Christianity and going Greek?
 

Hello I'm Joe and I have some questions for Christian Greeks. I'm about to graduate high school and have an interest in Masonry and Greek life. Though I'm not really focusing on Greek life or becoming a Mason anytime soon I do have interest in them and a few questions as a Christian

Recently I've ran into some websites and books talking about how Greek Life goes against Christianity.

The most recent book I've seen was The True Alpha and Omega written by Minister Jerrod Smith and Clifton Lucas, ex-members of Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi. Though I haven't been able to get my hand on this book I've watched videos and read quotes and pieces of the book, in which they discuss issues such as hazing, sexual requirements, "witch craft" along with other issues.

While books and websites like this do discuss some real issues I question the morals, reasons, and people who control these websites and write these books. I've noticed that a lot of them seem to put their own personal mistakes they've made with their organizations and apply it to all members and Greek organizations. A lot of them seem to have put their fraternity/sorority above their god and then regret it when they realize it consumes their life and spirit. There's also the motive to make money by reviling the secrets of an organization which once again raises my skepticism of these books and websites. Also while these people on these sites like to say that greeks have an elitist attitude I noticed that they them selves have a "Holier then Thou" attitude when they meet people who challenge or disagree with their views, and they believe that greeks need to be saved again..

Now I'm not asking anyone on here to discuss about hazing, rituals, or any of the secrets of any fraternity or sorority, but I am asking Christian members of Greek Organizations( both BGLO and Non-BGLO) how you feel about books like this and websites like dontgogreek and divinetruth, and what kind (if any) spiritual questions or issues you had when you were thinking about joining and what issues you have had after you joined.

I know this issues has been discussed before but I think my post is different as its asking about peoples personal experiences with becoming greek. If the Admins feel that this thread is too similar to past threads then I understand if it gets locked.

Thank You.

I would think that any GLO now-a-days doesn't really care about the religious preferences (or lack thereof) of it's members. Unless of course the GLO is faith-based. Personally, I have had no issue with Delta Chi and it's policy towards religion (which is that the fraternity has no place being above any religious beliefs of members).

I should of posted that I know for the most point frats/sorors don't really care for its members religion (unless its some crazy religion) as they are not Christian based organizations but I guess my question is more directed towards members of those organizations that are Christians at the same time.

On the sites he's referring to, it's not really the GLO that has the issue. It's the uber-Christians telling people that they're basically worshiping a false idol or placing their faith in something other than God.

I know many people who are able to balance their faith and GLO membership, so I don't put much stock in those sites.

Many members of GLO's have managed to balance their faith with membership in their organizations including but not limited to repeated animal sacrifices, satanic rituals, paganism, physical endurance tests, memorization of meaningless facts, jeopardy tests, gluttony and tic-tac-toe game marathons.

Okay, I tried to be funny...but, seriously!!!
Members come from all faiths.
As long as you are not excessively proselytizing about it or very evangelical about it, you will be fine with your faith.

Speaking from a group where the religion we follow is part of our mission statement, I think for some groups religion would make a big difference.

And that's what bothers me the most. Like I've said before if you look at the history of some of these site owners they all seem to not have that balance when they joined their Frat/Soror and later became radical Christians and now are putting greek life in a false light; which in turn allows other radical Christians and people on the out side to influence current members and future members to share that twisted view of greek life. Its an ever growing web of misinformation( which is something I've noticed to be created when it comes to outside members of "secret societies"). Now I'm not saying greek life is perfect because its not but the men God has used to be a positive influence in my life were for the most part members of the same organization, so why would God be against it and then put positive men who are members of a fraternity to influence me in a positive way? Might I add that all of these men put their organization in its place in their life, they love it but its not their first priority which is God then family, then friends,ect ect then frat.



Anyway I do want to say thank you to every one who has replayed and to those who will

Please don't assume what does/does not play a role in becoming a member of a GLO.

Thank you for correcting me.

Thanks for editing that part.

Also -- it looks like you've read some of the other threads on this topic. I don't think the opinions will be THAT different.

As far as opinions go I'm believe your right but I do still want to hear people's experiences spirituality as far as becoming greek and their spiritual life after joining. I've read some stories where people have became stronger in their faith after joining and others where their fellow church members have chastised them for joining.

As before Thank you.

You've got it right here. You could also add that these radical Christians fail to grasp the meaning and significance of metaphor when it comes to the rituals of fraternities and sororities. (And I would say that, from what I've seen, they also have a somewhat warped view of Scripture.)

Seriously, ignore them. Trust your own experience and the people you have known and who have influenced you.

For my own part, I've never felt any conflict between my own Christian faith and my GLO. To the contrary, I have tended to see the values that my fraternity cherishes as complimentary to my faith. And I've never had anyone suggest to me that I should see any conflict.

Simply put, for me it's never been an issue at all.

Every time I eat a goat cheese salad, I think of all of those goats that I had to sacrifice for Delta. I ate a really good goat cheese salad last night and instantly got on my knees to pray to Fortitude.

All things in moderation. If people feel conflict or as though they are going crazy, it is because they need more balance. That goes for both GLOs and religion.

I guess due to the goat cheese reference, I read the bolded as "Fondue". I had to think for a minute if "fondue" might have been named after some sort of Norse deity. As in Fonduegaard, the goddess of delicious melted cheesse. :p

This is all so cheesy. :p

*budumdum...chhhh....*

Thanks for the reply.

DuckMan: I too am a Christian considering Greek Life. I will be rushing this fall. At first, I was worried not nessecarily about it being against Christianity, but more about it being hard to maintain my faith. I talked to some girls in local sororities who go to church with me, etc. and found that GLO's really don't care at all about your religous beliefs. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do on the off chance you believe it goes against your faith. I still plan on attending church in Seattle like I do where I live now.
I know that sounded confusing, but the whole point of this was to basically thank you. This is exactly the kind of thread I was looking for. If you do decide to go Greek, I wish you the best of luck!

Some GLOs are Christian based or have many references to God. For example, my Fraternity, Kappa Sigma, while historically based in Christianity, is open to people of faith. If you take our public creed, we have references to God and faith.

"The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it. He must be a gentleman... a man of honor and courage... a man of zeal, yet humble... an intelligent man... a man of truth... one who tempers action with wisdom and, above all else, one who walks in the light of God."

I am a spiritual person and have never felt, in my Fraternity, that my spirituality was being turned to a wrong or negative direction. So my advice is follow your intuition and heart. Find a Fraternity that fits your morales and beliefs and you'll be fine :)

Where is that "like" button on GC again?

Thanks for all the replays and I'm glad I've seen that my thread has helped someone.