Students’ Perceptions of Religious Beliefs as Gained from Jordanian Universities Religious Educational Courses

Abstract

The present study looked at the educational religious beliefs as gained from university courses using a self-reported questionnaire as well as semi-structured interviews. 591 students chosen through stratified random design responded to the questionnaire. 64 students from the study's sample were interviewed. The current study presented evidence to support the identification and comparison of the educational religious perceptions held by the two sets of students from Mu'tah University and Al al-Bayt University. The analysis concluded that religious education courses influenced deeply and with varying degrees students’ perceptions of religious affiliation to a large extent at Al-al Bayt University; nevertheless, it was not the case at Mu'tah. Moreover, the study reported students’ perceptions on religious awareness and religious attitudes as weak. That is, the actualization of making meaning and transferring what they believe into what they act and what they do was relatively unattainable. The study suggested the need for more courses. Hence, the study believed that universities should form the cement holding of society's religiosity together.