interesting question indeed LG. *insert lightbulb*

Just to add a bit of insight...
 

I'm a new poster...Hi, all.

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned here, but Althia Collins is a member of Delta Sigma Theta and the former president of Bennett College.

Re: Just to add a bit of insight...
 

When?

Very good point. This was the question in the back of my mind when I found out about this sorority. I already feel a connection with my Muslim sisters; I don't need a sorority atmosphere for that. But then again. you do bring up a good point that maybe they want to feel more unified on a college campus.

I'm wondering if non-Muslims can join even though they're founded by Muslim principles. That will be interesting.

Probably, just as there are many Muslims (myself included) who have joined GLOs founded on Christian principles. The two religions actually have a lot in common.

Okay, sort of off topic...but whaaaaaat? Most MEChAs that I know of really loathe GLOs, and have given LGLOs in particular 1,000 miles of bad road. I couldn't believe this when I saw it!!

But to get back on the topic, I know of several Muslim women who are members of LGLOs, and none of them will wear paraphanelia. One told me that it is because "para" draws attention to a person. Because of this, I was surprised to see that this new sorority will be wearing letters.

I'm muslim, and I've never heard of not wearing para because it "draws" too much attention to ones self. Uhm..it's a personal choice and interpretation they made..

sounds like a legitimate sorority, they just have bad PR..who cares?

I know. I wish more people realized this. :(

This is interesting. I've never heard this either, but I guess I can understand why a Muslim sister may feel that way. I wear para, but that's my choice, like you said.

I'm not Muslim, but I suspect that my more stringent female Muslim friends might think of it as not modest. not IMMODEST....but just less modest than if one didn't wear letters.

I studied Islam for a while...not claiming to be an expert. Islam is as diverse as Christianity in my opinion.

I think basically if there is a realistic comparison You are Correct.

Of course there will be differences in some from on another but, not overall.

Exactly.:)

Re: Re: Just to add a bit of insight...
 

From wha I understand, she was pres. in 2001 and 2002. I'm not very familiar with that campus, but my cousin who's alum said that there was some drama regarding her presidency and her faith.

In my cousin's words, Bennett is Methodist and the powers that be there didn't know Collins was Muslim until after she was hired. After a few behind-the-scences grumblings, some corruption allegations, and a nepotism scandal, she was forced to resign.

Sorry, I wish I knew more about it. :(

Okay, that explains the short tenure.

So would it be a good comparision to say that if you were comparing Christianity and Islam, that Muslimism is as diverse as Protestantism. That as a whole all Protestants are Christians but with in that we are broken into subcatagories of Baptist, Methodist, Lutherian... it just depends on what traditions we hold to (example of tradition... Baptist do not baptize babies where as Methodist "sprinkle" babies within the first few months of birth).

So within the Islam faith, Muslim is the catagory, would there be subcatagories?


I know that this is off topic... sorry. This just seems to be a great place to find better understanding.

I'm not Muslim, so maybe I shouldn't be answering this, but ... there is no such word as "Muslimism". The name of the religion is Islam, the followers of Islam are called Muslims. There are various subcategories of Muslims, such as the Sunni sect (called Sunnis), the Shi'a sect (called Shi'ites), the Sufi sect (called Sufis), etc. These names would be analogous to Christianity in that: The name of the religion is Christianity, the followers of Christianity are called Christians. There are various subcategories of Christians, such as the Catholic sect (called Catholics), the Protestant sect (called Protestants), the Eastern Orthodox sect (called I guess Orthodox Christians), etc. Basically all religions have subcategories of belief and traditions unless they are just really small - and not many missionary religions (Islam, Christianity, Buddhism) stay really small for too long.

Does that sound about right to everyone? I hope it answers the question, at least with regard to terminology ...

^^^:)

Actually, the thread is not about understanding Islam..its about a new Sorority with Islamic priniciples. This wouldnt be the place to understand Islam at all.


OPhiARen3,

Sounds right to me.

:eek: @ the following:

-Muslimism

-the fact that this topic showed the signs of turning into a religious discussion (a topic along with politics that can become extremely heated).

"Actually, the thread is not about understanding Islam..its about a new Sorority with Islamic priniciples. This wouldnt be the place to understand Islam at all."
Hints why I wrote "I know that this is off topic... sorry. This just seems to be a great place to find better understanding. "

As I have noticed, most of GC threads take different paths all through out the discussion... see the Pan-hellenic topic if you don't agree.

I understand that "muslimism" isn't a word... I didn't know the correct term that is why I was asking for some clarity on the topic. I also understand that I cannot even begin to understand Islam, nor its subcatagories in this thread (just like I wouldn't ask anyone to understand Chrisitianity in one thread)... I was just looking for the basics.

The reason I was asking for clarity had to do with the topic because of all the different "rules" or "traditions" that people had never heard of.

OPhiARen3 helped. Thank you. It is hard to find the correct words all the time while posting... especially while posting at work.

I think an Islamic-focused sorority based on Islamic values is a great idea. There are several national Christian-focused sororities, such as Alpha Delta Chi Sorority and Phi Beta Chi Sorority. Since the concept of a religious-focused sorority is not new, it was only a matter of time for an Islamic sorority. I hope they succeed in establishing collegiate chapters! :D

Article Made CNN.com Today
 

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/12/28/muslims.and.greeks.ap/index.html

Hopefully I linked that correctly, I apologize if not. This was on CNN.com today.....The university in question is Syracuse versus University of Kentucky.

Just thought I would share.

The link didn't work, so I just search cnn.com (gamma gamma chi search) and came across the article.

My mom actually told me the following, but I wanted to discuss...



Collins, the president and Abdul-Haqq's mother, says Gamma Gamma Chi eventually will take part in campus Rush Weeks and perhaps even join the National Panhellenic Conference, an umbrella group of 26 women's fraternities and sororities.



Now, correct my assumption if I'm wrong, but if they join NPC wouldn't they have to change quite a bit of the "rules" and whatnot? For example, they couldn't just say "we're only taking Muslin girls". Plus, the whole "gamma mail" thing mentioned earlier, wouldn't that be considered hazing? What about making the sisters read the Koran? I mean I know that other chapters were founded based on their religious backgrounds (AEPi being Jewish) but do they (the other ones in NPC) make the girls read the Torah?


Sorry if I kind of sound stupid, but I really don't know the answers to my questions (which is why I'm asking :D)

Just an FYI ASUADPi....AEPi is a fraternity, the sorority is AEPhi

I'm fairly certain things are usually only considered hazing if you (actives) make the new members do it. If the entire sorority reads the Koran, then that isn't hazing any more than the entire sorority having study hours I wouldn't think.

Also, I believe previous articles have stated that they'd be willing to accept non-Muslim women who were willing to uphold the values of the sorority. I don't think this is any different from a Jewish or Christian based sorority.

(didn't see the gamma mail so I can't comment on that)

I understand what you are saying, if everyone is doing it then you are not singling someone out. However, you are incorrect that hazing is making only new members do it. Hazing has a broad definition of anytime someone is made to feel uncomfortable active, alumna, new member or not. At least this is how my chapter was taught to view the definition.

No it's very different.

Jewish sororities aren't religious sororities. Greek rituals often have references to Christian symbols and culture. Jewish GLOs use Jewish references. There is no push to be religious.

I personally don't see the point in a Muslim sorority and how it differentiates from a Muslim RSO, but again if there is the population and demand to support it over time, good for them.

-Rudey

How is it very different?

Why is there no point in a Muslim sorority?

IMO, requiring any reading that isn't directly sorority related is hazing. It's a sorority, not a literature class.

If you're requiring someone read something, it's implicitly saying "this is our point of view. We wish you to adopt it as yours as well."

They are different because Jewish GLOs aren't religious. What didn't you understand?

-Rudey

Nothing now. But what's making the Muslim one 'religious'? Just curious. Is it because they have to learn verses from Quran? I know there are Bible verses that are known/used in the Christian based sororities. I don't know about the Jewish ones so I can't speak on them.

What is a Muslin girl? Is she a quilter or seamstress?:) The group could be a secret undercover quilting guild!!!

Actually I think it is a no harm/no foul situation. If the women don't feel a niche in the current NPC groups, there is nothing wrong with them starting their women's fraternity. They'll be another local or mini-national.

I'm saying the Jewish ones are different. It's not about religion.

The Christian ones are about religion and it seems this Muslim one is too. If they want another outlet for religion, that's fine, but will it ever become big if they can do that through Campus Crusade for Christ or the Muslim Student Union?

So I'm just speaking on the Jewish ones...that's all :)

-Rudey

Gotcha.

What's wrong with Muslim WOMEN having a sisterhood? Last time I checked, most Muslim Student Associations weren't same-sex orgs.

I know there are a lot of religious student organizations that are for women where they discuss female issues and bond or pray for a good man...whatever it is that they do.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this sorority. If I had to bet though, I wouldn't say it would be there in 10 years unless it took a road down prosletizing (for some reason I feel that the Christian sororities will do that). But those are my thoughts and I'm allowed to have them.

-Rudey

No one said you weren't allowed to have your opinion Rudey...Calm down for a second...

As someone is has been a member of Muslim Student Associations for several years now, I can say that there is a need for a place where Muslim women can come together in a same-sex environment. And I personally don't seem them going down the road that you envision, but maybe its because I'm coming from a different perspective.

BTW, I'm still waiting for you to help me sue France.

I'm not flipping out so don't worry.

So why not create a subgroup of MSU that is for women? I'm just wondering why it hasn't been done already.

And I did a google search on how to sue a country and I can't figure it out. Help me help you.

-Rudey

Why have any sororities or fraternities at all? Why not have just a bunch of student orgs?

I don't see any downsides to forming a sorority for Muslim women. There are sororities for practically every other commonality (major, religion, racial/ethnic origin, motherhood, etc.)