Within the general public, there is much less variety, as 75 percent identified as Christian, 19 percent as unaffiliated and 5 percent as other religions. The general public study included respondents from a various races, including Asian.

To a few first-generation American students at MSU, this set of data seems to fit the mold.
Computer engineering junior Hoyoung Jung, who identifies as Christian and whose parents immigrated from South Korea, said he believes this information is consistent with what he has seen in his family’s culture.

Jung is among 42 percent of Asian Americans who observe Christianity, and is one of 1,539 Asian undergraduate students at MSU as of fall 2011, according to Pew’s study and MSU’s 2012 Data Digest.

Jung said although Christianity generally is spreading in Korea, the majority of the country does not strongly affiliate with a specific religion.

“I go to Korea every other summer and … my mom’s family doesn’t really believe in (a religion),” Jung said. “(So) I think that … people in Korea aren’t really strong in any beliefs.”

Physiology freshman Justin Chan, who identifies as agnostic and has a Chinese heritage, said his family is more philosophical than religious. He said this is common among people from China, and philosophies such as Confucianism or Taoism provide him with guidance and happiness.

“(It’s like) there is religion, but there’s no, like, higher being,” Chan said. “But it (still) gives you the strength of what kind of person you should be in life.”

From the perspective of journalism sophomore Anya Rath and her experiences in Sigma Sigma Rho, a South Asian interest sorority, she said there are a variety of religious affiliations at MSU.

But Rath, who identifies as Hindu, added too many young students, including herself, strictly identifying with a religion can be difficult.

“(Students are) just trying to figure out their religions, (and) not everyone is complete and can say that they affiliate with something,” Rath said.