Boy Scouts to Atheist: Accept A God or Get Out

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 10/30/02 | Michael L. Betsch

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - The assistant Scoutmaster of a Pacific Northwest Boy Scout troop is currently faced with the decision of professing his belief in a "supreme being" or facing banishment from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). However, 19-year-old Darrel Lambert said he's been an atheist since the ninth grade and he's sticking to his convictions.

Lambert's track record with the Seattle-based Troop 1531 is impressive. Throughout his 10-year scouting career he earned 37 merit badges to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout; served as a quartermaster and three-time senior patrol leader; and has dedicated himself to more than 1,000 hours of community service.

But Lambert is also passionate in his rejection of the existence of any supreme being, even though the BSA's regional Chief Seattle Council informed him that expressing a reverence for Mother Earth would be an acceptable form of worship.

Although Lambert admitted to his scout troop's review board that, for years, he had intentionally neglected to demonstrate the principles of faith and reverence to God contained within the Scout Oath and Law, he was awarded the BSA's highest honor last year - Eagle Scout. Coincidentally, his mom is the Scoutmaster of that troop.

Mark Hunter, spokesman for the BSA's regional Chief Seattle Council, said he could not comment or speculate whether Trish Lambert influenced members of the Eagle Scout review board that approved her son's Eagle Scout application, which mandates all applicants must: "Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life."

Ironically, Lambert addressed parents Monday night in the basement of a chapel at a retirement home, the Seattle Times reported. He urged those in attendance to look beyond the issue of his atheism and support his proven dedication to the Boy Scouts.

"I think the only power higher than myself is the power of all of us combined," Lambert said.

Additionally, Lambert said he wants to see the 92-year-old BSA repeal its national membership requirements, which includes on its application a Declaration of Religious Principle. He proposed that individual troops be given the right to devise the standards by which they extend their membership to Scouts and adult leaders.

Hunter said Lambert would be permitted to continue his leadership role and interact with members of Troop 1531 while he takes some time to "search out his feelings on this."

"If they're truly what they are," Hunter said, "his membership will be terminated."

Atheism rejected in court

A similar battle erupted in 1991 when twins, Michael and William Randall, refused to recite the Boy Scout Oath's reference to God and faced expulsion from the Orange County, Calif., Boy Scouts Council, said BSA spokesman Gregg Shields.

"At the time, they were eight-years-old ... and they said they were agnostics," Shields noted. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines an agnostic as "a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable."

The Randall twins' father, an attorney, argued a successful seven-year case in an Orange County district court only to have it overturned by the Calif. State Supreme Court in 1998.

Shields said the twins fulfilled all of the requirements to become Eagle Scouts, but since the Calif. Supreme Court ruled that the BSA could legally refuse to accept them as members, they were never awarded with the BSA's highest honor.

Teenage rebellion normal

"We recognize that in your early teenage years you go through a formative period where you question and you prod beliefs and you think about and you explore ideas," Shields said. "That's natural and to be expected."

But Shields said Lambert is now an adult who has chosen to lead a group that requires its young members and adult leaders to believe in a supreme being. He stressed that the organization places a high importance on the spiritual development of scouts to recognize a being greater than themselves.

"We expect an adult has the ability to make their own mind up about a belief," Shields said. "If one doesn't agree with the Boy Scout belief system, then perhaps boy scouting is not for that person."

E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[ZULU]

"However, 19-year-old Darrel Lambert said he's been an atheist since the ninth grade and he's sticking to his convictions."

Then, by God, he should stick to his convictions, and get kicked out of a fine organization for refusing to meet its qualifications.

The "Boy Scouts" are apparently one of the few groups of "real men" left in America to stand up to the pedophilic homosexuals and atheists.

[Alouette]

The "Boy Scouts" are apparently one of the few groups of "real men" left in America to stand up to the pedophilic homosexuals and atheists.

Yes, but do they accept jihadi Muslims?

[PokeyJoe]

Is it a statement of faith to say "I do not believe in God?"

If God exists, and I state that "God exists" - then I'm on His good side.
If God exists, and I state that "God doesn't exist" - then I'm going to Hell.
If God doesn't exist, and I say "God exists" - there is nobody to get mad at me when I die.

Therefore, all aetheists should proclaim with a one voice, "I believe in God" - it is a rational, self-interested and logically based statement. You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose. =)

Tounge in Cheek kick the soapbox back under the TV, watching FNC.

[John O]

"I think the only power higher than myself is the power of all of us combined," Lambert said.

The makings of a mass murderer here. "Might makes right. No one can punish me for my faults because no one is higher than me. I am the ultimate power in my universe."

These sort of people scare me as they have no moral foundation whatsoever.

He is at least as dangerous to the boys as a person practicing homosexual behavior would be.

God Save America (Please)

[ffrancone]

IT'S 6 DAYS 'TIL THE ELECTION

GOOD INTENTIONS DON'T WIN ELECTIONS.

YOU CAN HELP, TODAY. GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[ECM]

That's certainly one way to paraphrase St. Thomas Aquinas :)

[WorkingClassFilth]

What I want to know is how this kid's Troop ended up with a female Scoutmaster? When I was a Scoutmaster, there were a few wannabe women in the council, but they always had flashing lights on their foreheads that read: 'Something needs examination under the hood - please see a technician ASAP.'

Too bad this Council stepped in it long before the kid got steam for his crusade. Approve a woman (Where's dear old Dad, BTW?) to highest position of authority in th Troop and then try to retreat when she and her kid want to expand the beach head. Duh. Find out who gave the approval and you've got the root that needs pulling-up and composting.

Old BP is spinning in his grave. In fact, a key part of the intent was to provide positive male influences on the scouts in the form of the Scoutmaster. This is the core of the movement - building young men with leadership from other men. Scouting, like many venerable organizations, seems infected with the notion that in lack of suitable candidates, something else must be done to keep itself viable. I have no doubt that that Troop's charter should have expired if they couldn't get a Scoutmaster. Any kids wanting to bein scouting would have found a Troop - NO problem.

Scouting is not about being relevant. Never was. Scouting is about morals and the character and honor of defending and living-out the same in the lives of young men and boys.

[anniegetyourgun]

Atheism takes great faith. Stating that there is no God with such conviction would require one to be all-knowing, a God, which in turn negates the original premise. This kid needs to stop pushing his faith on the BSA, a private organization that sets its own standards and requirements.

[DWSUWF]

What's next?

How about strong-arming the Daughters of the American Revolution into accepting AIDS-riddled Haitian Boat Bummettes?

[LadyDoc]

Yes, but do they accept jihadi Muslims?

There are 1 billion people who are Muslims. A few thousand are jihadi Muslims, mostly out of work semi educated sexually frustrated men who are radicalized by their lack of opportunity is Saudi arabia or in the ghettos of Europe.

So of course the scouts include Muslims, and Hindus, and others. Indeed, even agnostics and Wiccans can belong. (notice they would allow him to say the oath to mother earth?)

But not radical anti God athiests who want to sue to scouts to change their policies.

[Revelation 911]

"I think the only power higher than myself is the power of all of us combined," Lambert said.

sounds more like secular humanism than atheism -

[wideawake]

Ah, Pascal's wager. Well done.

[Prodigal Son]

This is true. Agnosticism is the safer bet for the non-believer.

[Windsong]

"Atheism takes great faith. Stating that there is no God with such conviction would require one to be all-knowing, a God, which in turn negates the original premise."

Most axiomatic statement of the year..

[tm22721]

God IS an alien by any definiton of the word.

And don't we generally scoff at those who believe in aliens ?

BUMP

[Physicist]

Then, by God, he should stick to his convictions, and get kicked out of a fine organization for refusing to meet its qualifications.

If he had the courage of his convictions, he'd reject the Boy Scouts for failing to meet his qualifications.

[ohioman]

Whatever...
But does it bother you that the Gov. does fund some faggott groups?