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Going to church means heavenly grades?
Filed under: Teens, Day Care & Education, Religion & Spirituality
I'm not sure there could be a worse headline, as far as I'm concerned: "Church Attendance Boosts Student GPA's." Luckily, it's not quite that simple. Researchers did find that going to church affects a teenager's grades, chances of dropping out, and sense of school community as much as whether or not the parents had college degrees, but it's not so much God's work as it is several other, identifiable factors.The reasons for the improved performance include:
- The students have role models they see regularly from multiple generations.
- Parents are more likely to be in touch with the parents of their kids' friends.
- It is more likely that their friends' families will have the same values and expectations as their own.
- They tend toward higher rates of participation in extracurricular activities.
"If we use it to help explain why religious participation has a positive effect on academics," explains Jennifer Glanville, a sociologist at the University of Iowa and one of the scientists who compiled the report, "parents who aren't interested in attending church can consider how to structure their kids' time to allow access to the same beneficial social networks and opportunities religious institutions provide."
All of these factors seem like no-brainers to me, although I'll admit I hadn't actually considered the third reason. It makes sense, though, that if your kids' friends want to do well in school and know right from wrong, it will help your kids keep on the straight and narrow. Once again, though, it shows that it's the parents and community that make all the difference.
Says Glanville: "the act of attending church -- the structure and the social aspects associated with it -- could be more important to educational outcomes than the actual religion." So we don't really need God, we just need each other.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 2)
8-20-2008 @ 6:44PM
Amy said...We DO really need God. How do you think we all got here??? Children who go to church are instilled with Christian morals and values that come from the Bible. Plus, they are surrounded by people who hold those values as well.
Reply
8-20-2008 @ 8:46PM
Uly said...I don't know about you, but *I* got here because my parents enjoyed sex.
It would be interesting to see your argument once this study is replicated for people who attend *other* religious services on a regular basis - observant Jews or Muslims, for example.
8-20-2008 @ 9:26PM
Jenn said...Er....the article says that the effects are the same across "All major religious denominations."
So...#1, it's not the act of attending "church" (which is a Christian-centric term), it's the act of participating in a religious community.
#2, it has nothing to do with "Christian morals" or "the Bible," as the effect is the same if the morals are Jewish or Hindu, or if the book is the Koran.
8-21-2008 @ 7:56AM
ninainindia said...I know how I got here; my parents had sex and created me, it's all biology and had nothing to do with God.
You do not need to be religious to have morals and values or to be a good person. Just by saying that, you judge others which I think is not what your God wants.
8-21-2008 @ 9:16AM
Paul Cyopick said...Despite what the bible thumpers may believe, Christians do not have the monopoly on good morality. It's arrogant and ignorant to assume that one has anything to do with the other. In fact, historically, more people have been killed in the name of religion than for any other reason.
I don't need a religion to tell me how to be a good parent. If you choose to do so, that is your choice, but don't think for a minute that you're a better person or parent than I am, just because I choose not to believe.
8-21-2008 @ 10:10AM
Amy said...I'm definitely not trying to judge anyone else for their beliefs. I'm actually pretty confident if they did the study with other religions they would find similar results. I personally am Christian and take my kids to church. I believe I am raising them better for doing so, which is obvious because I wouldn't do it otherwise. Does that mean I think you're doing the wrong thing? Not for me to judge. I believe God created the world if you choose to believe something else... once again have at it. Bottom line is you surround your family with those who you believe are a good influence. For me it's the members of my church and I was glad to hear the results of the study.
8-20-2008 @ 6:58PM
Sara said...I'm so sorry you fail to recognize this as God's plan. If you participate in His plan then you reap the benefits.
Reply
8-20-2008 @ 10:02PM
Uly said...Oh, I don't know.
I always say that if God had truly wanted me to be religious, then he would not have made me an atheist.
Which... I guess means I *am* following God's plan for my life. All-powerful beings, can't really escape that.
Go me.
8-20-2008 @ 10:37PM
Jenni said...Uly, you just argued yourself out of your atheism. See, this "all-powerful being" does give you the free will to choose not to believe in Him, and by doing so, you are following the path He may see as best for you at this time.
8-20-2008 @ 10:51PM
Uly said...Jenni, have you truly never heard anybody be sarcastic before?
8-21-2008 @ 4:42PM
Uncle Roger said...Um, which God? Jesus, et al? Mohammed? Chtulu? The Flying Spaghetti Monster? Zeus? Thor?
"Religious-service attendance had the same effect across all major denominations, the researchers found."
8-21-2008 @ 5:14PM
Sara said...My God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom power and love,
My God is an AWESOME God!
Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
8-22-2008 @ 12:44AM
Uly said...Wow. Circular reasoning. I'm stunned. Simply stunned, I say.
By the way, Sara - I'm being sarcastic. I'm not actually stunned.
8-22-2008 @ 6:50PM
Sara said...I just wanted to show what positive joy I feel by the presence of God in my life and quote my favorite scripture which really sealed the deal for me. I was an atheist for many years of my life and they were happy, positive and morally lived. But this life I have now...really loving, listening to, and following God-WOW!!! I have piles and piles of reasons to be depressed and go back to Atheism but I live with a tremendous amount of real joy, hope and peace every day. Peace be with you to Uly!
8-20-2008 @ 8:46PM
Jenni said...The thing is, can a non-church going family strive for these same characteristics? Yes. But it is the morals and ethics that create this type of involvement in a family. When you truly adopt a philosophy such as this, be prepared for realizing that what's missing in your life is God.
What I am trying to say, very unsuccesfully, is that by trying to model your lifestyle after a religious family to encourage that high acheivement, you are always going to find that you are missing one component, the most important one.
Reply
8-20-2008 @ 11:20PM
Derek said..."The most important one"
-Cake?
8-21-2008 @ 8:01AM
ninainindia said...You may need God to be good and to be involved in your family but there are also people that don't need something fictional to have this.
8-21-2008 @ 1:22PM
LS said...Recent events in my family's life have caused me to renew what I thought was a done-deal... my quest for "true" spirituality - that spirituality that encompasses me and all that I believe.
Do I really believe in "God"? What is the nature of that God/Goddess? And if so, what path to him/her/it is the correct one. IS there *one* correct path? Do I see that Supreme Being as a divine being with a clipboard, ready to damn me to the fiery pits if I veer from ten special rules? Or is it more of an energetic connectivity between all living things - human, beast, plant?
And, in the midst of all of this searching, how to teach my son right from wrong? Morals, values? Do I really need to say, "Do this because GOD wants you to?" or is it enough to say, "Do this because it's the right thing to do?"
I've come to the conclusion that we can all impart those morals, values, etc., regardless of our religion, or lack thereof.
We run into the problems when we assume that we *cannot* teach those things without a divine presence holding our hands.
Because another basic tenet, that I believe came from the Bible is... God helps those who help themselves. In other words, do it because it's right, not because I told you so.
So (and here's a rarity...), I believe Roger is Right!! It's not the religion that makes good kids, it's families that make good kids. And though that family may or may not be a part of a religion, the family is probably part of an extended group of people that shares moral and ethical values, and watches over the youngsters of the group.
Reply
8-21-2008 @ 2:56PM
SKL said...Religion does not make kids do better in school. Obviously. However, it is typical of Roger that he sees the study's headline as a horrible, terrible revelation. It is something to be celebrated, particularly since most Americans, and particularly most lower-income Americans, are religious and often make church attendance a priority. It is good for our nation that this correlates with high grades.
On the other hand, where a child not only misses the opportunities inherent in church attendance, but also has a parent (like Roger) who overtly teaches disrespect for religion (or at least, for Christianity, the predominant US religion), there's a family starting off on the wrong foot, in my opinion. This is why Roger sees this as bad news. Because it means he is probably not doing his own kids any favors.
I don't entirely agree with the above-stated analysis of why the study results turned out as they did. However, I do agree there is something to be learned by non-religious families from religious ones. And going at it with such a negative approach toward those lucky families is not going to net the positive results you are looking for. But hey, to each his own.
Reply
8-21-2008 @ 3:03PM
the goddess anna said...It's so nice to see your reasoned analysis back here at PD, SKL. I know I've missed it.