Being a Christian and wanting to become a member of a frat or sorority
 

Have any of you ever noticed that some Christians are discouraged from becoming members of a fraternity or sorority based on what they "see?" I know it is different when you are on the outside looking in, but some Christians feel that they will compromise their Christianity if they decide to join.

Hi Trebleclef. I completely agree with you about Christians being discouraged by the image that fraternities and sororities have. I am a Christian and at first, I was afraid to join a sorority because I had heard so many negative things about them. However, the more I learned about them and the more I got the know the girls, I realized that it wasn't what I thought. Our sorority functions are basically good clean fun and usually for a charitable cause. I've developed great skills in leadership, social skills and learned how an organization is run. I have also found some awesome girls that I will be friends with for a long time. I have even met many other amazing Christians through the Greek system. I have found that my Christian values have not been corrupted and I am actually stronger. Do any of the Greeks party? Yes, they do, but so do most other college students out there. However, it is not part of the program. It is each person's personal decision as to their moral conduct. I do not drink and my sisters respect me for it. I know many other Christian Greeks that do not drink and uphold their Christian values, while having important roles in their fraternities and sororities. It's a personal choice and I am a Christian before I am an Alpha Gam. There is temptation everywhere whether you are Greek or not--as a Christian, you must be strong and stand your ground. I live according to the Bible and I still am having a great sorority experience. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me. God bless.

That can be somewhat true. However, I think there is a great difference in each person - Greek or non-Greek - in their level of commitment to living a Christian life. I have had Brothers who profess to be Christians, and I do not doubt them...however, they do not take the time to live what some consider to be a "Christian life".

When I pledged, there were 3-4 devoutly Christian Brothers that really stood out from the crowd. These guys were in no means ostracized (sp?) by the other brothers -- they still played intramurals (very well I might add), came to socials, and were involved in every other aspect of Greek life. They also led a weekly Bibly study for Greeks, and promoted attendance and participation in the school's various religious organizations.
These guys were known throughout the Greek, campus and Christian communities as good leaders and excellent role models for other students. However, it seemed that once these guys graduated, the level of comfort some non-Greek devout Christians had with Greeks dramatically decreased.
These Brothers were very much "living for Jesus" everyday...they didn't drink, hook up, cuss, or act like the stereotypical fraternity guy (at least in public...what they did behind closed doors is unknown to me).
So, to answer your questions, I would have to say that if a Christian is afraid to join a fraternity or sorority just because they don't want to "compromise" their Christian beliefs, then that would lead me to think that they don't have much faith in the strenght of their Christian life and commitment to living for the Lord.

If you find a group that helps you fulfill your life's ideals, and with which you can identify and strive to their ideals, I think you find yourself a match. Many of us have a form of religion in our lives. It might depend on how important it is to you. I know that I had fun in college, but I also believed in God and my religion. Don't compromise what you believe, but look for something to enhance that. Fraternities and sororities are something to be looked into and research and not joined lightly.

Hi there -
at least we catholics don't have a problem with it. After all it were monks who invented the beer http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
OK, I am in a German catholic fraternity, but we would definitely fall into the catergory of social fraternity and we have several bishops, cardinals and even one pope on the list of our members!
Can't be all that wrong! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I would have to agree with everything that has been said. There are also a few Christian fraternities/sororities out there.

I just did a quick search on Yahoo! and found this list of a few.

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SilverTurtle

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

While I cannot speak for ALL GREEK Orgs., most are based on Christian or of some religious philosophy. My Preist (Anglican) was a SN. Did not seem to hurt his beleifs in a Christian life.
By the way, a Roman catholic monk also made and found out about the old bubbly! Dom Perignon was his moniker! Sound familiar?

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

this is such an interesting topic! for me it is sort of timely, i find whenever i wear something greek related here at home i get "the look" from just about everyone. today i had my letters on while i was in the mall and noticed a few raised eyebrow looks. last friday i wore a bid day shirt to a church event and i was kinda hurt that no one asked me about it. being part of a christian family my parents were a little hesitant to let me join zta mostly bc of the secrecy involved, etc which they feel is against the Bible. i think if anything my sorority has made my moral/religious views more assured to me that they are what they are and that's what i believe. i think if more people in church communities were curious and open-minded, which doesn't always happen, the greek community and the church community would blend better and possibly be more accepting in cases where it is not.

CHRISTIANS, DO NOT JOIN A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY!!!!!!! WE PLAY FLAG FOOSBALL!!!!! AND EVERYONE KNOWS MAMA SAYS FOOSBALL IS THE DEVIL!!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT CHRISTIANS DONT JOIN. WE ARE THE DEVIL!!!!!!!!
Blaise....... @ south central louisiana stae university

I can't stand judgemental people who think that Greek life and Christianity are mutually exclusive. I had no conflicts between them as an undergrad and I have advised my daughters to avoid any jerk (have you noticed it's usually someone who has no clue about what Greek life is really like?) who makes blanket condemnations like that.
We've taught our kids to avoid control freaks at any cost.

Heya,

I am a Christian, and a member of a sorority. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Everyone else has said everything that I would say, so I am just adding my support. I don't drink and I am still a virgin, and very proud to admit that to my sisters. I'm actually looked up to for it... they didn't dislike me at all for my beliefs. So. If you feel comfortable with a sorority, go for it!

I also agree with everything that was said. Your sorority/fraternity should accept and love you for who you are and should not try to make you change your beliefs or go against them. If they do, it's not the one for you.




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Alpha Chi Omega - Why reach for the top when you're already there?

HAHAHA! I think that's the funniest thing you've said yet TKEmz! But you forgot that fraternities hang out with sororities...and MAMA SAYS GIRLS ARE THE DEVIL TOO!!
BUT I LIKE VICKIE AND VICKIE LIKES ME, AND SHE SHOWED ME HER BOOBIES AND I LIKE THEM TOO!!!!

WB rules! YOU CAN DO IT!!

OMG - Okay I am DYING in here -- this is so freaking hilarious!! Flag foosball.....heeeheeeheeee....omg that is too much! Thanks for a MUCH needed laugh!!

As for you, Carnation, ROFLMBO about Control Freak Aversion - that should be taught in grade school! haaahaaahaaaa!

Thank goodness I am in the confines of home so no one hears me roaring with glee!!!!
A LITTLE levety never hurt anyone especially on this thread!!!!!!! It really helps from a few of the other 10 round bouts!

YAHOO and WHOOPIE DO!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

Okay, let me not get a tiny bit angry, but being Christian and being in a sorority should not conflict at all... if you are turned off by a chapter thats you.... and that chapter. Phi Sigma Sigma was the first sorority to not have a ritual based in scripture, to allow women of all faiths to join in sisterhood. I am proud of that fact. But there are Christian women in my chapter, and some choose to do their own thing for instance, they believe they should drink underage, and if thats their belief, we accept that! I dont mind it one bit, because I really dont drink if Im out. I am a Christian, and I see no problem with the greek system, as long as you are free to do your own thing, and not forced to go anganst your beliefs! I hope this us understandable and not taken the wrong way, its late and I am not in the best state mentally.

<3 Ali

<3We miss you Mike! 10/7/1979 - 6/24/2001<3

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Phi Sigma Sigma - Gamma Gamma
Tau Beta Sigma - Delta Omicron

You are absolutely right Tom.

phi sigma sigma was the first sorority founded in order to allow persons of all faiths to participate in the same greek letter organization. we were fd because 10 friends all wanted to join a sorority but found that they could not join the same one because of differing religious backgounds...just thought i'd mention that...off the soapbox!

ahem... Yah Phi Sig... ahem...

NOT that Im biased or anything! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


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Phi Sigma Sigma - Gamma Gamma
Tau Beta Sigma - Delta Omicron

why thank you silver turtle...i am very proud of phi sig! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I think that's definately something to be proud of! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif


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SilverTurtle

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

I totally agree. I'm in a sorority right now and I never had to compromise my beliefs. Instead my faith got stronger and I got stronger as a person too. As in I learned to resist things which I think is a good aspect. Like I'm known as the girl who doesn't drink and I'm proud of it. Same with one of my other sister she doesn't drink at all being that we both grew up from a christian school all our lives...On top of that she leads a Bible study in our sorority which is pretty awsome! I mean yes we had the shock of our lives when we joined because we saw and heard things out of our little bubble, but I think in the end we got to understand the real world and it's worldly ways. Instead, we're setting an example as Christ commissioned us to be. =]

:)
 

Interesting thread! Thanks for bumping. Although I am not religious, many of my sisters are and have had no problems that I am aware of with Greek Life and Pi Phi conflicting. I think that as long as your morals are a person are established well and your chapter is a true sisterhood or brotherhood, there will always be mutual respect there.

This thread is darn near a decade old. Kudos for using the search feature before you started a new thread, but this seems a bit extreme.

Since it was bumped:

Christians shouldn't join GLOs. For instance, Delta worships Fortitude and sacrifices elephants. Why would a Christian want to be in something like that? Only religions other than Christianity worship false gods and sacrifice animals. Quote me on that.

I.Love.You.

Holy thread necrophilia, Batman!

hahahahahahaha:D

I don't know about other organizations, but most of the symbols and teachings related to Lambda Chi Alpha are based directly on the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. While a lot of our brothers don't live lives that are especially Christ-like (myself included), anytime I've dealt with a prospect that had an interest in Christianity, I've tried to show him that those ideas are what we're based on. Any Christian that is serious about turning ideas into action should at least be open to the idea of going Greek - while not everyone will share your ideas and attitudes about morality, the philanthropies, the charity work, and the acts associated with being a true brother are the most "Christ-like" activities you'll find in any collegiate organization. And yeah, at least on my campus that includes ones with overtly religious themes.

What if you have a prospective member who isn't Christian? Is he welcomed as well?

You can espouse "Christian ideals" without being a professed Christian (the same as you can shout about how much of a Christian you are and really not follow Christian ideals).

The "mainstream" religions have more in common than devote followers of those religions would like to admit. In my opinion, that's because of the common origins of these religions and my opinion that it's really about spirituality and faith-base.

Yeah - we have tons of brothers from other religions, or that are atheists. If I encountered a prospect that was a Christian that's just what I would say, and its just one interpretation of what we stand for.