[AOII Angel]

Maybe try bringing bits and pieces about the noble aspects of sororities to your parents attention. I'm sure all they know are the sordid details propagated by the media in this country. Did you know that many of the NPC groups are based on Christian ideals? This could reassure them that you won't be drawn from your own Christian roots. Even the non-christian based groups, i.e. Phi Sigma Sigma and the Jewish based sororities, live by rituals that I'm sure would enspire pride in the strictest of Christians. Tell them about all of the community service that takes place in the groups on your campus. Find out the all women's GPA and the all sorority GPA and show them that the average sorority woman does better scholastically than the average female college student. Also, you may want to also point out to them that there are many sorority women who do not drink alcohol or party, (not that there is anything wrong with that!) so if these are problems for them, you can address that too! Let them know that while you embrace your Indian heritage, you also want to experience what it is to be an American college student.

My parents are Non-denominational which is on the same arm as pentecostal, so I understand how strict they can be. Luckily for me, my mother used to know some sorority women when she was in college and actually encouraged my sister and me to rush. Sounds like you need to do some work before you jump into anything.