Going to college often means cutting ties with home and parents — and sometimes with the faith students were raised with.

With the many religious organizations and other activities offered at Iowa State, students have to decide what groups to become involved in and how to prioritize those activities.

The ways students prioritize and incorporate religion into their lives varies depending on the student, said Jim Shirbroun, campus minister at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way.

“I think some students come to college and take a break from organized religion … whether it is a conscious choice or something that happens,” Shirbroun said. “Other students find their faith revitalized for a wide variety of reasons.”

Shirbroun said students’ faith can be revitalized if they look at college as a time when they can truly make their faith their own.

“No longer are mom and dad telling them to go to church,” Shirbroun said. “They start shaping their own theology and belief system.”

Nick Redmond, sophomore in philosophy and religious studies, wakes up at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday and walks to church to practice strumming his guitar with a praise band. At 11:15 a.m., Redmond and the rest of the band play a few songs for the Collegiate Presbyterian Church’s contemporary service and then take their front row seats in a first row pew to listen to the pastor’s sermon.

While growing up, Redmond’s mother frequently attended church services but his father did not. When Redmond came to college, he had to decide whether he wanted to continue practicing the faith in which he was raised.

For Redmond the decision was easy. He is an Ames native and decided to attend services at the same church he went to while growing up. He insisted his decision to go to church was his own choice and his parents did not pressure him.

“[My faith] has given so much to my life,” Redmond said. “I want to help other people experience what I have.”

Bonnie Chan’s decision not to attend church was also an easy one. Chan, a freshman in apparel merchandising, design and production, said she is Lutheran, but has not gone to church since she was 13 years old.

“I just don’t think it is an important part of my life,” Chan said. “I don’t think attending church or practicing my faith is something I need to make me a stronger person or find out who I am.”

At Iowa State, there are nearly 40 religious or spiritual organizations on campus with membership ranging from five to 600 people. The organizations include Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i and Pagan groups.

This year, the Government of the Student Body gave nearly $5,885 to religious-based organizations, according to GSB documents. Only three religious organizations, Campus Crusade for Christ, the Muslim Student Association and Building Relationships with Christ Soteria, received funding.

David Boike, GSB finance director and senior in electrical engineering, said for religious organizations for qualify to receive funding, they cannot have ties to a specific local church and must be open to all students. Students have different reasons for joining a religious organization on campus or attending local church services.

“I think students first come [to church] looking for community and friendship and when they get here, they find a lot of meaning in their religion and they pay attention and accept the challenges that we put forth,” said Crystal Caruana Sullivan, campus minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center, 2210 Lincoln Way.

Sullivan said students look to their religion to find a sense of stability or meaning. With the stress college puts on students, having a belief in something bigger than themselves and a moral system to fall back on can provide them with comfort and meaning, Sullivan said.

Chan said she does not find religion important in her life.

“I choose not to practice my religion mainly because a lot of times religion is very self-defined,” Chan said. “You don’t have to have faith in a deity or higher being, just a faith in something. If you can follow your own morals and have your own rules and implement discipline upon yourself, I don’t see faith as being a big part of who you are or who you should be.”

Shirbroun said he hopes that while students are entering a new stage in their lives, they do not leave their faith behind.

“My hope is that students will re-examine their faith and relationship with God, especially in this time in their lives when so many things are changing around them.”

Mark Heilman, associate pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church, 2228 Lincoln Way said he thinks students view religion similarly to other people.

“I think for the average student, they see religion as something that fills a void,” Heilman said.

Paul Sabino said a relationship with God is similar to other relationships in students’ lives. Sabino is the director of The Salt Company, the college ministry of Cornerstone Church, 56829 Hwy. 30.

“I stress to students that God is more concerned about a relationship with people rather than formal routine practices that most people call religion,” Sabino said.

No matter what a student’s denomination or past religious experience is, Sullivan encourages them to seek out what they know first and take some risks.

“It is risky to walk into a new community and ask how to belong or what you can do,” Sullivan said.