These campus Christians, many holding graduate degrees, are the first generation of Chinese intellectuals in many decades to openly subscribe to a religion.

Earlier this year, the Christianity Research Team (CRT) set up by Renmin University of China (RUC), after a two-month long investigation on Christian students in Beijing conducted late last year, released a report revealing that among the 12,404 surveyed at 37 colleges and universities, 437 of them identified themselves as Christian, amounting to 3.5 percent.

"Over the past decade, there has been no remarkable growth in numbers," said Chen, a teacher of Art and Literature Theory at RUC who helped conduct the investigation.

But what motivates Chinese university students to turn to Christianity, where does this curiosity come from and what specific purpose does religion serve in the lives of students?

I: "Practical" Christians
In terms of the motivations behind students turning to Christianity, the CRT survey shows that 9.7 percent said, "I hope for God to help me achieve my aspirations."

Zhou Li, a communications senior at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, doesn't deny that his devotion to Christianity is motivated by "demands."

"I actually don't think I'm that religious, I haven't even been baptized," said Zhou.

Zhou's journey began after his electronics business suffered tremendous losses last year, where he watched his savings slowly dwindle away. But what hurt Zhou the most is he "dragged his friends down into water" with him.

Desperate and bankrupt, he looked to Christianity for answers. "From God, I can receive what I need," he said.

Zhou said that before every test, he would pray for a passing grade. And half a year ago, after taking the most difficult exam of his major, he made it through, with a little help.

"All thanks to my prayers to God," he said.

II: Converts
Wang Lin graduated this year from Beijing International Studies University with a bachelor degree in English. She began to explore the religion while a sophomore after finding Christianity through a friend.

After being baptism early this year, Wang feels she benefits much from her beliefs.

Wang said that being a Christian doesn't bring her any tangible rewards, but her attitude and questions about life have changed.

"Before becoming a Christian, if I were to achieve something or get what I wanted, I would feel proud and think I deserved it; if I didn't get what I wanted, I'd complain and think it was unfair," she said, "But now, I humbly accept what comes to me, believing it is a gift from God, and if I don't get what I want, I don't complain, because God has seen my efforts, but chose not to give it to me because he doesn't think it benefits me."

Unlike Zhou, Wang doesn't pray before all her exams.

"If I'm not fully prepared for the exam, I dare not pray. I don't think it's right to pray without making an effort," she said.
"Prayer is just a kind of communication with God, not to use God as a tool," Wang added.

III: Christian by default
According to the CRT survey, 16.8 percent of Christian students come from Christian families, with 44.7 percent from other religious families.

Yu Li, a sophomore at Beijing Foreign Studies University, was born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province of a fourth-generation Christian family.

"My mom took me to church when I was very young. I love church, it's so sacred," she said.

Li Shanshan, a junior from Communication University of China was also born of a Wenzhou Christian family. Compared with Yu, Li was not as willing to follow her mother.

"Before going to college, my mother was always forcing me to go to church. Although I had been there thousands of times, I didn't feel anything while I was there."

But when her uncle suddenly died from an aneurysm three years ago, Li, shocked with grief, began to feel her own mortality. "I had never felt death so close to me," she said.

Laden with bouts of depression and helplessness, Li remembered her mother teaching her how to pray.

"Amazingly, my depression gradually went away after praying," she said.

Li said that her heart is now filled with humility and gratitude, and both her understanding and perspectives on life have changed immensly.

Curious non-Christians
"Since we're all atheists, we think it's kind of weird for him to believe in religion," said Lü Wenjie, one of Zhou's roommates. "But we've also witnessed how it transformed him from a frustrated to an optimistic guy."

Qi Xiaotian, another dorm mate, avoids talking religion with Zhou altogether.

"You know, he is so willing to share his 'harvest' with everyone else. Once he starts, he doesn't stop. I think it's boring and hard to listen to. It's like he's just preaching," said Qi.

"But I'm still happy to see how Zhou changed for better," Qi added.

"Wang Lin is a nice girl. I am always willing to talk to her when I'm down, and she is always so understanding," said Kang Jie, Wang's classmate, "Different from some other Christians, she looks at her religion from a rational angle."

"I am a Party member, and don't believe in religion," said Wang Yuan, roommate of Yu Li, "But I still like to listen to Yu telling stories from the Bible."