Do you....

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by justamom
If you don't agree with your bylaws, your purpose, your motto, whatever -- this is not the group that's right for you.

Well, now we've come full circle. This opens the discussion for Jewish members in a GLO founded on Christian principals or vice versa.

Should an atheist join Sigma Chi?

If anything, it seems like some people are trying to rewrite or put their own interpretaions to the founding values of their respective groups. Of course some are written for more open memberships than others. I KNOW THIS.

I'm not trying to promote ANY form of segragation or discrimination. This debate is an exercise in thinking. On any given day I could argue the counter point. It just so happens that my PERSONAL belief centers on an individual's freedom of choice. We are called a SOCIAL sorority for a reason. Looking to the rush tips thread, I think we need to get past cutting a girl because of her looks/clothes/money/social skills before we tackle this issue.

A Jewish member who knows an organization is founded on Christian principles has to weigh whether or not she'll be comfortable in that group. Same with the atheist and Sigma Chi. If they're willing to compromise their beliefs to go along with the group's bylaws, that's their choice. As a non-Christian who has chosen to be a part of a group founded on Christian principles, I can say that I've yet to find anything about Tri Delta that bothers me, since I'm allowed to frame our Christian principles within my own context. I imagine the Jewish girls in my chapter or the Sigma Chi atheists feel similarly, but of course I can't speak for them.

Tri Delta's non-discrimination policies include this statement: "The members of Delta Delta Delta, assembled in Convention for 50th time in the history of the organization, acknowledge and affirm that Delta Delta Delta, in its selection of members, does not discriminate on any basis other than gender, and expressly will not discriminate on the basis of ethnic heritage, national origin, personal appearance, personal beliefs, race, religion, or sexual orientation."

I don't see how it could be much more simple. Although this clause was not part of our founders' intentions, it is a part of my organization today. As soon as I signed my bid card, I was agreeing to go along with my GLO's rules as long as I was a member.