Large differences in “hookup culture” between Catholic/Secular college students and Evangelical ones

The Aquila Report ^ | 27 November 2013 | Troy Gibson

[Gamecock]

Dr. Donna Freitas, perhaps the nation’s leading expert on university hookup culture, has being doing research among college students and on college campuses regarding sex, the hookup culture, and student religiosity for several years.  She has produced many scholarly publications and studies.  One consistent finding she has observed is that evangelical college students are significantly less likely to hookup than any of their counterparts (Catholic or secular).  Why?  An excerpt from an interview:

The attitudes toward sexuality on evangelical campuses were remarkably different from everywhere else. Everyone is struggling with sex, but they do it in very different ways.

It’s impossible on an evangelical campus to have a conversation about sex without also talking about faith. This is simply because, at evangelical campuses, the Christian tradition stands at the very center of who the students are. Every decision is made by consulting that core identity. They don’t think about sex except in light of their faith. It’s just who they are: they are Christians. For these students, you cannot even think about choosing your major without consulting your faith. This is empowering, in many ways. These students have a strong sense of who they are, and where to go for advice. Most of the time, this is really great. But with regard to sex, it can be exceedingly stressful.

The opposite is true of all the other campuses I visited for the study, and it holds true even for the forty-five or so other campuses I have visited since the book was published. Whereas evangelicals cannot think about their sex liveswithout religion, students at secular or Catholic institutions cannot think about their sex lives with religion. The notion that religion would have anything important or useful to say to them about sexual decision-making is almost impossible to take seriously.

She also finds this:

• Those who hookup are mentally and emotionally worse off
• Students in general feel trapped when it comes to the hookup culture.  They know something isn’t right, healthy, but have a hard time pointing to solutions.  “I would say that, across the board, students were unhappy with attitudes toward sex on their campus, unhappy with the level of conversation on campus about sex, and either alienated from their faith tradition with regard to sex or feeling incredibly pressured, as though the stakes set for them are far too high to manage. “
• She also found that while students at non-evangelical campuses have dispensed with dating and are heavily sexually active, they also express a strong desire that religion be used to help them make sense of their sexuality and make it healthier, as is practiced among evangelical schools (that’s obviously hard to do in secular universities).

Why such strong differences between evangelicals and Catholics?  From another summary of her work:

The only exception Freitas found to the “hook-up” culture was at evangelical colleges: “Life at an evangelical school is, in a sense, enclosed by the Christian faith in a manner suggestive of what sociologist of religion Peter Berger calls the ‘sacred canopy.’” Like the moral communities that Burdette and her colleagues identify, Freitas discovered that “evangelical campus culture is religiously infused on every level.” Students who attend evangelical schools tend to expect that their peers are Christian, attend church, study the Bible, and pray often. Within evangelical student campus culture, the focus is on courtship and marriage while emphasizing chastity. Freitas says that “a quest for purity and chastity reigns supreme on these campuses.”

In contrast, when Freitas talked with students on Catholic campuses, she found a general sense of apathy toward the Catholic faith and its teachings on sexuality. Many responded with laughter, noting the “impractical,” “unrealistic,” and “archaic” nature of the Catholic teaching on contraception and pre marital sex. Unlike evangelical students, many Catholic students enter college without a strong foundation in Scripture, and many lack knowledge of Catholic moral teachings. While many evangelical students have a lifetime of Bible camps and strong Christian schools, few Catholic students bring a similarly strong catechetical background with them to college. Weakened teaching in theology or Scripture at the Catholic elementary and high school levels have left many Catholic young people ill-equipped to deal with the culture that greets them on a Catholic campus. And while this does not excuse the problems on Catholic campuses, it is clear that evangelical students arrive on campus much more biblically aware—and better-prepared theologically and scripturally—than most Catholic students are when they arrive on campus.

From another study (cited below*), we find that religious feelings are not an important factor in sexual purity among college students.  What appears to matter is religious practice and teachings (spiritual disciplines).

I would also just like to point out, by way of encouragement, to evangelical parents a major implication of her research.  Biblical Christianity works.  To a significant degree, spiritual discipline and diligence by parents and churches in inculcating Christian teaching and practice among their youth is used by God to produce greater purity (and happiness).  Apparently, there is empirical truth to the proverb (Prov. 22:6): Train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it later in life.

*Penhollow, T., Yoiung, M., & Bailey, W. (2007).  Relationship between Religiosity and Hooking Up Behavior.  American Journal of Health Education, 38(6), 338+.

Troy Gibson is a Political Science Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, specializing in Religion and Politics in America. He attends Woodland Presbyterian Church (PCA) with his wife, Natalie, and three children, Caleb, Noah, and Sarah Ann.

[CynicalBear]

Oh my. Looks like Evangelicals take their faith seriously per that study. A good witness for sure.

[metmom]

Same for their voting patterns, but that all keeps getting dismissed by those who don’t want to hear.

[outofsalt]

I think they worry it might lead to dancing.

[CynicalBear]

>> I think they worry it might lead to dancing.<<

LOL And heaven forbid they dance naked like Daniel did.

[CynicalBear]

Oops, that was David not Daniel. My bad.

[HarleyD]

Freitas discovered that “evangelical campus culture is religiously infused on every level.” Students who attend evangelical schools tend to expect that their peers are Christian, attend church, study the Bible, and pray often. Within evangelical student campus culture, the focus is on courtship and marriage while emphasizing chastity. Freitas says that “a quest for purity and chastity reigns supreme on these campuses.”

I haven't read the entire article but I would also suggest that Christians at secular universities have similar views as those at evangelical universities. Hmmmmmmm....I wonder why??? ;O)

[ToastedHead]

These are Catholic KIDS we’re talking about, when they first go away to college. I was an idiot too. The heartache the hookup culture caused is what brought me back to the Church.

[Campion]

Certain Roman Catholic schools. Nor really Catholic.

Everyone already knows that. Take it up with the Cardinal Newman Society, www.cardinalnewmansociety.org.

Should those schools be disciplined? In some cases, heck yes. I don't get to make that call, though. The only call I can make is where to send my kid and my money. So far, one kid went to Steubenville and the other is at University of Dallas. Both are on the CNS recommended colleges list.

[Campion]

Personally, I’ve got my fingers crossed for Christendom (he does, too, BTW). It’s a small school, but they are doing things right down there. It seems to attract the kind of girls that know how to say “NO,” and the kind of boys that respect those kinds of girls. Do some get around the rules? Oh, I imagine they certainly do. But the school doesn’t have to encourage it, nor do they have to make it easy for them, and Christendom doesn’t.

I doubt there's very much "getting around the rules" at Christendom. Too small, and too serious about the faith. A friend sent his daughter there; from his description, it sounds like where the Waltons would send their kids, if they were Catholic.

[Campion]

Ironically, some secular universities have a much stronger Catholic student life than some so-called "Catholic" ones, too.

I know the chaplain at Vanderbilt personally; he's doing great things. Illinois and Texas A&M have a very good reputation. They even have a "Catholic dorm" (not university housing, obviously) at Illinois so kids can escape the evil and debauchery of a regular dorm.

[metmom]

Good to know — I wondered about the article being honest.

And how does anecdotal evidence about one school verify whether the article and author were honest?

Oh, I get it. If it makes the RCC look bad, it's not honest.

[VermiciousKnid]

Oh, I agree! When I went down there to visit, I got the distinct impression that the number of rule breakers was vanishingly small. (My son will fit right in; he’s a pretty straight arrow.) Still, I was and am hesitant to declare that there is NO rule-breaking.

Please pray for my son. We really are hoping his application is accepted.

Regards and Happy Thanksgiving!

[arderkrag]

You can find plenty of people defending it with a simple google search.

Example: "rhythm method" site:freerepublic.com

And nothing man does interferes with the natural order. We and everything we do and create are part of the natural order.

[Campion]

I think the article is completely honest, about those schools the author studied. Those results don't necessarily extrapolate to all Catholic colleges, or faithful Catholic colleges (using the CNS list as my operational definition of "faithful").

Oh, I get it. If it makes the RCC look bad, it's not honest.

One thing's for sure. If it makes the RCC look bad, we can depend on the FR anti-Catholic contingent to post it within minutes.

[metmom]

One thing's for sure. If it makes the RCC look bad, we can depend on the FR anti-Catholic contingent to post it within minutes.

It's a good thing CATHOLICS never do that about Protestantism.

Must be great to be perfect enough to cast the first stone.

[Campion]

It's a good thing CATHOLICS never do that about Protestantism.

Maybe all of us should take a break over the Christmas season from that kind of behavior, which isn't particularly Christian, IMO.

[Elsie]

I wish the author defined what a Catholic University is.

Are there a LOT of MORMON universities?

Or just one: BYU?

---

What is your church doing to help the male to stay true?

 

---

---

---

"All of this should be conveyed without having priesthood leaders focus upon intimate matters which are a part of husband and wife relationships. Skillful interviewing and counseling can occur without discussion of clinical details by placing firm responsibility on individual members of the Church to put their lives in order before exercising the privilege of entering a house of the Lord. The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice. If a person is engaged in a practice which troubles him enough to ask about it, he should discontinue it."
- Official Declaration of the First Presidency of the Church, January 5th, 1982

---

"Prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation. It induces feelings of guilt and shame. It is detrimental to spirituality. It indicates slavery to the flesh, not that mastery of it and the growth toward godhood which is the object of our mortal life. Our modern prophet has indicated that no young man should be called on a mission who is not free from this practice. What is more, it too often leads to grievous sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality. For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation-practiced with another person of the same sex and thence into total homosexuality...."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Pages 77-79, 81-82

---

"Among the most common sexual sins our young people commit are necking and petting. Not only do these improper relations often lead to fornication, [unwed] pregnancy, and abortions - all ugly sins - but in and of themselves they are pernicious evils, and it is often difficult for youth to distinguish where one ends and another begins. They awaken lust and stir evil thoughts and sex desires. They are but parts of the whole family of related sins and indiscretions. Almost like twins, 'petting' and fornication are alike."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, page 65

---

"Also far-reaching is the effect of the loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle."
- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, page 196

---

"And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth." (Genesis 4:9-14.) That was true of murder. It is also true of illicit sex, which, of course, includes all petting, fornication, adultery, homosexual acts, and all other perversions. The Lord may say to offenders, as He did to Cain, "What hast thou done?" The children thus conceived make damning charges against you; the companions who have been frustrated and violated condemn you; the body that has been defiled cries out against you; the spirit which has been dwarfed convicts you. You will have difficulty throughout the ages in totally forgiving yourself."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU Speech January 5, 1965. Often-used quote still used today in LDS seminary classes.

---

"I do not find in the Bible the modern terms "petting" nor "homosexuality," yet I found numerous scriptures which forbade such acts under by whatever names they might be called. I could not find the term "homosexuality," but I did find numerous places where the Lord condemned such a practice with such vigor that even the death penalty was assessed."
- Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, "Love Versus Lust", BYU Speech January 5, 1965

---

"If adultery or fornication justified the death penalty in the old days, and still in Christ's day, is the sin any less today because the laws of the land do not assess the death penalty for it? Is the act less grievous? There must be a washing, a purging, a changing of attitudes, a correcting of appraisals, a strengthening toward self-mastery. There must be many prayers, and volumes of tears. There must be an inner conviction giving to the sin its full diabolical weight. There must be increased devotion and much thought and study. And this takes energy and time and often is accompanied with sore embarrassment, heavy deprivations and deep trials, even if indeed one is not excommunicated from the Church, losing all spiritual blessings."
-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Page 155

---

"How like the mistletoe is immorality. The killer plant starts with a sticky sweet berry. Little indiscretions are the berries -- indiscretions like sex thoughts sex discussions, passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing with every exercise. The full-grown plant is petting and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for, in time it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies with its host."
- Apostle Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference Address, April 1, 1967.

[Elsie]

KSU was wild place! (70’s)

I'd say so!!

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the university was known internationally for its student activism in opposition to US involvement in the Vietnam war, due mainly to the events of May 4, 1970. -- WIKI

[Elsie]

No. I really suspect that we’ll get FR Catholics discounting the study for one reason or another. It mattereth not; for the OTHER side of the coin will DEFINITELY mention, "But look at all the stuff going on it PROT schools!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[metmom]

I know the chaplain at Vanderbilt personally; he's doing great things. Illinois and Texas A&M have a very good reputation. They even have a "Catholic dorm" (not university housing, obviously) at Illinois so kids can escape the evil and debauchery of a regular dorm.

Even universities like SU have *learning communities* in their dorms that allow for students to avoid a lot of exposure to the typical life of debauchery that most students live.

It's the student's choice, when it gets down to it. The kid raised knowing who he is, what he believes, and WHY he believes it, is far less likely to get sucked in to the hook up, party culture where ever he goes.

Not to mention, that even at SU, there are a large number of Christian and Catholic campus religious groups which are very active and working together. They, along with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, are having quite an impact on the campus. There's a huge outreach going on there now.

Some of SU's latest big name athletes are quite serious about their faith and it's widely known.