The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/20749204

Another positive step in the right direction for an organization rife with brokenness. There’s a lot I don’t like about the organization, but this is something a love–a scouting organization open to young women and the lgbtq community. The next step is being inclusive of nonreligious agnostic and atheist youth and leaders. As well as ending the cultural appropriation of Native American peoples.

May this organization continue to build up youth, never allow further violence against youth, and make amends for all the wrongs. There’s a lot of good that comes out of organizations like this and I won’t discount it even though it’s riddled with a dark history.

  • Dojan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    5 months ago

    What? As a complete outsider (I’m from Sweden, scouts isn’t a thing here) what does scouting have to do with religion? Why would they discriminate against atheists?

    I thought scouting was about natural sciences, and helping out in the local community? Which to me sounds pretty nice!

    Edit: Scouts are a thing here in Sweden. Thank you for the corrections, I’m quite baffled I’ve managed to miss that.

    • BastingChemina@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      The three core principles of scouting are:

      • Duty to God (adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom)
      • Duty to others
      • Duty to self

      When asked where religion came into Scouting and Guiding, Baden-Powell replied “It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding”. Source

      So unfortunately removing religion from the scouting would remove one of the core principle of the movement, I don’t think it would anytime soon.

      Which is a shame because I really enjoyed my time scouting, I think it was a great balance of fun, education and learning responsibilities. But the religion aspect of it make me seriously reconsider to send my kids to do it or not.

    • Zammy95@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      The Scout Law - “A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and REVERANT.”

      Also the scout oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;…”

      • Brutticus@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        At my eagle interview, they asked me which point I would take out of the scout oath, and I said, Reverent

        • TexasDrunk@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          You should have tried to sneak in “revenant” to see if it gave you the ability to raise the dead.

      • dankm@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        In Canada they added a second option. Old: “On my honour; I promise that I will do my best; To do my duty to God and the King;…” New: “On my honour; I promise that I will do my best; To respect my country and my beliefs;…”