For students searching for spirituality, MSU has more than 40 religious groups students can join.

The organizations, which include a wide variety of faiths, work to help students continue to practice and develop their beliefs, as well as provide social activities.

"This is where you're going to be making a lot of the decisions for the rest of your life," said Curtis Miller, who works with Campus Crusade for Christ. "You're out on your own; this is a time where you can really discover what you believe, what you want to do.

"(Religious groups) give people an opportunity and environment where they can learn - it's not something that's forced on you."

About 400 to 500 students attend Campus Crusade for Christ's weekly meetings, Miller said.

"Even for a lot of people who are seeking things out for the first time, coming and checking groups like this out lets them know different possibilities."

Faith organizations such as The Muslim Students' Association can be the support students need to keep their faith strong, said Hassan Khalil, faculty adviser for the association.

"It gives the students an opportunity to enjoy their culture and heritage and to be able to continue to practice their faith," the electrical and computer engineering professor said. "By working together, those things become much easier than if they were alone."

Jennifer Bloom, president of the Jewish Student Union also is one of about 3,000 students who are part of the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles St.

"It's a place for these students to feel comfortable, somewhere they can be involved and active," said Bloom, a political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore.

For more information on campus religious groups, visit the Web site for MSU's registered student organizations at http://studentlife.msu.edu/activity/orglist.