Potential Touchy Subject!

[missnatural]

honeychile - Oh, man! The bulletin is just about my favorite idea ever. I'm really close to my church, and multiple other churches in the area, and so I'll keep an eye out.

But teachers haven't been all that helpful, haha! I'm VERY close to quite a few of them, but I'm in a very small town, and many women and even some of the men stayed quite far from the Greek life for maaany different reasons. I have gotten a few connections from them, though, so fingers crossed.

[Titchou]

What is meant by not discussing religion is to not discuss the particulars of a specific religion. The same for politics. If you were majoring in political science you could certainly tell them that. It's getting into the specifics of your politics or religion that may cause an issue. So since you could say I'm majoring in poli sci because I find the ins and outs of the political system in our country to be interesting, you could say you are interested in the religions of the world as a historical perspective, or whatever.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Titchou

What is meant by not discussing religion is to not discuss the particulars of a specific religion. The same for politics. If you were majoring in political science you could certainly tell them that. It's getting into the specifics of your politics or religion that may cause an issue. So since you could say I'm majoring in poli sci because I find the ins and outs of the political system in our country to be interesting, you could say you are interested in the religions of the world as a historical perspective, or whatever.

Yes. I think the idea of sort of off limit topics is so that you don't end up alienating your conversational partners, putting them on the defensive, or even just boring them.

But I'll note that it has always struck me as much more awkward for people to all of a sudden clam up when they realized they nearing a forbidden subject than it is just to go forward with sort of normal questions, but not focus or probe on the controversial.

There's no reason to force a topic on someone, but don't make something that's not usually conversationally weird suddenly loom really large simply because it's recruitment.

[missnatural]

Ahh. Thanks for clarifying. I was really stressing, because it's such a HUGE part of my life, and I'd feel awful having to not allow myself to chat at least casually about it.

[psusue]

Originally Posted by missnatural

Ahh. Thanks for clarifying. I was really stressing, because it's such a HUGE part of my life, and I'd feel awful having to not allow myself to chat at least casually about it.

I would consider myself a pretty serious Christian as well and I was very, very involved with my youth group and church in high school and Campus Crusade in college. During recruitment the things I did in youth group and Campus Crusade (I rushed as a junior) definitely came up, but I always just said how it grew me as a person and gave me a wonderful, close community and how I was looking for that in Greek life as well. It only gets weird if you're talking about how much Jesus means to you when you're talking to a Buddhist (or devout atheist). Just be respectful and if you're unsure about whether or not it would be awkward to say, err on the side of caution. Obviously if you end up joining you'll probably have more in-depth conversations about deeper and more meaningful things, but there is a time and a place for that. If you wouldn't talk about it during a job interview or first date, it might also come off as strange or off putting while you're meeting these women for only 5 or so minutes each during recruitment. Best of luck to you, let us know how it goes!

[UGAalum94]

Yep, that's how I see it too. Recruitment is no place to evangelize or proselytize, but you don't have to hide who you are either. Since you will be trying to gain membership in a primarily social organization, however, you probably want to make sure that your conversational topics are varied.

While I doubt being strongly religious would be a problem at very many chapters, being the recruitment guest who can talk only about religion might be.

[HannahXO]

I might stay away from "Jesus is my personal savior. How do you feel about Him?"

But it's totally fine to talk about being active in your Church, how that's been a support system for you, and how you've met greeks there, or expressing interest in religious groups on campus. And of course, your major is 100% OK to talk about. When I went through recruitment, one of my major leadership activities was through a religious group. That is fine to discuss.

[DubaiSis]

My biggest rush crush was a mortuary sciences major. Speaking of things you shouldn't discuss during rush! My bump wanted to kill me, but what was I gonna do?

If you keep in mind that the person you're speaking with may not have anywhere near the same views as you and address the issue accordingly, you should be fine. And you will absolutely positively be asked what's your major and why. Now is the time to come up with a clear, concise answer that shows your passion without sounding like The Church Lady.

[missnatural]

Haha. At my school, it is indeed religion. But I intend on going into the ministry after college, so either way it's sort of Christian-based. Thanks, y'all!