ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the trends and patterns in how college students invoke religion in response to death events. The data indicate that for the religiously faithful, religion is a major agent in socializing meaning, values, and social norms. In addition, religion has helped students better understand both death events and the meaning and value of life. For some, this understanding has enabled a greater sense of coherence and order in the face of chaos, trauma, and grief; for others, death events have increased their skepticism of religion. The chapter then ponders life after death, underscoring how the religiously devout use religion as a source of both comfort and empowerment, albeit in different ways and even if empowerment is illusory. Subsequent portions of the chapter focus on patterns among students who are religiously conflicted or else who actively resist religion altogether. Finally, the chapter considers that perhaps religion does not have all the answers to life’s most pressing questions and concerns.
