{{Short description|American honor society for religious studies}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = Theta Chi Beta | letters = {{lang|grc|ΘΧΒ}} | coat of arms = The_crest_of_Theta_Chi_Beta.png | image_size = 190px | alt = | caption = | founded = {{Start date and age|1915}} | birthplace = Syracuse University | affiliation = Independent | affiliation2 = | status = Defunct | defunct_date = After 2008 | type = Honor | emphasis = Religion, Theological studies | scope = National | mission = | vision = | object = | motto = "Progressive Revelations"<ref name="liberal methodism">{{cite book |last1=Galpin |first1=William Freeman |last2=Barck Jr |first2=Oscar Theodore |editor1-last=Wilson |editor1-first=Richard R. |title=Syracuse University: Volume III: The Critical Years |date=August 1984 |page=268 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |location=Syracuse, N.Y. |isbn=978-0-8156-8108-3 |oclc=1023038841 |url=https://press.syr.edu/supressbooks/1836/syracuse-university-5/ |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/syracuseuniversi0000galp |archive-date=9 October 2020 |access-date=29 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> | virtues = | pillars = | slogan = | maxim = | tagline = | member badge = <!-- use and around the badge file name --> | colors = <!-- use and around the colors --> | symbol = 6-pointed star (Shield of David), ICHTHUS (Outline of a fish) | flag = <!-- use and around the flag file name --> | flower = <!-- use and around the flower --> | tree = | jewel = | mascot = | publication = | chapters = 3+ | members = | lifetime = | nickname = <!-- or | nicknames = --> | free = | free_label = | address = | city = | state = <!-- or | province = --> | ZIP code = <!-- or | postal code = --> | country = United States | website = <!-- or | homepage = --> }} '''Theta Chi Beta''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΘΧΒ}}''') was a national honor society recognizing excellence in the study of religion. 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.<ref name="liberal methodism"/> It was the first and only society of its kind in the United States.<ref name="liberal methodism"/> Several chapters were formed.<ref name="1938 AAR Journal" />
The ''Aleph chapter'' remains active as the ''Theta Chi Beta chapter'' of Theta Alpha Kappa, 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.<ref>Noted on [https://thecollege.syr.edu/religion/theta-chi-beta/ the chapter's Syracuse portal], accessed 20 Nov 2021.</ref>
The last remaining independent chapter of Theta Chi Beta was the ''Gimel chapter'', formed in 1937 at Florida Southern College, which went dormant sometime after 2008.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Interlachen2008/page/n95/mode/2up?q=%22theta+chi+beta%22 Interlachen 2008]</ref>
==Symbols== The fraternity's motto is "Progressive Revelations". 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<ref name="1938 AAR Journal">{{cite journal |last1=Peritz |first1=Ismar J. |title=Theta Chi Beta - Bible Honor Fraternity |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Religion |date=Summer 1938 |volume=VI |issue=III |page=146 |doi=10.1093/jaarel/VI.III.146 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jaar/article-abstract/VI/III/146/695469?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=20 November 2021 |publisher=American Academy of Religion |location=Oxford Academic |language=English|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The emblem of the society was similar to other honor society keys, with the Hebrew letter Beth ({{lang|he|ב}}) as a frame, in which was held an open book, the Bible, all rendered in gold.<ref name="1938 AAR Journal" />
==Chapters== Following is an incomplete list of the chapters of Theta Chi Beta. <!--Hebrew names for Beta and Daleth are conjectural.--> {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chapter !Installation Date !College or University !Location !Status !Reference |- |''Aleph'' |1915-1991 |Syracuse University |Syracuse, New York |Merged, became ''Theta Chi Beta'' chapter of {{lang|grc|ΘΑΚ}} in 1991 | |- |''Beth'' |≥1934–{{dts|2008}}+ |St. Lawrence Theological School |Canton (village), New York | |<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=KxgRAQAAIAAJ&q=%22lawrence%20theological%22 Bulletin Volumes 10-11 By Council on the Study of Religion · 1979]</ref> |- |''Gimel'' |1937-20xx |Florida Southern College |Lakeland, Florida | | |- |''Daleth ?'' |≥1937 | | | | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==See also== *Theta Alpha Kappa
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Category:Honor societies Category:Student organizations established in 1915 Category:1915 establishments in New York (state) Category:Syracuse University Category:Defunct honor societies