ISU students interested in discussing religious information without feeling pressured to believe a certain way have a new club to address their needs. “The Theology Club was started because there were already numerous religion-based groups who are all about worshiping a certain way,” said Angie Chipman, president of the club. “I wanted to start a club where all could discuss and find out about other religions.” Michele Svatos, adviser of the Theology Club, said the club allows interested people to learn about different world religions and religious views. “We aren’t associated with any faith in particular,” said Svatos, assistant professor of philosophy and religious studies. “It’s important to find out about other religions to make a conscious choice about different beliefs.” The club is open to everyone, as long as a few rules are respected, said Chipman, senior in psychology and history. She said one of these rules is that all members must respect the rights and opinions of others. Also, members can’t come to the meetings to recruit or convert members. The goal of the club is to educate people. “If I have educated at least one individual, I will have succeeded with my goal,” Chipman said. Devna Popejoy, member of the Theology Club, said she enjoys the fact that if someone is speaking about a religion, she will have some knowledge on the beliefs of that religion. “Through what I learn in the club, I will know where others are coming from and why they think the way they do,” said Popejoy, senior in child and family services. While growing up in a Presbyterian home, Chipman said she often questioned her faith and didn’t always agree with what she was told in church. “It’s not that I dislike organized religion. It’s just that I don’t like how it has been run in the past few centuries,” Chipman said. “Church tells you how to believe. Many churches tell you if you don’t go their way, you won’t go to heaven.” Chipman said she believes that faith is inside each person; it isn’t a building but a feeling. Popejoy also said people should have their own beliefs. “The club allows people to find out different points of view to gain a deeper knowledge in diversity,” she said. Every meeting will feature a guest speaker to discuss with the group his or her religion for the first part of the meeting, with a group discussion about that religion following. The Theology Club, whose first meeting was held Aug. 30, will meet at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday in the Sloss House. The next meeting, which will be Sept. 13, will discuss the Mormon religion.