The Boy Scouts Pledge - Can an atheist serve?

[realthinker]

I am a Cub Scout den leader for a pack affiliated with a local public elementary school. This statement from the by-laws of the Boy Scouts of America was the final topic in a leadership training I took part in last weekend.

The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing his obligation to God.

Here are a couple of related thoughts from the BSA regarding religion.

Only persons willing to subscribe to this Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America shall be entitled to certificates of membership.

Declaration of Religious Principle, Bylaws of Boy Scouts of America, art. IX, § 1, cl. 1

The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, ‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.’ The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

This is the email note I sent our Cubmaster.

Dear XXXXX,

After the discussion of our final topic in last weekend's outdoor leader's training I feel I need to say something before it becomes a public topic for discussion on an awkward occasion. The official position of the BSA is that "The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing his obligation to God." While it is a position I can support in order to maintain my association with the BSA, it is not a position I believe. In fact, I and my family believe that there is not a God that intercedes in our lives. We do not practice religion.

We do believe, however, in a strong community and in contributing in a positive and active fashion to the lives of children to build our community. We believe in being supportive to the parents and families of our community so that they might be successful in fulfilling their family obligations to the community, including their religious obligations. We believe that involvement in community activities and organizations is our duty and that it is our service that earns our place as neighbors.

You have my commitment to the organization, which includes my commitment to fulfill my duties with regard to the religious fulfillment of our scouts and their families. I feel that while my religious beliefs and participation may not be according to the organization's expectations, this is not in conflict with my expected duties as a den leader. I am committed to ensuring that every scout whom I deal with finds complete fulfillment of the scouting experience, and that scouting leadership finds no fault in my support.

Should you, as pack Cubmaster, feel otherwise and find my position incompatible with your exercise of scouting rules, I will quietly defer to your judgment. To do so would be contrary to my beliefs, to my support of friends and the families of my community.

I await your considerate reply. If you would like to discuss, please feel free to call.

With best regards,

I am clearly serving in contradiction to the BSA by-laws. My son, likewise, is clearly not eligible for membership. However, we both participate and have had no indication that there is any incompatibility with our local organization and its members. As I portrayed in my note, I feel my service is in no way compromised. I feel I am in no way undermining the organization or the families I work with.

What is your opinion of this situation? Do you feel that my religious position should be grounds for my removal as den leader? Do you feel it should be grounds for the exclusion of my son from Cub Scouts?

[Goat]

I do not really know much about the main scouting organization in general. We just stick to what we know best in our little neck of the woods

The national organization tends to be a lot more uptight about the situation than the local groups it seems.

That's fine with me. It is their organization.

If my being an atheist had been a problem to them, I wouldn't have argued the position. My response would have been "you asked me, I didn't ask you". And that would have been that.

To me, arguing that the scouts believe in God is like arguing that Churches believe in God. While I disagree with the nonsense, I will fight with all my might to preserve their right to. As long as they are not harming others, or infringing on others rights, I am fine with that.

Oh, I have no problem, except when it comes for them receiving public funds, or getting privilages above and beyond groups that are in similar situations. For a while, they were getting access to public lands for free, while other organizations were having to pay. I also do not want my money to go to them.