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Building Bridges or Holy Huddles? Student Religious Organizations in British Universities

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Title: Building Bridges or Holy Huddles? Student Religious Organizations in British Universities
Language: English
Authors: Kristin Aune (ORCID 0000-0001-5951-9526), Simon Perfect, Ben Ryan
Source: Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2025 18(5):726-739.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Universities, College Students, Student Organizations, Religious Organizations, Social Capital, Sense of Belonging, Friendship, Sense of Community, Social Life, Student Volunteers, Social Justice, Intergroup Relations
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
DOI: 10.1037/dhe0000595
ISSN: 1938-8926
1938-8934
Abstract: Religion is increasingly being understood as an equality and diversity issue in universities, and religious students are central to debates in U.K. universities about freedom of speech and extremism. Yet, there is little qualitative or U.K.-based research on the primary institutional expression of student religiosity, student religious organizations. This study fills the gap. It explores what these organizations do, whether they are public- or private-facing, and what role they play in students' lives. It uses theories of social capital and thematic analysis to analyze data from semistructured interviews with 68 students in six U.K. universities. The article explores tensions between the organizations' focus on building community among members and on building bridges to people outside. It argues that student religious organizations are primarily sources of bonding (intracommunity) social capital; they play important roles in helping students feel at home on campus, creating friendships and strengthening religious identity, especially for minoritized students. To a lesser extent, the societies are also sources of bridging social capital (creating relationships with people outside the group), through volunteering and interfaith work. We argue that faith-sharing can also be considered a form of bridging as much as bonding social capital, challenging previous interpretations which see proselytism primarily as strengthening relationships within the group. The findings highlight the contribution of these organizations and the need for universities to be concerned with their flourishing.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504560
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Building Bridges or Holy Huddles? Student Religious Organizations in British Universities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristin+Aune%22">Kristin Aune</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5951-9526">0000-0001-5951-9526</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Simon+Perfect%22">Simon Perfect</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ben+Ryan%22">Ben Ryan</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Diversity+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Diversity in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 18(5):726-739.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Organizations%22">Student Organizations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Organizations%22">Religious Organizations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Capital%22">Social Capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Belonging%22">Sense of Belonging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Community%22">Sense of Community</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Life%22">Social Life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Volunteers%22">Student Volunteers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Justice%22">Social Justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intergroup+Relations%22">Intergroup Relations</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28Great+Britain%29%22">United Kingdom (Great Britain)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dhe0000595
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Religion is increasingly being understood as an equality and diversity issue in universities, and religious students are central to debates in U.K. universities about freedom of speech and extremism. Yet, there is little qualitative or U.K.-based research on the primary institutional expression of student religiosity, student religious organizations. This study fills the gap. It explores what these organizations do, whether they are public- or private-facing, and what role they play in students' lives. It uses theories of social capital and thematic analysis to analyze data from semistructured interviews with 68 students in six U.K. universities. The article explores tensions between the organizations' focus on building community among members and on building bridges to people outside. It argues that student religious organizations are primarily sources of bonding (intracommunity) social capital; they play important roles in helping students feel at home on campus, creating friendships and strengthening religious identity, especially for minoritized students. To a lesser extent, the societies are also sources of bridging social capital (creating relationships with people outside the group), through volunteering and interfaith work. We argue that faith-sharing can also be considered a form of bridging as much as bonding social capital, challenging previous interpretations which see proselytism primarily as strengthening relationships within the group. The findings highlight the contribution of these organizations and the need for universities to be concerned with their flourishing.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1504560
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        Value: 10.1037/dhe0000595
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 726
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Universities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Organizations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Religious Organizations
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      – SubjectFull: Social Capital
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      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
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      – SubjectFull: Friendship
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      – SubjectFull: Sense of Community
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      – SubjectFull: Social Life
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      – SubjectFull: Student Volunteers
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      – SubjectFull: Social Justice
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      – SubjectFull: Intergroup Relations
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Building Bridges or Holy Huddles? Student Religious Organizations in British Universities
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