Although college students may be abandoning traditional religious practices, not everyone is abandoning his or her spiritual quests, according to a recent survey by the University of California Los Angeles' Higher Education Research Institute.

Of the 112,232 students polled from 236 colleges and universities, 44 percent called themselves religious, 35 percent said they are "spiritual but not religious" and 18 percent said that they are neither religious nor spiritual.

Penn State religious studies professor Suchismita Sen said students may seek spirituality in their own ways, instead of practicing one particular religion because of a new sense of independence.

"They are just beginning to fashion a sense of self as they wrestle with all the social and emotional issues that are part of the college experience," Sen said.

The study defined spirituality as "believing in the sacredness of life" and "searching for purpose in life."

In the study, religiousness was defined as "praying" and "attending religious services."

Despite additional findings that concluded students who practice a high level of religious engagement are three times more likely to have conservative political beliefs toward abortion and gay marriage, Lila Corwin Berman, professor of religious studies and Jewish studies, said not all religious people are conservative. "Plenty of people in religious communities consider themselves pro-choice and are supportive of gay marriage," Berman said.

Tony Bedora, a campus minister for Christian Student Fellowship, said he believes it is important to practice spirituality on your own as well as in a community.

Bedora said about 20 students are involved with the Christian Student Fellowship's Big Dudes, Little Dudes program.

College students in the program spend time with children from homes with troubled backgrounds and teach them Bible lessons.

"Every religious tradition tries to balance itself along a continuum starting with individual spirituality at one end and extending all the way to a sense of communal identity at the other," Sen said.

The Rev. Matthew Laffey, director of the Penn State Catholic Campus Ministry, said community is one of the most important aspects of the church.

"It's easy to be spiritual on your own; the hard part is coming together. The whole gospel is about community," Laffey said.

Ross Fisher (junior-telecommunications) said he thinks it is important for people to believe in something but he is not religious for scientific reasons.

"I very much believe in science," he said.

"A lot of [religious beliefs] have been proven [wrong], and I'm not one to take things just because they're told.," Fisher added.

Sen said spirituality is a practice that varies from person to person.

"Some people may not use prayer but use contemplation or meditation on their own, not in a very structured way," Sen said.

Amanda Garnett (sophomore-sculpture) said she does not feel that one religion is right and feels most comfortable practicing spirituality through yoga and meditation.

"It's relaxing and helps you organize your thoughts," she said.

Laffey added that a lot of people
turn away from religion because of
negative perceptions of church and organized religion. "Too many people have a picture of church as 'it's a thing I do and I don't want to go there,' " he said.

"But to be together is church, praying together is church, every day life is church."