Parents against sororities....

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by Redraidergirl

well let put it this way... i am Indian. my parents were born there i was born here. they still cling onto the traditional ways while i am more progressive. they are also a kinda of indian christian which is strict, while i am more baptist.

basically i was wondering if anyone else went through something similar [even if not Indian]

A little off topic here, but aren't Indian Christians usually Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox? How is that "more strict" than Baptist? I have both Baptist and Roman Catholic family members and the RC ones are usually LESS conservative.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

A little off topic here, but aren't Indian Christians usually Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox? How is that "more strict" than Baptist? I have both Baptist and Roman Catholic family members and the RC ones are usually LESS conservative.

It's more stict because the Indian part. These families still follow very strict guidelines that American Baptist and Catholics mellowed on a long time ago. I know quite a few Indian Christians who are very progressive, but their parents are not so progressive. One of my friends even got pushed into a disasterous arranged marriage that almost ruined his career. If you ever spoke to him, you'd leave amazed that he ever agreed to having an arranged marriage. It's amazing the kind of pressure parents can put on these first generation Americans. Redraidergirl, I think you need to consider the consequences of your actions should your parents find out. If you are willing to deal with their disapproval and work to prove them wrong, then go for it. If their finding out would ruin your entire life, because their disapproval would destroy you emotionally, think twice about going behind their backs.

[Redraidergirl]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

A little off topic here, but aren't Indian Christians usually Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox? How is that "more strict" than Baptist? I have both Baptist and Roman Catholic family members and the RC ones are usually LESS conservative.

actually my family isn't RC or Eastern Othr. [if that were the case you're right they would be more liberal...]
we're pentecostal, yea the crazy people.... but not as strict as to where i can't cut my hair or wear jeans/pants and stuff.
sorry i meant smirky. but i was really tired and could firgure you how to do it.

[AOII Angel]

Maybe try bringing bits and pieces about the noble aspects of sororities to your parents attention. I'm sure all they know are the sordid details propagated by the media in this country. Did you know that many of the NPC groups are based on Christian ideals? This could reassure them that you won't be drawn from your own Christian roots. Even the non-christian based groups, i.e. Phi Sigma Sigma and the Jewish based sororities, live by rituals that I'm sure would enspire pride in the strictest of Christians. Tell them about all of the community service that takes place in the groups on your campus. Find out the all women's GPA and the all sorority GPA and show them that the average sorority woman does better scholastically than the average female college student. Also, you may want to also point out to them that there are many sorority women who do not drink alcohol or party, (not that there is anything wrong with that!) so if these are problems for them, you can address that too! Let them know that while you embrace your Indian heritage, you also want to experience what it is to be an American college student.

My parents are Non-denominational which is on the same arm as pentecostal, so I understand how strict they can be. Luckily for me, my mother used to know some sorority women when she was in college and actually encouraged my sister and me to rush. Sounds like you need to do some work before you jump into anything.

[Benzgirl]

Every Pentecostal I know is very fundemental. And, most Catholics I know, go to Friday Night mass before they hit Happy Hour.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Every Pentecostal I know is very fundemental. And, most Catholics I know, go to Friday Night mass before they hit Happy Hour.

I agree! I grew up in very Catholic South Louisiana. Any rules the Catholics have, the Pentecostals have plus more. No pants, no short hair, no makeup, no drinking, no rock music, no tv/movies for some sects. I consider that pretty darn strict...I should know, I got grounded for a month in 8th grade after my parents caught me listening to New Kids on the Block!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I agree! I grew up in very Catholic South Louisiana. Any rules the Catholics have, the Pentecostals have plus more. No pants, no short hair, no makeup, no drinking, no rock music, no tv/movies for some sects. I consider that pretty darn strict...I should know, I got grounded for a month in 8th grade after my parents caught me listening to New Kids on the Block!

You said your parents go to a nondenominational church, but they followed the radical sec (or sect?) of "Pentecostalism." Nondenominational is just that...not following a certain denomination. That's interesting to me.

Anyways, that is why I said there are different aspects of Pentecostalism. My church doesn't have those rules, nor do we feel that anyone should follow that.

Just like you have the radical sections of the Pentecostal church, you have the radical sections of the Roman Catholic church. I still think the Catholic church is stricter than the Pentecostal church (of course i'm not including the more "radical" secs).

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by epchick

You said your parents go to a nondenominational church, but they followed the radical sec (or sect?) of "Pentecostalism." Nondenominational is just that...not following a certain denomination. That's interesting to me.

Anyways, that is why I said there are different aspects of Pentecostalism. My church doesn't have those rules, nor do we feel that anyone should follow that.

Just like you have the radical sections of the Pentecostal church, you have the radical sections of the Roman Catholic church. I still think the Catholic church is stricter than the Pentecostal church (of course i'm not including the more "radical" secs).

Actually, the name Non-denominational is a euphemism for Charismatic which has bad connotations. It is the same arm as Pentecostal but much less strict for women (no prohibitions on pants, short hair or makeup.) I grew up hearing people speak in tongues at church, dance in the Spirit and laugh in the Spirit. Being "filled with the Holy Spirit" is the common theme that encompasses these groups. They no longer call themselves Charismatic because this conjures images of snakes, etc from the really far right wing groups in this religious sect. If your pentecostal church is rather moderate, yours is the exception not the rule. A true Pentecostal church as originally conceived believes that you do not go to heaven if you are not filled with the Holy Spirit. The believers who only accept Christ as their personal savior do not qualify. They also are very strict and adhere to all of the rules I stated before.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Every Pentecostal I know is very fundemental. And, most Catholics I know, go to Friday Night mass before they hit Happy Hour.

Catholics are in favor of the fruit of the vine, but we don't go to Friday night Mass.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Catholics are in favor of the fruit of the vine, but we don't go to Friday night Mass.

Lol, how did I miss that.

However, Saturday night Mass for the WIN.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Lol, how did I miss that.

However, Saturday night Mass for the WIN.

Going to a Catholic high school, I had many Saturday nights where I had to wait for my date to get out of Mass so we could go on our date.

My last steady boyfriend in highschool, however, went to Sunday morning Mass.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Catholics are in favor of the fruit of the vine, but we don't go to Friday night Mass.

You are right, it's Saturday night mass. As you can see, I don't go to either

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Redraidergirl

actually my family isn't RC or Eastern Othr. [if that were the case you're right they would be more liberal...]
we're pentecostal, yea the crazy people.... but not as strict as to where i can't cut my hair or wear jeans/pants and stuff.
sorry i meant smirky. but i was really tired and could firgure you how to do it.

I call BS.

I grew up Roman Catholic and about 8 years ago started going to a Pentecostal church. How do you consider that stricter (is that a word? lol) than Catholicism? I would say the otherwise. I understand there are different secs of a Pentecostal church (which some are very strict) but you claim you aren't a member of those.


Also on another note (based on a PM) I would say that you have to worry more about your grades than you do about money. Sororities have a minimum GPA that you have to have.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by epchick

I call BS.

I grew up Roman Catholic and about 8 years ago started going to a Pentecostal church. How do you consider that stricter (is that a word? lol) than Catholicism? I would say the otherwise. I understand there are different secs of a Pentecostal church (which some are very strict) but you claim you aren't a member of those.


Also on another note (based on a PM) I would say that you have to worry more about your grades than you do about money. Sororities have a minimum GPA that you have to have.

Been following the whole Pentecostal vs. Catholic thing. Though there are some very conservative Catholic sects, I haven't seen any sects that prohibit dancing, drinking, etc. (Speaking strictly about the laity here) These things have been prohibited in some Pentecostal, Baptist, and other Protestant sects. That isn't to say that some Catholic families aren't incredibly strict. Rule wise though, that isn't there.

Now if you mean other sorts of strictness, yeah the Catholic church can be very orthodox on many things (attire for Mass, Lenten rules, Communion rules, etc) .

For the record, the current Pentecostal movement isn't older than the 1700s. Throughout history, people have spoken in tongues, but they weren't a separate sect at the time, and were part of the Roman or Eastern church.

It isn't surprising that a person from India/first generation Indian-American would follow stricter rules of whatever religion since familial rules tend to be stricter in the first place. Telling the OP or others that they must not really be X, or that they're misunderstanding X's rules won't change the rules of her family and how she and her family practice their religion.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Now if you mean other sorts of strictness, yeah the Catholic church can be very orthodox on many things (attire for Mass, Lenten rules, Communion rules, etc) .

Yes, this is more of what I meant by the Catholic church being "stricter." I understand that there are different sects of churches that allow only skirts and things, but it isn't only extreme Pentecostal churches that have that.

But anyways....on to something I was wondering.

I know that Alpha Phi has scholarships, but (at least from what i understand) our scholarships are STRICTLY for APhi members. Do any sororities have scholarships for non-members?