Atheists as members?

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
Kappa Sigma did NOT found Chi Omega. Dr. Charles Richardson, a MEMBER of Kappa Sigma and friend of our 4 female founders, helped the ladies form the fraternity and wrote our ritual and constitution.

That is correct - the fraternity as a whole did not found Chi Omega.

[Strongbeauty]

I am baffled. If an organization claims to have Christian principles, then clearly they intended for Christians to be a member of it. Why would someone who does not even believe in God want to be a member of something that goes against that? This is especially true if Christianity is used in the rituals... If someone is willing to violate their own belief system, what makes you think they will uphold the tenets and ideas of the org?

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Strongbeauty
I am baffled. If an organization claims to have Christian principles, then clearly they intended for Christians to be a member of it. Why would someone who does not even believe in God want to be a member of something that goes against that?

It all depends on what is meant by the very vague phrase "Christian principles." Does that mean adherence to distrinctively Christian doctrine? Or does it mean, as it often did in the 19th Century (when many of the "Christian principles" GLOs were founded), values such as loyalty, hope, love, chartity, honesty, etc.?

[shinerbock]

We have an agnostic kid. He gets made fun of constantly. However, I dont really mind taking that kinda person, but if someone was like an openly atheistic God-basher, then yeah, probably not getting in.

[SydneyK]

Originally posted by shinerbock
...but if someone was like an openly atheistic God-basher....

It has always bothered me when people assume that atheism equals "God-bashing" or satanism or something similar.

Just because someone doesn't choose to worship a deity, that doesn't mean that he/she condemns those who do. In my experience, I've found that atheists are more tolerant than Christians, Jews, etc... People who are religious tend to bash those who aren't, not the other way around.

[Erik P Conard]

jus' don't let them there snake handlin' Baptists in...

[enigma_AKA]

Originally posted by Strongbeauty
I am baffled. If an organization claims to have Christian principles, then clearly they intended for Christians to be a member of it. Why would someone who does not even believe in God want to be a member of something that goes against that? This is especially true if Christianity is used in the rituals... If someone is willing to violate their own belief system, what makes you think they will uphold the tenets and ideas of the org?

So, if you're a non-believer or one that just doesn't believe in say--Jesus being the Messiah or baptism being a neccessary part of salvation--then you automatically go against the tenets and ideas of the organization? That you don't believe in murder; that you don't believe in 'the golden rule'; that you don't believe in *most of* the Ten Commandments (the moral codes, basically)?

I'm probably asking this to a troll, but athiests still have moral and ethical values; Muslims and Jews, B'hai believers, Buddhists and Hindus have moral and ethical standards as well, but because they aren't Christian they go against the tenets and ideas of the org? That they violate their own belief system? What are these tenets and ideas of the org?

enigma_AKA

[SydneyK]

Originally posted by Strongbeauty
This is especially true if Christianity is used in the rituals...

I forgot my question in regards to this comment...

If someone isn't yet initiated, how do they know to what extent Christianity (or its principles) is in the rituals?

I think our founders would have wanted to accept people with a strong moral compass, not necessarily just spiritual giants. But, I'm just guessing, of course.

[AUDeltaGam]

Originally posted by SydneyK
It has always bothered me when people assume that atheism equals "God-bashing" or satanism or something similar.

I didn't read it as him saying that. He said he didn't mind someone being an athiest, AS LONG as they didn't openly bash God.

Shinerbock, what fraternity are you in?

[KSUViolet06]

Your personal religious beliefs have no bearing over whether or not you will be a good sister.

What I would object to is anyone who finds her religious beliefs superior and puts down the beliefs of others.

[shinerbock]

Yeah thats what I meant. I mean if you're the type of atheist who protests the use of "Under God" in the pledge (AKA Michael Newdow), then yeah, we probably wouldnt be bidding them. But if they respect that those ideals are really important to our fraternity and the huge majority of its members, then I don't see it being an issue.

[Strongbeauty]

Originally posted by enigma_AKA


So, if you're a non-believer or one that just doesn't believe in say--Jesus being the Messiah or baptism being a neccessary part of salvation--then you automatically go against the tenets and ideas of the organization? That you don't believe in murder; that you don't believe in 'the golden rule'; that you don't believe in *most of* the Ten Commandments (the moral codes, basically)?

I'm probably asking this to a troll, but athiests still have moral and ethical values; Muslims and Jews, B'hai believers, Buddhists and Hindus have moral and ethical standards as well, but because they aren't Christian they go against the tenets and ideas of the org? That they violate their own belief system? What are these tenets and ideas of the org?

enigma_AKA

I'm probably asking this to a troll

I am not familiar with the term troll so I will kindly ask you to explain what that means. Furthermore, who said people of other faiths did not have values? I certainly didn't. My point is this... if an organization claims to be founded upon Christian principles, then why would someone who doesn't believe in Christ want to be a part of that. Now that is different from an organization that says we have certain values and principles but does not claim they stem from a particular religion. For instance, if I was to join an org founded on Islamic beliefs and I had to do things that could be even contruded as worshipping Allah (cause clearly my Bible says to shun the appearance of sin), I would not do it. Why? Because I do not serve Allah. That's not to demean anyone, it's just that's not who I serve. Now before you go off about "worshipping" not being a requirement. I have several friends who are Greek and trust if they weren't already in a church, they were by the end of the process. Some even had mandatory Bible studies and such while online.

Now, as far as other people's values. Jewish values and Christian values (as pertaining to the Old Testament, since you brought up the 10 commandments) are very similiar. Buddhist traditions often discuss and encourage peace and unity. This is also seen in Christianity. The question was about someone who is an atheist joining an org with a Christian foundation/values/principles, etc. Even though they have not made it through the process, just the fact that the org chooses to acknowledge and proclaim that means that at some point Jesus will be brought up. If you don't believe their is a God, then you clearly do not believe He had a Son... so again I ask why would you put yourself in that situation and for the org why even bring up Christian principles in the first place if that's not what you want to be known for?

[frathole]

It depends on individual chapter traditions I'm sure.

I got balled at the Scientology house for taking Psych 101.

[kstar]

Originally posted by shinerbock
...if you're the type of atheist who protests the use of "Under God" in the pledge (AKA Michael Newdow)...

Off topic, but my father is the type of Christian who protests the use of "Under G**" and I'm the type of Jew who also protests. Guess what, we were both active and involved members of our respective orgs. Just because someone believes that religion has no place in politics, doesn't mean that they want all religion to be abolished.

On topic: while my house had a Bible study that was open to anyone, it was mainly attended by Baptists. Though, we were known on campus for having a large number of Jewish members. I'm sure we had atheist and agnostic members, though I never went around taking a poll. It simply didn't matter.

[USCTKE]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
we have initiated felons, athiests, agnostics, religious folk, queers, lesbians, porn stars, fruitcakes...we have no "clause."
Character, reputation...important, and even then sometimes we stub our toes.
Open rush, open arms. open minds

lesbians?