Exactly. I'm too busy living my own to worry about others'.

As we ALL should be, IMO...

I don't find visiting other churches to be boring in the slightest! I am fascinated by the opportunity to observe religious rituals of many faiths, especially in foreign countries. There is a great deal to be learned there, even if you don't believe the spiritual aspects of the ritual.

For example, I've attended many Catholic masses, and of course I do not take communion. I'm sure that the experience of Mass is very different for someone who believes in transsubstantiation. But I get a great deal out of it nonetheless. It is literature, it is history, it is sociology, and it helps me to understand the people who ARE believers.

In fact, it seems a little sad to me that a college-educated person would have zero curiosity about literature, music, and poetry that mean a great deal to other people. Respecting privacy is great; I'm not saying anyone should seek out information that is meant only for members. But to really have no interest? If that's true, it's unfortunate IMHO.
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Just to be clear, symbols can have a wide variety of meanings in heraldry; it's all but impossible to say, for example, "a fluer-de-lis means x." Symbols in heraldry are contextual -- what they mean depends on the context of their use.

As a simple example, in French society, a fluer-de-lis was a symbol of the royal house. But in a religious context (even in France), it is a symbol of the Virgin Mary. I'm doubting either of those apply to Kappa Kappa Gamma's or SAE's use of the fluer-de-lis. :D

Likewise with color. I've seen "heraldry guides" that will say things like blue stands for loyalty, white for purity, etc. While that certainly can be the case, in any given usage a color means what those who designed the arms intended it to mean.

It's certainly true that some things lend themselves to obvious associations -- red with blood, for example, or a book with learning and education. But unless it's obvious (the books on the coats-of-arms of Harvard or Oxford, for example), it's usually a mistake to say "this is what this symbol means" in the abstract.

Ha. That's what you think. We do have the Keys to the Kingdom of God after all...

Oh wait, I think I've said too much....

Yeah, that's what I keep telling him! :p

MysticCat, I can't believe you figured out our fleur is related to the Virgin Mary. Perhaps it was the Key to the Kingdom of God that tipped you off. Ha. Yeah, I don't think I could ever spend time trying to guess what things meant for other groups- because for me, they truly would be guesses. Not even the educated kind.

Back in college my husband offered to swap information about his GLO for mine... I said go ahead and tell me yours if you want, but I'm not telling you a damn thing.

From an innate curiosity standpoint, I definitely appreciate other rituals. I'm not going to go find people to tell me or hold glasses up to a door, and it certainly won't mean as much emotionally to me as it would to a member. But I've read a couple of other initiation ceremonies and they were very interesting. One really resonated with me and was absolutely beautiful, and the other didn't quite click with me. But both gave me a better understanding of where they are rooted, and gave me a even more respect for both orgs. From a historical standpoint of representing the founders, their goals, their ideals, their influences- incredible.

It's interesting to think about how membership recruitment works, where you are technically seeking women who will match the foundation of organization and fulfill the ideals of the ritual. Yet the newbie doesn't get the ritual, the foundation, the ideals until initiation. If they hear something they don't like, it's too late. Sure, the basic info is there in bits and pieces. But it's not quite the same. Although don't get me wrong... I love mine and it certainly worked out for me quite well. I wouldn't change the ritual for anything, key to the kingdom with the virgin Mary and all! :D

hah yeah, I know. Otherwise he never would have said anything about symbols in the first place!

All this talk of heraldry has gotten me interested in the meaning behind the arms of the GLO I'm helping colonize next semester (Phi Delt). There's a lot of chivalrous/knightly stuff in it which I find intriguing. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill arms (not to knock anyone else's of course :))

The first time I read the official description of my crest and flag, I kind of went :confused:. heh.

SHIELD: Per Pale Purpure and Sanguine, In Chief a Mullet and a Roman Sword Erect Or, To Base a Cross Couped of the Like Charged with a Lamp of Knowledge Sable Flamed Gules.
CREST: A Ducal Crown Beneath a Demi Glory Or.
MOTTO: Sigma Phi Epsilon.

FLAG
16. The Fraternity flag shall be a field purpure, on a bend sanguine fimbriated or a mullet of the like.

yeah heraldry speak is a bit confusing.

Mullet??? :D

http://whatsontv.co.uk/blogs/tvspy/f...3/macgyver.jpg



In all seriousness, a mullet is a star in heraldry isn't it?

HAHAHA, but yes, it's a heraldic star.

OMG Psi U MC Vito, no! I used to drool over MacGyver when that show first came out - don't you dare insult RDA! He does NOT have a mullet!

Back on topic, I know a little bit of another NPC's ritual, but it's meaningless to me.