Study names U.S. most pious country

The percentage of Americans who practice religion is higher than any other nation of comparable economic standing, according to a recent University study.

The results of the worldwide study show that 44 percent of Americans attend church every day, while only 27 percent of people in Great Britain, 21 percent in France, four percent in Sweden and three in Japan do the same.

Political science Prof. Ronald Inglehart, a researcher at the University's Institute for Social Research, said the United States deviates from the decline of religious observance worldwide. Fifty-three percent of Americans say religion is an important aspect in their lives.

"The basic values are changing as a process of broadening values and social development," Inglehart said. "Churches in Europe are empty and are being turned into museums and hotels."

JOY JACOBS/Daily Engineering junior Derrick Faunce and Business junior Gabriel O'Keefe come out of mass at St. Mary's Parish on Thompson Street.

Inglehart said one hypothesis for the higher percentages of Americans who practice religion is that the United States was founded by those escaping religious prosecution.

Pastor Thomas Firestone at St. Mary's Parish on Thompson Street said his church holds six masses on the weekends with a showing of 500 people per mass. Firestone described religion as "a part of an education."

Firestone said upperclass students attend church with more regularity than first-year students.

"Students begin to mature and begin to understand more about life," Firestone said. "In the education process of U of M, what you learn is what you want out of life. Obviously, the faith issue automatically comes into it."

Rabbi Norman Roman at Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield said members of the congregation become more religious during periods of transition in their life.

"I understand why a lot of college students do not participate in formal activities. I would like to see more people get active," Roman said. "Hopefully, you'll get new insights during this period of searching."

LSA sophomore Rachel Schlenker said Judaism plays an important role in her life at the University. Schlenker said she tries to go to Hillel every Friday night.

"I think that people either go one of two routes," Schlenker said. "They either find religion on their own without the backing of their parents, or they find, since they are no longer in their parents' house, they no longer have to follow the convictions they have been brought up with."

LSA senior Ali Khaleel said it is hard to practice the Islamic faith at the University.

"First and foremost, you're a student," Khaleel said. "Religion gives me security, a wholeness to things. It shows how everything is tied together."

Inglehart said religion is a main focus in many people's lives. Issues such as abortion and euthanasia relate to religious beliefs, he said.

"You can understand people's political preferences knowing their religious preferences," Inglehart said.

He also said that Americans are more interested in issues of cosmic and philosophical importance, such as the future and origins of the universe.

LSA sophomore Ann Oberschulte said students are trying to find an identity through religion. But Oberschulte also said many students can be spiritual without fitting into traditional religious beliefs.

"A lot of people I know who don't practice an organized religion still have spirituality. It's still an important part of their lives," Oberschulte said. "I don't like the whole organization of structured religion, how superficial things are that I've noticed going to church."

Schlenker said her time at Hillel provides the opportunity to reflect on religious convictions.

"It gives me a chance to reconnect with other Jewish people and a chance to pray to God to try to forget the hectic week, even if it's for only a moment," Schlenker said.

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