Tamika Powell goes to church. The Internet, though, is making it easier for people like herself to keep track of religion without going to a service.

A variety of religion Web sites are making it possible to learn and chat about religion, hear interviews with religious leaders and listen to church services online.

Powell, president of Campus Life Ministries, said she thinks the Internet is one way to reach a diverse population.

“It’s not a substitute for church in any way,” the education graduate student said. “It’s better to be in a place of worship with people that are gathered together instead of spaced out over the Internet.”

Even though Powell doesn’t use the Internet to chat about religion, she uses sites such as www.cathcom.net for checking scriptures or religious topics she is studying.

Cathcom.net has existed for 10 years and receives 100,000 visitors each day. The site offers daily Catholic news, links to Catholic magazines and newspapers, Bible study videos and interviews with celebrities and religious leaders.

“A lot of times the videos and people talking online are speaking about a topic you want to know about, which is a good resource for Christians,” Powell said. “But there are some things you’re supposed to do as a Christian, and that’s what going to church is for.”

The Rev. Randy Knauf of St. John’s Student Parish, 327 M.A.C. Ave., said he doesn’t think the Internet will cause members of his church to stop attending services.

“I think the Internet helps people explore, but it also helps people figure out that they need to be connected to other people,” he said. “Ultimately, we have a need as human beings to actually be with other people.”

Religious studies professor John Greene said using the Internet for religious purposes provides small benefits, but doesn’t compare to the value of going to church or temple.

“In church, there’s a congregation and association of fellow seekers that’s not present in an office or house,” he said. “You can turn the Internet off, but you can’t turn off a church service.”

Greene said even though the Internet is the first place students go when they need information, it doesn’t provide the guidance one can get from a religious figure.

“Speaking to someone who has life experiences and can apply doctrine to a situation can provide someone with guidance,” he said.

Health studies sophomore Sarah Buckhout said using the Internet for religious purposes would be convenient for someone who didn’t have somewhere else to go.

“For me, if I didn’t go to church, a sense of community would be lost,” she said. “But it would definitely be a good thing for people who are timid or have just moved and haven’t found a church yet.

“It’s good for people who need faith in their lives, but have no place to go to get it.”