A recent study showed that while professors are less religious than other Americans, they are more religiously affiliated than what people perceive.

"There is a perception that the universities are much more secular than the general population," Gregg Roeber, professor of early modern history and religious studies, said.

The Oct. 5 study showed 81 percent of faculty across the nation consider themselves "spiritual beings" and 35.7 percent profess their belief in God.

Sponsored by the Social Science Research Council, the national study polled professors from various academic institutions, including professors from four-year institutions, elite and non-elite doctoral institutions and community colleges. The study showed 35.7 percent of respondents believe in God and have no doubts about those beliefs, while 10 percent described themselves as people who "do not believe in God at all."

Some Penn State professors said they choose to practice spirituality as opposed to religiosity, because spirituality, not organized religion, better suited their personal philosophies.

"I think it's a matter of how one defines those words; I go so far to say there is a difference between institutional religion and individual spirituality," said Lila Corwin Berman, assistant professor of religious studies and history.

Some professors regularly attend weekly worship services and programs at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, said Bob Smith, interim director of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.

The study's authors, Harvard professor Neil Gross and George Mason professor Solon Simmons, speculated that an explanation for college professor's different beliefs may be the result of different fields of study.

About 61 percent of faculty atheists and agnostics work in the fields of psychology and biology. In contrast, 44.4 percent of faculty nurses said to have no doubt of God's existence, according to the study.

Anne Rose, professor of history, religious studies and Jewish studies, said she could see the logic in this theory.

"Your religious or irreligious orientation would probably affect what field you choose," she said.

Some Penn State students acknowledged the importance of discussing religion with their professors on a frequent basis.

"Theology is always good to talk about because you should always be questioning and challenging yourself and the world around you," said Ashley Dolla, a member of the Newman Catholic Student Association.

"Religion can be one of the biggest challenges people face, and any good professor should be challenging you," she added.