Spirituality and Character in Fraternities...

[DSTRen13]

Some of the Christian organizations seem to have more of an "attitude" about it than others. I think as long as you handle it well, it shouldn't be an issue. But there was an incident on my undergrad campus where a member of a Christian sorority was asked by a member of an NPC sorority about the significance of the label, noting that her sorority was founded on Christian principles as well. The Christian sorority member's response was "The difference is we don't drink and we don't have sex." Um ... yeah. Nice.

[BlueNYC2]

Originally Posted by BYXEagle

This brings up an issue I have wondered about. Many Christian fraternities have caught flack from regular fraternities for calling themselves Christian. Many fraternities say well we are built on Christian beliefs which is completely true. My response though is if you are offended by the fact you are Christian and we refer to ourselves as a Christian fraternity, then act like it. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. So I have a kinda side question to this one. If you are Christian and in a regular GLO do you have a problem wearing a shirt that has questionable content on it.

well i cant comment for the other orgs...but Phi Beta Sigma does was founded on christian principles, but that by no means makes us a christian fraternity. we are a social fraternity. we have members of all faiths.

[Corsulian]

While it is not wrong to consider those shirts and slogans ill toward the overall image of a sacred organization, it also should not be construed as malicious or anti-religious. Christianity does say that what comes out of the mouth is born from the heart--and all expressions, including shirts, would likely be included in that idea. Pretty much all the other religions have the same idea. But someone who doesn't follow this probably shouldn't be considered evil.

Many (most?) members of Fraternity & Sorority Life do not join because of the creeds or oaths. They join because of the social aspect presented to them--that's how most organizations rush. Even rule-full sororities tend to have girls just go around talking to sisters. What do those sisters say? They say what they do--what's fun about the sorority--not usually the incredible power of everlasting principles to live by and enforce between each other.

Most college students are not inclined to limit the freedom of speech or expression in any way and often enjoy testing its limits. Any effort to tell a fraternity that the "Rush XYZ--We Like It On Top" or whatever is contrary to the principles will likely not work. Calmly asking them not to do it--50/50.

Ignoring the Fraternity & Sorority Life side of it, I'd chalk it up to someone seeing a TV show he or she doesn't like it because it's offensive. Then don't watch it. Everyone is offended by something.

One the Fraternity & Sorority Life side of it, they're having some fun. They don't mean any harm. Educate them--they'll learn eventually.

Few people join our organizations because we preach to them--they join because they want to have fun and have a great experience. Things like the character of the organization being threatened--these are things alumni and alumnae are concerned with.

Our principles, creeds, etc. are indeed sacred and important as are the values of any religion or organization--but they're never going to be 100% followed by 100% of the members. We wouldn't need each other or our organizations if people were like that.

[BYXEagle]

Well i don't know about all the Christian fraternities. I know at BYX you have to be of legal age and not a pledge. You can't drink wearing your letters or if you are an officer. I don't make it a big issue the Christian fraternity thing. I do have a problem with other fraternities that don't act Christian getting offended by the Christian fraternity thing. You are right for the most part the Christian fraternities don't compete for the same guys that regular fraternities compete for. I know usually we don't rush the same times regular fraternites do, because we just don't really do it. Vanderbilt BYX has done it and done it successfully. They have led all fraternities in recruitment for 2 years. The way I see it, is that there is no reason that there aren't enough guys rushing for everyone. I just have a hard time understanding why so many regular fraternities attack Christian fraternities etc.

[Kevin]

BYX, if you want to know, please see my earlier comments regarding the fact that many if not most of us are goody-two-shoes much like you.

The drinking in letters thing has zero to do with Christianity, btw.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by BYXEagle

I do have a problem with other fraternities that don't act Christian getting offended by the Christian fraternity thing. . . . I just have a hard time understanding why so many regular fraternities attack Christian fraternities etc.

In addition to what Kevin said above, with which I agree, I think you may have inadvertently hit on part of the reason yourself.

I've had no firsthand experience with BYX, so please don't take this as criticism of your org. The "Christian" fraternities and organizations that I have been exposed to, however, have represented a fairly narrow slice of Christianity -- specifically, the conservative, more fundamentalist slice. They did not have wide appeal for mainline Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, etc. Yet more than once, I ran into the attitude that if one did not embrace their specific manifestation of Christianity, both in belief and behavior, one was not really Christian.

Frankly, that experience makes me wonder what you mean by "other fraternities that don't act Christian." I also wonder if what you consider not acting Christian would match up with I consider not acting Christian.

Rightly or wrongly, perhaps some see an implicit assertion just by the existence of "Christian fraternities" that one cannot be in a "regular fraternity" if one is "really Christian."

[DaemonSeid]

A student renounces his letters because he believes that Greekdom takes away from being spiritual

http://www.bet.com/News/GreekLifeGod...ionUnpublished

[MysticCat]

^^^^ The article mentions Minister Fred Hatchett. Many here at GC remember him all too well.

[BlueNYC2]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

A student renounces his letters because he believes that Greekdom takes away from being spiritual

http://www.bet.com/News/GreekLifeGod...ionUnpublished

man, that dude was weak, thats all. and i hate when people confuse spirituality with religion. they are two TOTALLY different things. you can be spiritual with out being religious.

[owlie33]

Originally Posted by elwoodpfiggs

IWhat do you think? I'd particuarly like to hear from some Kappa Sigs about this. "The star and cresent shall not be worn by any man," right? Our creed says we are to be gentlemen and men of God. Do we still believe this, or is it time to change the creed? Is it time to put a new character education program in place?

If you say you believe something, it's time to turn those values into action! This may mean being more discerning while selecting members, better member education or maybe just a shift in chapter programming.

[AstroBJJ]

It is true that many organizations were founded on some religon and that some things these organizations participate in (creating lude t shirts) are not kosher with the religon. In my opinion, it is just a t shirt. My chapter has never created any t shirts with anything that could be considered bad on them. However it's a buncha college students creating t shirts, of course theyre gonna be somewhat questionable. If chapters want to create t shirts that make themselves look like idiots, then fine, they can do whatevr they want. Also keep in mind that most of these organizations were found over 100 years ago. Times were differant then. Religon was differant then. Many fraternities had racist clauses in them. It was a differant time. Keep that in mind. Mike.