Christian Belief in the Student "Body": The influence of religious faith status, church affiliation, and theological knowledge
Keywords:
Christian identity, views of body, faith integrationAbstract
This study aimed to describe the influence of religious identity on college student views of their bodies. Data was gathered using the Christian Teachings on the Body Scale to assess how faith status, church affiliation, and knowledge of Christianity impact college students' Christian beliefs about their bodies. The main finding is that student beliefs about the body are positively affected by having religious faith and specific knowledge and understanding of Christian teachings. Church affiliation also impacts belief about the body. Results are discussed relative to Christian theology and anthropology literature describing humans as embodied. The potential implications for integrating Christian faith into university courses in health-related disciplines are also discussed. Faculty teaching at religious universities may use these findings to understand student views of the body and guide students toward Christian views that enhance personal wellness and professional development as image bearers.
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