Corner Post editorial —
Finding religion at Mizzou

by Margaret Haring, posted Dec. 9, 2011

The University of Missouri, along with the greater Columbia area, has a large variety of religious organizations available for students to take advantage of.

MizzouDiversity’s website, offers a useful reference, “MU Guide to Religions.” This is a convenient, educational guide that is meant to inform students and help them find their religious identity and development. This website offers information about religious holidays and accommodations, places of worship, and the religious student organizations that are offered on or near campus.

According to the website, there are religious places of worship available for students who belong to the following religions: Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Interfaith, Islamic, Jewish, or Pagan. There are 24 religious organizations and more than 50 places of worship offered on campus or in the greater Columbia area.

David Kissinger, Mizzou BSU Campus Ministry Intern, believes that college is a crucial time for young adults because students are not only gaining knowledge and experience, but also exploring their own spirituality.

The BSU’s mission statement is: “We extend the gospel's message of truth to collegiates, equip them to discover their giftings and callings, and empower them to grow the Kingdom of God. Simply put, our main goal is to be a resource and service to MU students, to help connect them to a Christian community and to help them grow their relationship with Christ.”

Kissinger thinks that students’ involvement in religious organizations results in friendships.

“Religious organizations help students connect to their faith and take ownership in their own spiritual growth,” Kissinger said.

The options offered on our campus for religious organizations are vast, or at least they are for my Christian area of religion. I can tell by the website that MU cares about every religion forming a community on campus. There are many different denominations within Christianity, and more than 40 campus/student ministries at MU.

I attend the Baptist Student Union (BSU) and think it is an excellent organization. Through the BSU I have met fun, interesting people. The messages that the speakers share always seem to apply to my life. I always learn something new or something I should do differently in my life after I attend BSU.

College is a time of major change, and that is why I think it is beneficial to have so many opportunities for religious involvement within the university. This is the time when students determine the kind of a people they are going to be and what they believe. Having the "rock" of faith can help provide stability and direction.

For me, it is nice to get away from the books and go to the BSU once a week. It helps me get my mind off of school work for a little while and just take a break. Involvement in religious organizations is also a great way to meet other students. I would encourage any student to visit the religious organizations on campus and find one that suits their needs.

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