Religion and its role in Greek Organizations
 

I'm just curious to hear what others have to say about this issue. It seems to me that the vast majority of Greek Organizations have a close tie to religion. Let me throw out a scenario:

A GLO whose ritual is centered around Christian beliefs and concepts. An athiest/agnostic PNM wants to join. Certainly a conflict of interest. Has anyone encountered this sort of thing? In the everyday operations of your chapter, how big of a role does religion play? Do you pray before chapter meals? Is there an invocation and benediction (non-ritual) at gatherings or meetings?

I am not trying to start a thread where all people do is debate religion, so please don't turn it into that. I am just curious...

ETA: found a link that addresses this exact situation.
http://www.dailyaztec.com/Archive/Cu...ty/city03.html

In my fraternity, while there is mention of a Supreme Being in our rituals and traditions, we do not require a member or pledge to profess any allegiance to any specific religion or creed.

As a Freemason, along with the requirement in applying of my own free will and accord, I was also required to profess a belief in a Supreme Being (whether He is named God, Allah, or whatever the case may be); otherwise the obligations I took to become a Freemason would not have been binding upon myself. In all Masonic lodge meetings and initiations, prayer opens and closes each meeting.

As a Masonic Knight Templar, I took an obligation to defend the Christian religion to the preferment of others.

In the olden days (when my chapter had a traditional fraternity house) it was pretty common to offer Grace before the meal.

While I can only speak for LXA and Masonic Scotish Rite, I think and feel whether a Greek Organization will have some relegious conotation is the norm.

There were several Fraternal Fratenities and Soroities who were Founded under Jewish principles, most were started under Christian principles.

While these two religions were and are predominate there may have been others.

But in this day of Homogonizng, there is inter mingling of thoughts, races, and Ideals.

This is what Greek Organizatios can be in the fore front of doing.:cool:

Here's a question: Should ritual & tradition be changed to accomodate others?

I know several sororities (probably fraternities, too, I just don't know) were founded to be all inclusive, no matter what religion or ethnic origin. Others were founded on religion, others on ethnic origin.

At what point should ritual truly become homogenized? Should our founders be able to recognize the GLO they founded, or not? I'm certainly not pointing fingers, or giving my opinion (at least, at this point). I just thought I'd ask.

honeychile, yuo have raise a very valid point.

But, why should what has been done for things that were founded at a time of Yore have to be changed to accomadate instead of those who feel like joning not not change to belong?

Were/are there not many more before those who may/might want to belong to a certain Organization decide to join or not?

The individual is the one who must decide and then not want to change years of history from what has been done.

LXA over the years has changed many things, Pledging, Hazing, Ritual, Color and other Generes to make it more Politically Correct.


Is there a time to stop and take a stand?

Where does it all stop? Just being a person who is asking a question!:)

Jesus Christ is one of our exemplars, but then again so is Hermes. I don't think anyone thinks we are Hermes worshippers or anything - and everything that's ever talked about Jesus in our member materials says that many see Him as the Messiah, not that He IS the Messiah. Subtle difference, but it's there. I mean Jews don't believe Jesus didn't exist, they just don't believe He was the Messiah. I see using Jesus' words as no different than a quote from Moses or Socrates or anyone else that can apply.

More than ritual, I get very nervous about things like chapter bible study, sectarian prayers before meals etc. That kind of everyday stuff, IMO, goes much farther towards making people uncomfortable. It would be one thing if this was a Christian or Jewish or whatever religion sorority - but if someone joins what they think is a "mainstream" group and then come to find out that all the sisters have Bible study every Tuesday and go to church together every Sunday - even if it's not required, but if they just do it - that can lead to all kinds of problems.

As far as ritual is concerned...if your religion, or lack of same, is very important to you, research the GLOs on your campus before you pledge. If their motto is "Furthering the Christian community and sisterhood" an atheist probably shouldn't join. If it's that important to you, don't go in half-assed and then expect everything to change because it offends you.

I have to agree with Mr. Earp
 

If a particular organization was founded upon certain religious concepts, I don't feel as though that organization is obliged to change it's history (which is perhaps the most valued aspect of a GLO) in order to accomodate a select few. However, referring to the link that I posted above, I don't feel as though a member should ever be forced to compromise his/her own beliefs just to go along with "status quo."

Another perspective to look at is that of the "athiest/agnostic" individual. Should they follow through with ritual which requires them to affirm a belief in a Supreme being for the sake of not being given the boot, or at the least, not being ostracized by the other members?

Any first-hand experiences with this sort of situation?

HPU Pike,

Yes!

I am sure well maybe if Most Greek Organizations do or will not have any member who is being Intitiated in any Greek Organization, Pledge themselfs to a Certain Supreme Being.

While Founded on Certain Tenets, there is flexability.

That is why members are of different races and relegions belong to so many Organizations.

It does seem that some dont beleive that.

Religion
 

Delta Upsilon was founded as a nonsecret nonsectarian organization in 1834, to some extent DU was founded as a protest against secrecy and sectarianism in the secret orders of its day , DU's ritual did have reference to a supreme being in Rite 2 of the initiation ritual, but alternate language, dispensing totally with religion, was allowed by an amendment to the ritual in 1973.
So in sum DU is based more on ethical ideals common to the intellectual ferment of the transendentalist 1830's New England Intellectual Revival than religion.

The Four Ideals of DU are :

Te Advancement of Justice, The Promotion of Friendship,The Development of Character and The Diffusion of Liberal Culture.

aries, I thought you are Canadian?:D

Now, before We all go Waa Waa on on site, just take a deep Breath!:D

The Ideals that were started by Our Founders were for good purposes and beleifs.

Well, they must have beeen, there are many of us still here!;)

I agree with 33girl and ariesrising. As a non-Christian, I view references to Christianity as historical ones. It would bother me much more if my chapter was really into Christianity on a daily basis.

I have to admit that I am bothered by any situation where a belief in God is assumed to be "the default setting" though . . . for example, I would have never known that some fraternities insist that you believe in God in order to be initiated if it was not for GC -- and I doubt that that kind of thing comes up during rush. I feel for any kid who signs his bid card only to find out that in order to join the group he chose he either has to lie or convert ;).

I don't think we should be forced to change our rituals or anything else to accomodate people of all religious beliefs, but it would be nice if none of our members felt uncomfortable during ritual because of their religion or lack thereof.

There are many different GLOs to cater to different needs. I'm not aware of any NIC/NPC/NPHC group that currently has a religious membership requirement. If a non-Christian wants to join a Christian GLO, the GLO is obligated to at least explain that organization's history and culture in a way that is somewhat comforting.

According to a handful of GC members, Kappa Sigma requires a belief in a "higher power" to initiate.

I'm not sure if they're the only ones.

We say prayers at formal meetings. We had a strong Southern Baptist majority and a few catholic kids. If you do not believe in God, I would not judge a person or try to convince them otherwise. We had a few girls that would. I do not think there would be much of a problem objecting to not participating in prayer, but there would be resistence if someone tried to take away the tradition.

Being Catholic, I disagree with saying the endings of the lords prayer at formal meetings. The ending for the Catholic prayer and the one commonly used by protestants is very different. If you stop in the middle of the prayer, people notice and I feel stupid. However, if I have to feel stupid around anyone, my sisters are the best ones to do it around.

Also, our advisor who I love dearly is Jewish- I could not imagine how she felt. I am sure she has thicker skin than I do, growing up Jewish in the bible belt.

I always thought it would be awesome to add a prayer in Hebrew to the program or any other type of religion.

I wonder how many of their chapters actually enforce that rule.