Why is Ritual secret?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by tri deezy

I think we keep it secret because it's fun that way. If it gets out, so what? It's really just not that big a deal if other people know.

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't want any part of my ritual getting out.

I'd wager that you are in the majority -- the large majority.

Also, I think it's kind of odd when people say things like "only Tri Deltas can possibly understand the true meaning, even if other people read the ritual."

I think what people mean when they say that is this:

Originally Posted by AXiDTrish

My ritual is important to me because I've lived it.

In other words, if you haven't experienced fraternity/sorority life in the context of that specific ritual and tried to live out the ritual, then the ritual is merely words on a page and has no deeper meaning.

Originally Posted by AXiDTrish

I think it's important to note that many rituals, initiation, etc weren't always secretive. Much of our (social Greeks) information was published for members and non-members to read. There are songs that included much of our rituals as well. If you are lucky enough to locate books from the turn of the century you can find information that is now considered secretive. I've seen a few of these books, Tri Delt, Chi Omega...about 4 others. Oddly, I found out I know which sorority tried to absorb mine - TWICE - because they published it.

I'm not sure that the latter example is ritual, though. It's certainly true, however, that in some groups there have been shifts over the years in what is considered secret. It's also true that publications for public consumption might give "clues" about a group's ritual. That said, as far as I know, except among the non-secret groups like DU, the essentials of the ritual have always been kept secret by most groups.

Plus, they're all pretty similar anyways. Not necessarily the theatrics of the rituals, but the words and the meanings and the symbolism are definitely comparable.

And how do you know that?