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Challenges to the Understanding of God among Traditional Age College Students of Monotheistic Faiths: A Phenomenological Study

Scherger, Steven Patrick
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1427670334

Abstract Details

2015, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration.
This study contributes to the dialogue in the higher education literature on spirituality by describing how traditional-age college students of monotheistic faiths make meaning of a challenge to their conception of God. These students’ experiences were examined in order to address two, identified deficiencies in the literature: a) the neglect of perspectives that assume a supernatural reality; and b) the unintentional suppression of perspectives that view spirituality and religion as being intertwined. Extensive, open-ended interviews were conducted to access the meaning-making processes of eight college students who attend a public university and identify strongly with one of the Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. A phenomenological approach was employed to analyze the students’ meaning-making processes and identify the common essence among their experiences free from assumptions about spirituality found in the literature or held by the investigator. The phenomenological essence of the participants’ experiences was discerned as a disruption to their relationship with God due to their expectations not being met in regards to how divine authority should be exercised. These disruptions precipitated challenges to relationships both inside and outside of their religious communities as participants worked to re-conceptualize God and their relationship with Him. These findings demonstrate the centrality God played in the spiritual experiences and the interrelatedness of spirituality and religion for the participants; and thus, suggest the need for a broader, more inclusive definition of spirituality that accounts for the experiences of naturalists and supernaturalists, and for those who divide and those who join spirituality and religion.
Susan Iverson (Advisor)
215 p.
Higher Education
Higher Education; Spirituality; Religion; College Students; Phenomenology; God

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Scherger, S. P. (2015). Challenges to the Understanding of God among Traditional Age College Students of Monotheistic Faiths: A Phenomenological Study [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1427670334

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Scherger, Steven. Challenges to the Understanding of God among Traditional Age College Students of Monotheistic Faiths: A Phenomenological Study. 2015. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1427670334.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Scherger, Steven. "Challenges to the Understanding of God among Traditional Age College Students of Monotheistic Faiths: A Phenomenological Study." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1427670334

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1427670334
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© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.