Theta Chi Beta () was a national
honor society recognizing excellence in the study of
religion
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...
. It was founded at
Syracuse University.
History
Theta Chi Beta was formed in 1915 at
Syracuse University as an honor society for students in the fields of Religious Studies and Theology.
It was the first and only society of its kind in the United States.
Several chapters were formed.
The ''Aleph chapter'' (''Alpha'') remains active as the ''Theta Chi Beta chapter'' of
Theta Alpha Kappa
Theta Alpha Kappa () is the national honor society for religious studies and theology. It was founded in 1976 at Manhattan College in Riverdale (the Bronx), New York City to recognize the academic achievements of religion and theology students. ...
, a larger, national honor society for students in Religious studies. It was allowed to keep this name in recognition of its long history and formative role in establishing its own national society.
The last remaining independent chapter of Theta Chi Beta was the ''Gimel chapter'', (''Gamma''), formed in 1937 at
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College (Florida Southern, Southern or FSC) is a private college in Lakeland, Florida. In 2019, the student population at FSC consisted of 3,073 students along with 130 full-time faculty members. The college offers 50 undergradu ...
, which went dormant sometime after 2008.
Interlachen 2008
/ref>
Traditions
Symbols of the Fraternity include the six-pointed Star called ''Magen David'', the Shield of David, the outline of a fish symbolic of early Christians, and the Greek word and acronym, ICHTHUS, representative of ''"Jesous Christos Theou Uios Soter"'', or "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior".
Chapter officers used Hebrew designations:
*Melek (king) for president
*Sar (prince) for vice-president
*Sopher (scribe) for secretary/treasurer
*Maskir (rememberer) for recording secretary
Chapters
The list of chapters of Theta Chi Beta was as follows:
This list is incomplete.
References
See also
*Theta Alpha Kappa
Theta Alpha Kappa () is the national honor society for religious studies and theology. It was founded in 1976 at Manhattan College in Riverdale (the Bronx), New York City to recognize the academic achievements of religion and theology students. ...
{{authority control
Honor societies
Student organizations established in 1915
1915 establishments in New York (state)
Syracuse University