Tag Boy Scouts

Scout Association amends vow to God in bid to appease atheists and other faiths

By Jonathan MS Pearce • • 2 comments

As I reported the other day, the Girlguides have dropped the pledge to God from their vow. Now it appears that the Scouts are doing similarly, as the Telegraph reports:

The movement has bowed to pressure from atheists and, from later this year, will offer an alternative promise for those joining without a religious faith.

Currently, all Scouts are expected to promise to “do my duty to God” – with alternative wording for Muslims, Hindus and people of other faiths. Those who cannot do so as a matter of conscience are able to join only as associate members.

Baptists plan exodus from Boy Scouts

By Jonathan MS Pearce • • 8 comments

(CNN) – For Southern Baptist pastor Tim Reed, it was Scripture versus the Scouts.

“God’s word explicitly says homosexuality is a choice, a sin,” said Reed, pastor of First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

So when the Boy Scouts of America voted to lift its ban on openly gay youths on May 24, Reed said the church had no choice but to cut its charter with Troop 542.

The Boy Scouts of America’s exclusions: the gay and the godless

By Jonathan MS Pearce • • 2 comments

I have run a few articles on Scouts, Girlguides and air cadets, with regard to religious oaths and what have you. The Boy Scouts of america are going through rather an important period, as there is a potential movement to allow gays into their troops, changing their existing exclusionary policy. In advance of putting this to the vote, they have sent out a questionnaire to members.