I guess that means that we should throw out all the Jewish troops. Why not? You threw out an atheist. If that, why not the agnostic? If that, then why not the Jew? If that, why not some other sect of religion?
Atheism is just as valid a religion as any Christian or Jewish religion. They all meet the dictionary definitions of religion.
What you people can't stand is someone who doesn't believe like you do.
Well I've got news for you. The great majority of all advancement in human technology is due to the people who did not go along with the group or think like everyone else.
You all are so quick to condemn this kid because he has the guts to say what he believes. I can tell you that the majority of the kids that profess their religion in the scouts are hypocrits. In fact a lot of these religious kids, you would allow to stay, are some of the worst behaved, poor excuse for human sub-animal brats I have ever seen or delt with.
And I know this to be a fact because I spent nine (9) years with them.
I would take an honest atheist boy scout of high achievement and put him to work in any company long before I would take the majority of religious kids that think they're special who can't even rise to the rank of First Class Scout.
While you spit on this kid, I bet one day he does something great for humanity. He found the highest order in the universe he could... and that was himself, ergo 37 merit badges...DAAAHHHHH!!!! He relied on himself!! He believes in himself!!! That's the best religion that anyone can have bar none. Human self-reliance is the number one belief of success.
I'll take this kid over any of your whining, poor me, pray to God to solve my problems, voodoo, witch hunters any day.
This kid has got character and guts which is something I do not believe I could say for the majority of you folks on this thread.
In fact, looking at your responses, I would say many of you are just plain sick. If you want to know why Republicans can't make further headway over the Demorats... go look in the mirror... the intolerant religious right. You are this parties biggest thorn in the side of bigots and hypocrits.
Yeh... they can throw this kid out. It's called stabbing yourself in the back. And it isn't going to help when it comes to fund raising because you just alienated another 5 or 6 percent of the population. This is not what you call smart thinking on the part of the Boy Scouts of America!!!
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Many people have the guts to say what they believe. Jane Fonda has it. Adolf Hitler had it. The Clintons have it.
It's not just that people have the guts to say what they believe that concerns me. It's WHAT they believe that concerns me.
What this spoiled brat believes, my leftist pal, is that other people do not have the right to form associations on the basis of their own held personal standards when it's to his inconvenience. He believes he has the right to run and impose himself on other people's lives--as apparently do you. You're two of a kind.
Atheism is fundamentally different from Christianity or Judaism, or most all of the world's religions. Christianity and Judaism posit moral truths that come from outside of us. Atheists can make up and follow whatever morality they want.
The scouts is far more concerned with right thinking than with popular thinking. But actually, it's still growing anyway after the last two years of vitriolic attacks from homosexuals and atheists. In our town, it's doubled in size in the last three years. We now have four strong and growing troops in our town.
Please...
Actually, on the whole, America is far more Republican than it has been in the past.
What you say is partly true, MedicalMess - but that isn't the issue. The issue is that scouts believes that a belief in God is a fundamental part of raising young men of a particular sort. That doesn't mean that all young men turn out the way scouts hopes they will. But scouts believe that on the whole, a belief in God is essential to that process and that it helps a great many young men to become adult men. You may not share that belief. That's OK. Then scouts wouldn't be for you. Scouts is entitled to its beliefs, just like you are to yours. That is the essence of tolerance and religious freedom.
You appear to be aptly monikered!
What you people can't stand is someone who doesn't believe like you do.
You have more than adequately demonstrated that point right here on this thread.
If this troubles you so much, I suggest you get off the keyboard and start your own Athiest Scouting Society. Instead of the BSA, yours would have the acronym ASS. You will, of course, be free to kick out any of those horrible Christians you hate so much.
Hm. Even more doubt on my part that you were ever a Section Vice-Chief. Every one of those I've ever met was way too intelligent to make such a foolish statement.
From The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, the definition of the word "religion":
1.a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
1.b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
Kindly tell me how this is consistent with atheism, which to my understanding is a denial of the existence of any supernatural power or powers. I'd also appreciate that you quote any dictionary definition of religion that would be consistent with religion.