enhanced; therefore, interested health educators are encouraged to help students increase their degree of spirituality.

This loss of spirituality and Christian mandatory church attendance is also due to other collegial life constraints. “Laziness…class and assignments keep students very busy; students also would rather sleep more, go to club and drink instead of coming to Church”, said Mrs Barbara Hernauld, a Catholic Nun, working at the Catholic Church on the campus of Bridgewater State College. In addition, she said that many students stop attending services after receiving their Confirmation. Before Confirmation they come to church not because they are willing to come but it is because their parents use the power of their authority to push them to come to church. Once they are at the college their lives become so busy that they have no more time for Church.

Hernould thinks that today’s youth don’t like formalized religion. It doesn’t fit their needs. The Christian church values are against the choices college life offers the students. For instance, “Counseling Services found out that the first year and second years in college, can be full of indecision, insecurities, disappointments, and most of all, mistakes.  These years are also full of discovery, inspiration, good times, and good friends.  Unfortunately, it’s not always the good times that stand out. Not all college students know what they want in a major, get good grades, have activity packed weekends, numerous close friends, or lead carefree lives.  Those who insist upon this ideal of “the best years” stereotype work against a student’s already difficult self-development. Those who accept and understand the highs and lows of their student’s reality are providing essential support and encouragement.”(Marcus Goodyear, The wisdom to distinguish)

Besides, all these constraints, college students show no interest in church for other reasons as well. “Young people like music and social activity” said Chang Hee son, a Christian Reverend at the Christian Fellowship Church, on campus at Bridgewater Sate College. “I like the Sothern Baptist Church…they sing…they dance and it is more enjoyable; I’d go to that church” Ingersoll said. He also made several affirmations concerning different aspects of the Catholic Church. “First it is for old people. The instruments are very limited. They usually play piano and stand very quiet and sing until the service ends. They sing the same song over and over again. It is extremely boring and disgusting. The procedures and the system of structuring the service is the same and before going to church people already know what they encounter there.”

Eventually, Reverend Hee Son reported that they have been introducing new instruments in the church to play contemporary music to attract young people in order to give more dynamics in our music we play. He said that the Christian Fellowship church on campus has also been working more on social community activities since it is one of the things young college students like doing most.

However, the main problem has to do with those who have already made their choices. According to Ricardo Fidalgo, a youth leader in Seventh Day Adventist Church, (student at Bridgewater State College), the Bible says that once one leaves   church and starts doing the worldly things, it will be extremely hard to come back to church again. The person only comes back if he or she is afraid of the end of time that the Bible refers to (final days when there will be a complete destruction on earth). Another reason can be looking for family safety.

For instance, Kelly Tanguay, a student at Bridgewater State College said, “When I have my children I will come back to church because I think church shaped me and made me who I am today…and I want the same for my children too.” She used to go to church when she was with her parents. Her parents took her to church whenever they went to church. Now that she is on her own she does not feel she needs church. She knows there is a church on campus but she prefers doing something different such as sleeping, studying and hanging out with her friends. She is very busy with school and friends now. She would rather party with her friends, hang out with them, work and play sports, instead of going to church. She thinks that church is a family issue.

According to David Crank, We need the fellowship, encouragement, and accountability that come with a church body. We also need the prayers of other believers and often the support and assistance of others. A church family should provide close relationships with others, who care about your family and share many of the same goals, values and convictions. A church family can come to your aid in times of financial trouble, major health problems, or when you need the advice and expertise of others. A good church can be a great blessing to your family.
We also have an obligation to the Lord to serve and minister to the needs of other believers. We ought to be there for them in their time of need. We should be good examples, offering encouragement and godly advice. We should be keeping others accountable and sharing what the Lord has taught us. To isolate ourselves from regular fellowship with other believers is to neglect our duty as members of the body of Christ. Others need the benefit of our gifts. It is not just a question of whether we need church – the church needs us! (Marcus Goodyear, The wisdom to distinguish)

Unlike Tanguay, Rong Zheng, also a student at Bridgewater State College said, “Church is the only place where I got people who are nice and makes me feel in a family group.” She came from China from a very traditional family. When she got to America she faced many problems. “I don’t drink… I don’t go to club…I don’t want boyfriend now.” She likes church because she learns about the Bible, and Jesus’ words comfort her. She also likes the direction her life is taking now because she is following those Biblical rules. She is involved in different activities in the church now. She sings and does social work. She thinks college stress can be relieved when you come to church and participate actively in the activities. It makes you forget your difficulties and focusing on spiritual relieves.

As stated by Earl Palmer, Paul (The apostle) has impressive confidence that amateurs can offer real help. We, the church members who are to help one another in times of stress, are amateurs. Yet when our motives are clearly set to encourage and bring wholeness, the results can encourage and unite. From personal experience, I know it works. In this age of experts, we must all remember and be reminded that people are helped by people. Paul the expert does not prescribe a panacea for the Philippi argument; he turns over the problem to the family at Philippi. The message is crystal clear: They must do the helping, and they must find what help best fits that situation.

Besides the ATS American Society people need church because it’s a family reunion. Jesus said, “Who is My family? Those who do My will” (see Mark 3:33, 35). We are a family—rejoicing with one another, crying with one another, helping each other. We need each other’s support. We need church because it’s a classroom. We are preparing for a mission; we are on an extended course of study. For the rest of our life we are enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. We need church because it’s a refuge. The sanctuary is a place to get away from the busyness of the world. It’s a miniretreat. It’s a place to focus my thoughts on things above, to worship. .”(Marcus Goodyear, The wisdom to distinguish)

However Ingersoll does not share the same opinion concerning the need of church. “I am an Agnostic…I believe in a higher power…I don’t believe in God in a sense of Christian churches” Ingersoll said. He believes there is something that created and controls the world. On the other hand he believes that there are certain things in the Bible that are true and there are others that are lies.”It is true that Jesus came and helped people…but it is false that Jesus is the son of God”, said Ingersoll. He does not believe that Jesus walked on the water. The miracles which the Bible refers to are unconceivable for him. He does not understand how come that Bible a Holy Book encapsulates impossible actions, performed by humans.”Why it is that, man is not being eaten by whale and come out again” asked Ingersoll. “For example the Bible says that “Jonas” was eaten by a whale and then came out afterward…for me that is impossible” Said Ingersoll.

Today Ingersoll is more worried about his course, friends and being nice to everybody.AS long as he does not hurt or offend anybody, he is practicing good action. He does not need church to help him guide his life. He is not at all concerned about the churches on campus of Bridgewater State College, because his position today does not match their requirements. Ingersoll believes that instead of church on campus there should be other institutions which would help him have success in his studies.