By: Patrick Hall
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)-The University of Arkansas is home to more than 30,000 students, all with different backgrounds, ethnicities, and upbringings.
Although the U of A is a public school, they offer many different resources and outlets to cater to each religious affiliation of students.
The University offers numerous courses in Religious Studies through the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. There are more than 30 course topics that range from entry level to graduate level courses.
“The academic study of religion inevitably requires an interdisciplinary approach in order to understand the critical role which religion plays in different parts of the world and in global affairs.”, says Director of Religious Studies Nikolay Antov. He wants students to be able to recognize other religions here on campus and the school does so by offering multiple courses.
Students are able to earn a minor through the religious study program with 15 credit hours completed upon graduate or they are able to just take one course that might pique their interest.
“Continuous interaction with students and the often-illuminating conversations that I have with them about their understanding of religion and religious identity.”, as Antov adds that this is why he loves his job.
The Director of religious studies also says that it is rewarding to have direct courses for students on campus, but other places can help them enrich their own religion.
According to a study done by the Pew Research Center more than 79% of adults in Arkansas are Christian.
It also showed that less than 10% are Catholic while Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist were each under 2%.
Even though there may not be a strong representation from adults in the state, the University still offers opportunities for people of all religious preferences to find their niche on campus.
The U of A offers more than 35 different religious groups. The “Religious Life on Campus” website allows you to find a group of students who share your faith background.
One of the Church’s on the list is St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. “My experience at St. Thomas Aquinas has been good, it was encouraging to go for the first time and see that a lot of students actually attend Sunday mass regularly.” Says a current freshman and user of the website, Victoria Watson.
She also added that it helped her find a new set of friends that she did not get to see all the time, but it was nice to see them each weekend.
The website allows you to find small group meetings, mission trips, and just regular service times for your respective religion. It can also assist students who are looking for new groups.
“I came here, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and I needed to find a community and BCM was out by the union, and I started playing games with them and never left since” says Jax McCool, a current member of Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
BCM is a campus ministry affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention that brings people together to worship and teach. They have collectives each Monday night at 944 W. Maple St.
With quite a few churches and ministries located on or near W Maple St, including St. Thomas Aquinas, BCM, and the Presbyterian Christian Center most students don’t have to go far to find their faith. Although there is a growing number of students who are getting together to go to church off campus.
“I’ve been raised Presbyterian but when I got to college, I realized the denomination really didn’t matter very much to me because I really identify with being a Christian rather than a denomination of Christianity so now, I currently go to Cross Church Fayetteville.” Says Maddy Terril, a current member of Cross Church and member of the worship team for their Wednesday service.
Cross Church is a Christian church located in Northwest Fayetteville that offers 7 different worships services and events through the week.
Terril who has been a member of the worship team for the last year says, “My experience has been incredible and something I credit much of my success in college to. The first semester of my college experience was so lonely. When I began going to Cross, I immediately was brought in with open arms and was able to create meaningful connections.”
While this church may not be on campus, it is full of students from the University of Arkansas who are able to meet a new group of people who are not students.
“They also offer Public Houses where older members of Cross open their homes for college students to host Bible studies each week.”, says Teril and adds that is not something she has seen anywhere else.
As the student body continues to get bigger there will be more religious variety among campus but for now the University is doing all they can.
“Since the university is a public state school, it is hard to implement each religion, but they do provide many RSO’s to have a space for everyone.” Says Allie Norton and adds she has found many friends from her church.
Along with the website providing more than 35 different groups, the school also has an interfaith calendar that provides students with dates to recognize holy days regardless of which religion they participate in.
This list includes the name of each holiday for the respective religion along with a definition and explanation of the day.