Little Problem
 

I received a bid from a fraternity, and I'm extremely interested, but I'm an atheist. I didn't want to tell them, because they formally gave me the bid, and it would have ruined the "mood." But does this really matter?

It depends on the fraternity. If it's Kappa Sigma, then you have to decline a bid. In Kappa Sigma, it is a requirement that you believe in some form of religious deity/higher being. If it's not, then I say go for it. If you're still uncomfortable with it, talk to the president/pledgemaster about it, or it may not be the fraternity for you after all.

I wouldn't use the word athiest...I would use the word "agnostic" when explaining to them.

Athiest is more of a negative connotation and goes way beyond not believing in God....I think of Athiests not only believing in the non-existance of God, but dead and determined that no one else should either.

Agnostic is what more so-called "athiests" are....they just don't believe in any type of religion, and believe that you are born, you live, you die, and that's it. There is nothing wrong with that, if that is what you believe.

That is what makes America beautiful.

As you can see, one sounds alot less intimidating than the other.

Yeah, athiests believe there is no God or anything similar. Agnostics believe in a "higher power".

actually, atheists don't believe in the existance of god, while agnostics don't believe in god, but concede that one could exist.

Um, going by the words themselves, isn't
agnositic "without knowledge" (meaning you can't really make a claim about the existance of God) and atheist "without god/s*" or "without a belief in god/s*" ?

So, it seems to me that, although agnostic may carry a more positive meaning for believers, it's probably actually wrong to regard it as some kind of sort of atheism lite. Some people know that they don't believe in God, and if they don't believe, they probably shouldn't misrepresent that their position. I think a declaration of "agnositicism" would led to a lot of attempts to convince the new member of religious faith, which I think would be super frustrating to an atheist.

If you know you don't believe, original poster, I'd talk it over with the person in charge of new members or ritual. That person will be able to tell you how much the ideals of the fraternity will be at odds with your lack of belief.

My experience as a Catholic in a group that turned out to have a lot of Southern Baptists was that particular religious beliefs didn't come up that much, but that sharing the same general faith made prayers before meals more comfortable than they would have been for any non-Christian.

(*The wikipedia entry indicated it was from ancient Greek, which is why I'm not capitalizing the G.)

i find it admirable that you are taking so seriously what the bid stands for, and the ritual you may experience as a member. if only all pnms(female and male) would do take their pledgeship so seriously!!!

Some of the fraternities have rituals that are more based in scripture than others...this is definately something to disclose to see if the fraternity may have an issue with it.

I agree with the other poster that you are to be well-commended for taking your bid seriously.

I think the "conversion attempt", ever how-slight, will probably happen anyway. As a religious person, I cannot fathom of how anyone can be either, but as an American, I strongly feel that there isn't anything wrong with someone believing as they choose, and I support that right.

It will definately be a call for the fraternity to make, and he may pleasantly discover that they may not have an issue with it.

When most people think of athiests, they instantly think of political radicals..that successfully took prayer out of schools, want to change the pledge, fight every Christmas nativity scene, etc.

I think the PNM would probably be best served avoiding that association..no matter how inaccurate, but that is what people think of when they hear the word.

Obviously that is no fault of the PNM.

Shouldn't GLOs that have a religious requirement (even a general one such as "belief in some form of religious deity/higher being") disclose that fact to the PNMs early in the recruitment process?

I think so, if that's the case. I had no idea that any GLOs had "religious requirements," though...guess you learn something new every day! :)

Another good term you might consider is saying you're "spiritually centered." That can mean you believe in a higher power, or it may not. It's what it means to you.

I guess I'm referring to what KLPDaisy wrote last night:

I did a quick look on the Kappa Sig national website and couldn't find anything that alluded to religious belief in their "About Kappa Sigma" or Motto sections.