Religious trends among the university population: a case study

Main Article Content

Pedro de Assis Ribeiro de Oliveira
Roberlei Panasiewicz

Abstract

Religion continues to attract people's attention in the current Brazilian society. Pluralism and religious transit seem to be present in today's market for symbolic  values. Here live affection and disaffection to religious institutions. And specifically in the university environment, how religions are present? Mean something in their lives? This article analyzes the answers of 1446 undergraduate students of PUC-Minas to a questionnaire about their personal and academic life, with focus on the religious dimension of their life. The results are presented in two stages: an overview of religion among university students, and a comparative study of catholic and evangelical youth. Featured topics are: religious affiliation; cycle of religion in biography; education and religious participation; acquisition of knowledge; evaluation of beliefs, prescriptions and leaders; religious diversity and influence on personal and professional life. The analysis emphasyses the appreciation of religion even in secular environment of academia and points the trust in religious leaders as the main link between the students and the religious institution referred to their faith.

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Article Details

How to Cite
OLIVEIRA, Pedro de Assis Ribeiro de; PANASIEWICZ, Roberlei. Religious trends among the university population: a case study. HORIZONTE - Journal of Studies in Theology and Religious Sciences, Belo Horizonte, v. 12, n. 36, p. 1160–1189, 2015. DOI: 10.5752/P.2175-5841.2014v12n36p1160. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucminas.br/horizonte/article/view/P.2175-5841.2014v12n36p1160. Acesso em: 21 nov. 2025.
Section
Artigos/Articles: Dossiê/Dossier
Author Biographies

Pedro de Assis Ribeiro de Oliveira, ISER-ASSESSORIA

Doutor em Sociologia (Louvaina, Bélgica), pesquisador do ISER-Assessoria e do Centro Fé e Política Dom Hélder Câmara, professor aposentado da UFJF e da PUC Minas. País de origem: Brasil

Roberlei Panasiewicz, PUC Minas

Doutor em Ciência da Religião pela Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (2005), Coordenador e Professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Religião da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Religious trends among the university population: a case study