Reply to Boy Scouts question

Forum Index » Elementary School-Aged Kids

Reply to "Boy Scouts question"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Be aware that there is a god/religion requirement.  If you aren't actively involved in a church/synag./mosque, a kid won't be able to meet requirements for advancing.  Part of the reason we are leaving cubs.[/quote]

This is not true.   My child isn't actively involved in a church.   He has advanced to First Class Scout.   He has told the Scoutmaster that his belief in a Higher Power is that the Higher Power is the sum total of all the laws of physics.   He fulfills his "duty to God" by learning about nature and science.

[/quote]

Maybe it depends on the Scoutmaster? Kinda like how things depend on who your boss is.[/quote]

I'm sure Scoutmasteres vary, but officially you do NOT have to be an active member of any church.

BSA Religious Principles
(Reprinted from the 1992 edition of BSA's Advancement Guidelines: Council and District Functions.)

The Boy Scouts of America has a definite position on religious principles. The following interpretative statement may help clarify this position. The Boy Scouts of America:

Does not define what constitutes belief in God or the practice of religion.
 
Does not require membership in a religious organization or association for enrollment in the movement but does prefer, and strongly encourages, membership and participation in the religious programs and activities of a church, synagogue, or other religious association.
 
Respects the convictions of those who exercise their constitutional freedom to practice religion as individuals without formal membership in organized religious organizations. In a few cases, there are those who, by conviction, do not feel it necessary to formally belong to an organized form of religion and seek to practice religion in accordance with their own personal convictions. Every effort should be made to counsel with the boy and his parents to determine the true story  of the religious convictions and practices as related to advancement in Scouting. Religious organizations have commended the Boy Scouts of America for encouraging youth to participate in organized religious activities. However, these same organizations reject any form of compulsion to enforce conformity to establish religious practices.
 
If a boy says he is a member of a religious body, the standards by which he should be evaluated are those of that group. This is why an advancement committee usually requests a reference from his religious leader to indicate whether he has  lived up to their expectations.
Throughout life, Scouts are associated with people of different faiths. Scouts believe in religious freedom, respecting others whose religion may differ from theirs. Scouting believes in the right of all to worship God in their own way.
 
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics