Discussion of cults vs fraternities

[_silentkid]

The Priesthood is a fraternity and that is why there are no fraternities on Church campuses.

I want a Runtu, KA, or Schmo parody on the Priesthood Frat.

[_KimberlyAnn]

The Priesthood is a fraternity and that is why there are no fraternities on Church campuses.

I want a Runtu, KA, or Schmo parody on the Priesthood Frat.

A Priesthood Frat? I'm pretty sure they give one another the sure sign of the nail. It's part of the initiation.

(OK - I just got more graphic, thought better of it and deleted!)

KA

[_Doctor Steuss]

[...] It's an inclusive group, hyped by an initiation ceremony, secret rituals and handshakes and a sense of comraderie amongst those who are also part of the group. [...]

Wait, are we talking about Mormonism, or Fraternities?

Also, there's so, so much more drinking available to fraternities than one ususally sees in a cult environment.

Summum has its own winery for the making of their "Nectar Publications."

[_MishMagnet]

I was told at BYU that we had wards and then furthering that - 'families' made up of one apartment of guys and one apartment of girls. This was to be our smaller sense of community and our allegiences were not to be divided much like fraternities and sororities would cause.

When I left BYU my next college did have only one sorority. I was kind of bummed about that, having missed the opportunity. This is not to say I would have joined a sorority anyway. Kind of bummed to not have the option.

Really that is kind of stinky if the priesthood was to take the place of the fraternity. I mean, what about us poor, poor women-folk? We didn't even have a kitchen in Helemon Halls to magnify our callings as mothers in Zion.

[_Doctor Steuss]

In my opinion, many fraternities are for people who are still emotionally in high school. That’s not to say that all of them are (as my experience is very, very limited). I just recall visiting my friend while he was in college in Arizona (about 6 or so years ago) and seeing the various frat houses, and hanging out with a few of his friends that were in frats. They appeared to me to be nothing more than high school students that no longer had to stand outside 7-11 asking people to buy them some beer.

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[...] We didn't even have a kitchen in Helemon Halls to magnify our callings as mothers in Zion.

LOL!

[_MishMagnet]

I will agree, Dr. Stuess. Although it does look like so much fun, doesn't it!?

Husband and I went to his fraternity homecoming last year. There was a guy who would open the top of beer cans with his teeth. You know, like the can opener that The Flintstones had. I was all "No! No, don't do that to your teeth! Your poor teeth!" This ranting proved more than anything that I was old enough to be these guys mother.

[_Doctor Steuss]

I will agree, Dr. Stuess. Although it does look like so much fun, doesn't it!?
[...]

I would love to give off the appearance of intellectual snobbery...

but, yes... (*sigh*), it does look like fun.

*hangs head in shame*

[_KimberlyAnn]

They appeared to me to be nothing more than high school students that no longer had to stand outside 7-11 asking people to buy them some beer.

Oh, that sounds like MishMagnet and me at the Exmo Conference, and yes, it WAS fun!

KA

[_Runtu]

They appeared to me to be nothing more than high school students that no longer had to stand outside 7-11 asking people to buy them some beer.

Oh, that sounds like MishMagnet and me at the Exmo Conference, and yes, it WAS fun!

KA

I know I got plastered from that one sip of KA's drink. :)

And, no, I didn't catch anything from you and your sore throat, KA.

[_Doctor Steuss]

Are frats cults? If I were to pledge would I be joining a cult? What about Freemasonry? What makes it cult-like when compared to frats or sororities?

The strange thing about “cults” is we all know one when we see one (and some of us inevitably see one where another person doesn’t). But, when faced to give a definitive definition, the paintbrush always seems to splatter some paint on at least one group that isn’t deserving of the label (or at least a majority would agree [hopefully]). To me, though, I think that a defining characteristic of a “cult” would be the inability to leave if one wanted to. Frats, et.al. don’t seem to fit that description to me.

Of course, my “defining characteristic” might splatter some paint where it should not go.