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Originally Posted by Cube TX
I'm not sure why an atheist would WANT to join an organization that proclaims itself to following a certain faith.
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Follow or adhere to a particular faith... yeah I can see that as an issue - but to follow the ideals/virtues/tennets of a faith that are common to many others... why not? After all they aren't joining because of the faith, but because of the ideals the org. espouses...
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When I was chapter vice-president we had an atheist associate who complained non-stop about our creed and associate ceremony mentioning Jesus and the Bible as ideals. Finally we had to ask him why he would join an organization whose ideals he disagreed with. He was let go because the problem snowballed as he became more upset and personally I was glad to see him go (last I heard he was a huge drug fiend after flunking out of college... have a nice day).
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Funny thing is he might not have had a problem up here, after all we've had many athiests, agnostics, and non-Christians join the Brotherhood ~ basically because we are careful to explain that while our Creed and AM ceremony are based on Christianity, it is the virtues espoused by Jesus and the Bible not the faith the we care more about... you can respect and follow the ideals without following the faith...
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As a Christian would it make sense for me to join an atheist group? Of course not. I think they have their right to exist, so I don't bother them. This is just my view.
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Why wouldn't it make sense? I have no problem joining an atheist group or organization as long as I agree with their goal/work and they don't try to push their belief in no God on me...
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I don't think anyone should be quarantined or banned because of their beliefs, but that person should know what they're getting themselves into before spouting off about "forcing beliefs" on them. No one MADE them decide to join.
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Well that all depends though doesn't it - afterall in the example you brought up the young man didn't seek to join a Christian organization, but rather an organization that looked to and respected Christian virtues as it's guide... if this distinction had been made clear to him and he rejected and disrespected these virtues (regardless of his feelings about the faith) then he obviously didn't belong.
I myself will admit that I have felt uncomfortable with the emphasis that some chapters place the Christian faith (or even a particular denomonation) as the actual message and mission of the Fraternity ~ when really Christianity is only the foundation, not the totality.