The Resilience of Religion in American Higher Education

A well-worn, often-told tale of woe. American higher education has been secularized.Religion on campus has declined, died, ordisappeared. Deemed irrelevant, there is no room for the sacred in American colleges and universities.While the idea thatreligionis unwelcome in higher education is often discussed, and uncritically affirmed, John Schmalzbauer andKathleenMahoney directly challenge thisdominantnarrative. The Resilience of Religion in American Higher Education documents a surprising openness to religion in collegiate communities. Schmalzbauer andMahoneydevelop this claim in three areas: academic scholarship, church-related higher education, and student life. They highlight growing interest in the study of religion across the disciplines, as well as a willingness to acknowledge the intellectual relevance of religious commitments. The Resilience of Religion in American Higher Education also reveals how church-related colleges are taking their founding traditions more seriously, even as they embrace religious pluralism. Finally, the volume chronicles the diversification of student religious life, revealing the longevity of campus spirituality. Far from irrelevant, religion matters in higher education. As Schmalzbauer and Mahoney show, religious initiatives lead institutions to engage with cultural diversity and connect spirituality with academic and student life,heightening attention to the sacredon both secular and church-related campuses.