Not Religious and Interested in Fraternity Recruitment

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

I would like to point out, especially for the ladies that there are a number of Masonically based fraternities, and I would think all of them would require a belief in a Supreme Being.

Masonically Based gets tricky to figure out. Alpha Phi Omega's main founder was a Mason and the original titles (in the 1920s) for the President and Vice President for chapters was Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master (with the National Officers being Supreme ...), but in the 1930s, the titles were changed to be less esoteric. I believe there were other parallel changes at the same time, but I won't get into that. Of course for APO, belief in a supreme being was functionally required for brothers as long as prior scouting membership was required (until 1967)

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Are there organizations with non-discrimination policies that also require a belief in the big-G Christian (or Jewish) God?

[DubaiSis]

This opens up a whole different can of worms, but AOII Angel is right. A LOT of Americans would be more cool with saying you are a Zoroastrian than an Agnostic, which by the way is not the same as Atheist. I myself have never understood why people feel the only thing between them and mass-mayhem is the threat of hell. I guess religion is super important to some people if it really is keeping them from murdering random people.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I myself have never understood why people feel the only thing between them and mass-mayhem is the threat of hell.

As a Christian, I have never understood that either. In fact, I've never understood the idea of hell as a threat period. Thankfully, I grew up in a part of Christianity that just didn't look at things that way. (And I've also never understood the idea of being offended that someone says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas.")

Lilgiant, you show a great deal of maturity, Good luck, and I for one want to hear from you again from the other side or rush/pledging/initiation.

[jazing]

Perhaps an example from my chapter can help.

We have one openly atheist member. There were parts of the ritual which require oaths, but he simply put this in as a cultural aspect rather than a religious aspect. When asked what he is, he says a Jewish Atheist.

[DubaiSis]

Lil, I know exactly what you're about. I wish you the best of luck, and I think you'll do just fine.

[AOII Angel]

Sounds like you are going to the right school for you. I doubt you'll have a hard time finding the right fraternity, either. Talk to the brothers that you've already met and ask them if they had any issues of conscience while pledging themselves to their fraternity. I'd bet they'd know what you were talking about.

[amIblue?]

Regarding the happy holidays thing, I'm Christian, but I say happy holidays if I'm not sure about the faith of the person I'm speaking to.

[pshsx1]

Maybe this will help!

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh....php?t=120149&

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Maybe this will help!

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh....php?t=120149&

Thanks for linking that - I thought I had made a note about Delta Chi's founding on it, but apparently I did not!

To the OP - it seems unlikely that your personal religious beliefs will significantly impede your joining a fraternity (the organizations that require a statement of belief excluded of course). What you need to decide is if fraternity membership is worth swearing an oath that is to God, contains the phrase "so help me God", taken over a religious text, or the like. If this is a non negotiable for you, most organizations are probably going to be out (obviously I cannot speak for all groups' esoteric rituals). Regardless, I would encourage you to participate in recruitment and, if you receive a bid, try it out for a while before you decide if that is non negotiable for you. You may be more open to viewing such a statement in the historical context rather than the literal after being a member for some time. Or you may not, that's up to you.

I will add, for your information or future members with this question, that Delta Chi chapters are supposed to ascertain whether or not a member is willing to swear an oath to God before he is initiated, and there is an alternative for those who are not willing to do so. It should also be said that I don't believe many of our chapters actually ask this, but it is an option. Chapters with questions about this should contact the Headquarters office.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

What you need to decide is if fraternity membership is worth swearing an oath that is to God, contains the phrase "so help me God", taken over a religious text, or the like. If this is a non negotiable for you, most organizations are probably going to be out (obviously I cannot speak for all groups' esoteric rituals).

Since none of us can speak concerning the esoteric rituals of other groups, I would be very hesitant to say "most." While I can see the basis for assuming it would be the case with most fraternities, it's still an assumption that may or may not be true of fraternities in general or of the fraternities on his campus in particular.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Since none of us can speak concerning the esoteric rituals of other groups, I would be very hesitant to say "most." While I can see the basis for assuming it would be the case with most fraternities, it's still an assumption that may or may not be true of fraternities in general or of the fraternities on his campus in particular.

Valid point, though from conversations with friends in many different organizations I do feel comfortable saying you're safer assuming their will be religious references than not. Regardless, I still think he should reevaluate his position on whether or not he can view such an oath in its historical context after trying out membership.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Valid point, though from conversations with friends in many different organizations I do feel comfortable saying you're safer assuming their will be religious references than not. Regardless, I still think he should reevaluate his position on whether or not he can view such an oath in its historical context after trying out membership.

There is a huge difference, though, between taking an oath with your hand on the bible and signing a statement of belief.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Valid point, though from conversations with friends in many different organizations I do feel comfortable saying you're safer assuming their will be religious references than not.

Perhaps it's true of NIC groups as a whole -- it wouldn't surprise me if it is -- but we don't know how many chapters are on the OP's campus or what those chapters are. So, even if it is true for the majority of NIC fraternities, it may not be true for most fraternities with chapters on his campus. Hence my hesitancy to say "most."

[naraht]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Maybe this will help!

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh....php?t=120149&

And just to make clear to Lilgiant, in that thread pshsx1 indicated that Sigma Phi Epsilon requires belief in a higher power.