Posted on 06/16/2005 4:46:09 AM PDT by SLB
Recruits can forsake ‘God and the Queen’
FOR Scouts, it has been as much a part of their movement as jamborees, woggles and the three-fingered salute. Now, after a century, the Scout Association has ditched its traditional pledge of loyalty “to God and to the Queen” in favour of a series of multicultural options.
Muslim Scouts can opt to swear to Allah, while atheists can drop God altogether and budding republicans can pledge themselves to the state rather than the monarch.
The pledge is taken by all Scouts on joining the movement, which was established in 1907. The new variations are intended to reflect the growing diversity of Britain.
They represent a rejection of the “muscular Christianity” and love of monarchy espoused by Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting.
The changes have horrified some prominent former Scouts. Stephen Pound, the Labour MP and chairman of the all-party parliamentary Scout group, called the changes “profoundly retrograde, uncalled for and potentially extremely divisive”.
The current pledge, based on that written by Baden-Powell, states: “On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout law.”
Under new guidelines issued to Scout leaders, Muslim Scouts — as well as Beavers and Cubs, the groups to which younger boys belong — can pledge their duty to Allah and Hindu Scouts to their Dharma. Atheists can promise to live life in “good moral standing”.
In addition, children who are not British but live here can promise to do their duty to “the country in which I am now living” instead of promising allegiance to the Queen.
For republican recruits, there is the option of pledging “duty to the state and the laws of the state”. Members whose beliefs are not covered by any of the published alternatives can use other forms of wording agreed between their parents and the leader of their Scout group.
“Scouting is available to all faiths and, therefore, must take account of the different religious obligations of its members,” the new guidelines state.
“To meet these circumstances, there are different forms of the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout promise that can be made, allowing for the individual’s obligations while upholding the essential spirit of the promise.
“The phrase ‘to love God’ and ‘duty to God’ implies belief in a supreme being and the acceptance of divine guidance and therefore the word ‘God’ can be replaced by ‘Allah’, ‘my Dharma’ or others as appropriate to suit the faith or religion of the individual concerned.”
It is hoped the shift in policy will help to rid the association of its reputation for being mainly white, middle-class and Christian. The Girl Guides changed their pledge from “God” to “my God” more than a decade ago.
Baden-Powell was inspired to found the Scouts after being impressed with the initiative shown by boys during the siege of the South African town of Mafeking in 1899-1900 during the Boer war. His first experimental camp was held on Brownsea Island off Poole in Dorset in 1907.
“There is a vast reserve of loyal patriotism and Christian spirit lying dormant in our nation today,” he wrote in his handbook, Scouting for Boys, published in 1908.
How much longer before this hits the US? I imagine Baden-Powell is rolling in his grave.
Babel...
Just another step of the ladder for the goat lovers.
When are people going to step up to the plate and say enough is enough? Boy Scouts do not have to roll over for everyone, yet in the name of political correctness they are.
"I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to, like, whatever, ya know."
As to the others, to the "State" or leaving God out all together...sounds almost like they are creating a "Hitler Youth" organization of sorts.
If it comes here, the Boy Scouts of America will lose the backing of many of the churches, which are the life blood of the organization currently.
True. However some churches will see this as a preogressive step. Sad to see scouting coming to that.
I know the LDS faith is prepared (and has been prepared for sometime because of the homosexual issue) to have their own organization within the church and continue with basically the same program should it come to that...and it is the largest single supporter and provider of Boy Scout troops within the USA right now I believe.
..with the USSC protecting the BSA, the liberals (and those who practice Aberrant lifestyles), take their Jihad to Great Britain/England..undermining the country of origin.
Exactly. Where once a crisp and colorful contrast resonated with clarity,only a gray and blurry residue shall remain. The canvas of life cannot help but precipitate such reflections when the light of liberty suffers socialistic dilution.
I have had the same thought as you on this and a lot of other things.
...but, don't expect those of us in the BSA to let it become a "dead man walking" organization.
We will keep holding the line on our end I know.
I hate to sound like this, but you know, We have God on our side!
".but, don't expect those of us in the BSA to let it become a "dead man walking" organization."
- Sorry, I sympathize with your commitment and dedication, but when they dry up your funding and drag you into court and sue your butt off for refusing to allow gay men to take your children into the woods over the weekend for a little
R & R, then, as I say, the writings on the wall.
Decent people will quit the organization in disgust, parents will not allow their boys to join and the Scouts will be taken over by fringe wackos with another agenda. Don't believe me? Just look whats happened to the Unitarian Church in the past twenty years.
Tell me about the court cases that the BSA has lost.
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