It’s a beautiful Sunday morning. Where are you? Hugging a toilet remembering the great night you had, or are you in your best clothes sitting in a pew praying?

Religion is such a big deal in today’s society, but growing up and being away from home could lead to some students no longer believing.
Religion isn’t for everyone.
Growing up many of us was told to remember our prayers, to remain faithful to God, and to always go to Church on Sunday mornings. Some of us even went to Sunday school. It doesn’t matter what religion you grew up with, now you’re either still religious, in the middle, or you don’t believe at all.
Sophomore Amanda Larabee was raised a Catholic, but as she grew up she strayed away from her beliefs.
“After studying Buddhism in India, I’m leaning more towards that because it is a factual philosophy based on real historical people,” Larabee said. “I believe you can believe in what makes you happiest and the most comfortable.”
According to religions.pewforum.org, nearly one in five men claim that they have no religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.     

Religion may seem like it’s fading as generations get older, but there are still those who have a strong relationship with God.
Jeff Blanchette, a junior, considers himself to still be religious. He says that religion can offer hope in times of trouble, wisdom for difficult times, and a set of values for people to follow.
“Unfortunately, there are people in this world who use religion as an excuse to harm others, and those are the people that make headlines. I would encourage people to look past these judgmental few and see all of the good that can be and has been done by people practicing religion,” Blanchette said.
Though, Blanchette seems to have a strong connection with God, he said it’s “perfectly okay” to not believe.
If you’re not a believer, or an Atheist, then maybe you’re in the middle. You want to believe and God is sometimes on your mind, but you also want to believe in science. There’s nothing wrong with being confused about your beliefs.
It takes time.
Freshman Emma Blaiklock says that she wasn’t raised religious nor does she believe now, but she is very accepting of everyone’s beliefs.
“I went to a Quaker camp while in high school and learned a lot about acceptance, which is how I live my life today,” Blaiklock said.
However, forcing religion onto someone could be chaotic and could hurt both views in the end.  

“It is most certainly not okay to antagonize those who choose not to practice religion, just as it’s not okay to antagonize those who do practice,” Blanchette said. “The golden rule is: do unto others what you would have them do unto you. That, in my opinion, transcends religion, and whether you believe or not, you should follow it.”