Religion?

[honeychile]

May we put a bottom line on this?

Many years ago, many sororities (and fraternities) were founded upon one religious principle or another. Not all, but many. Those of y'all who have a Baird's Manual only have to read about the founding of these GLOs.

Time went by, and religious boundaries became more blurred. People didn't choose their friends solely by religion, in or outside of the Greek system. At that point, decisions were made within various GLOs to accept members outside of their previous boundaries. My own recruitment story is full of these boundaries!

Many rituals may still retain aspects of their previous heritage, though. Those members who are not comfortable with these aspects need to either accept them, mentally substituting their own beliefs, or work with their Inter-/National organization to change the ritual.

We need to retain some respect for each GLO, though, as this thread is getting entirely too close to ritual.

Thanks for listening - I'm off my soapbox now!

PS: BTW, I was recently at such a discussion within my own sorority. The key word is respect - for both one's own sorority and for the rituals of the others.

[Drolefille]

^^ I think that is what the majority of us were trying to say.

[33girl]

"Christian ideals" do not necessarily mean the same thing as accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah/Son of God. "Christian ideals" is shorthand for the things Jesus taught. That doesn't mean you have to accept him as anything other than a guy who had some lovely ideas. Even people who don't think he's the Messiah still think he existed - i.e. he's not a legend like Paul Bunyan.

Christ is one of our exemplars, and even with that, at no time and nowhere in the member education materials or the ritual do we say "Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the Son of God." We say "many believe him to be the Son of God." Hermes is one of our exemplars too and we don't have weekly meetings to pray to Hermes.

As far as the chapters having Bible study, I've already said that I don't really dig that concept, but apparently in the South it's the rule rather than the exception. However, if you're at a campus where there is ONE sorority who has Bible study and no one else does, I would take that to say that if you're a non-Christian in this group you might not be comfortable.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

"Christian ideals" do not necessarily mean the same thing as accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah/Son of God. "Christian ideals" is shorthand for the things Jesus taught. That doesn't mean you have to accept him as anything other than a guy who had some lovely ideas. Even people who don't think he's the Messiah still think he existed - i.e. he's not a legend like Paul Bunyan.

Christ is one of our exemplars, and even with that, at no time and nowhere in the member education materials or the ritual do we say "Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the Son of God." We say "many believe him to be the Son of God." Hermes is one of our exemplars too and we don't have weekly meetings to pray to Hermes.

As far as the chapters having Bible study, I've already said that I don't really dig that concept, but apparently in the South it's the rule rather than the exception. However, if you're at a campus where there is ONE sorority who has Bible study and no one else does, I would take that to say that if you're a non-Christian in this group you might not be comfortable.

My experience with chapters and bible study is that a group of girls has a bible study they attend and they might announce it and invite others to attend during chapter. I haven't heard of a whole chapter having a bible study (not that I'm saying it doesn't happen, but that exact scenario isn't necessarily the rule). I don't see anything at all wrong with a few sisters inviting others to attend their bible study, or a bible study that is comprised of mostly or all XYZ's, as long as it's clear that attending is optional. (That's always been the experience I've had.)

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

My chapter was largely Catholic and remains so due to the location. I am Baptist. Many of my sisters are Jewish. In fact, I can safely say we had more Jewish women than chapters who had Jewish founders and non-sectarian ritualswhile I was was there. My sorority was founded at a Methodist school by the daughter of a Methodist minister.

Religion was just never an issue except for some of the Jewish girls while I was there and even then it was not in a negative way at all. People respected each other very well.

I'm thinking you went to a Florida school. I went through rush a long time ago and was scared that because I was a Catholic that I would be treated differently. Turned out to be such a silly non-issue. I think that the Florida schools just do not and never have had any religious issues. I do recall that one historically Jewish GLO wanted to colonize at my school and we were bummed out because that very year we had two Phi Beta Kappas, one head cheerleader, and one Homecoming Princess....who were Jewish. We didn't want to lose our pipeline to the top Jewish girls from Miami!!!