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Rant

Over 28 Million Scouts and More then Half are Muslim

Posted 24 months ago|18 comments|560 views
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According to a report by BBC the Scouts plans to recruit more Muslim volunteers has come under scrutiny. "Currently, there are 24 Muslim Scout groups in the UK and the Scouts Association says more adults are needed to cut long waiting lists."

It used to be that scout were tied to religious or faith organizations.

"The Scouts Association has traditionally had strong links to several different faith groups in the UK, with churches and synagogues providing practical and financial support for local groups.

It said this allowed communities to use the scouting ethos as a template to instil broad religious values such as honesty and integrity into young people.

But the National Secular Society said separating young people on the basis of religious belief discouraged integration. "

Scouting has sure gotten complicated. It is hard to walk the middle line and it is only human to lean to the left or right.

It always amazes me, and I mean no disrespect to Muslims. But in our country we are suppose to drop our beliefs in God, yet no one else seems to have to let go of their beliefs. Nor would they allow someone to tell them to. Others demand their rights, and rightly so.

Scouts should not be about Christians or Muslims. Yet somehow religion does end up dividing us. Maybe we should rename the scouts organization and just start a fresh new organization, without religion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/86849...


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COMMENTS
Siempre Solo
Siempre Solo
Auburn, NY
24 months ago: Please no firecrackers for them!
24 months ago: HUH? What is wrong with "serve God and Country"?

Where does it say to serve a Jewish, Christian or Muslim God?
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: "But in our country we are suppose to drop our beliefs in God, yet no one else seems to have to let go of their beliefs."

Very astute observation. Why do you suppose this is, that Christianity and Judaism come under such fire, unlike any other religion. And Christians and Jews are admonished to be tolerant, to be quiet in their beliefs, and keep their beliefs out of public places and organizations?

Could it be that the one true God has no place in this world? Now, I did not say the one true religion, there is none.
24 months ago: yes I agree
markbyrn
markbyrn
 Moderator
24 months ago: ...Could it be that the one true God has no place in this world?...

Spoken like a true Christian supremacist and religious zealots in America have religious alternatives to Boy Scouts such as the 'Royal Rangers'. When I was in Boy Scouts and subsequently the Explorer Scouts, it was purely non-sectarian - your god could be a tree for all they cared but I imagine it's somewhat location dependent as to the amount of religiosity that might be promoted.

I agree with Chrissy although I'd do it in reverse - make the Boy Scouts nonsectarian and let the religious run their own Scouting alternatives.
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: "Spoken like a true Christian supremacist"

Thank you. I'm not conceited, just convinced.
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: The BSA version of the Scout Law states in part: "A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion."
The BSA "Declaration of Religious Principle" states that "no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation of God and, 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 organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_e...%29
24 months ago: Like I said above. To God and Country. How many of you can rightfully display what is in todays avatar of TCG?
24 months ago: serve God and Country
24 months ago: 1. The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.
2. An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype: the very avatar of cunning.
3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity: occultism in its present avatar.
24 months ago: you missed the avatar. todays is not he one. I'll repost if needed.

Yes, serve "God and Country"

However, my troop taught me before I earned the highest award...

serve "God, Family and Country" in that order.
markbyrn
markbyrn
 Moderator
24 months ago: ...but it is absolutely nonsectarian...

I think I mentioned that.

...Thank you. I'm not conceited, just convinced...

Convinced + Deluded = You're Welcome
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: Not non-sectarian enough to award P.R.A.Y. status to Wiccan organization Church of the Goddess. As a matter of fact, the CooG's application for recognition by the BSA prompted redefining the requirements for such recognition.

"Convinced + deluded = You're welcome"

That's your opinion, and you have every right to it. If anything, it makes my faith even stronger.
Altruist
Altruist
Eugene, OR
24 months ago: I agree that the scouts should be completely non religious. The concepts of honesty and integrity are not necessarily religious concepts. They are universal and valued in every society. Kids should be allowed to learn all of the valuable lifeskills the scouts teach without proselytizing one religion or sect being superior to another. They should be in the business of teaching kids to tie knots, not how to save souls.
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: Ok, proportionally speaking, Muslims make up a large segment of the religious population. And like it or not, the Boys Scouts is a religious organization, with added emphasis on civic responsibility, duty, and self-sufficiency. Thankfully, so far anyway, the Supreme Court has sided with the Constitution when dealing with atheists' claims of discrimination by the BSA.

http://www.princeton.edu/~lawjourn/Sprin...
In Scouting, religion is an essential part of the association, and belief in "something higher than ourselves," regardless of what it is, helps to instill the selflessness and reverence that are the foundations of a Scout's character. Non-believers can certainly have such laudable qualities, but for the Boy Scouts these qualities must be tied to, and are reinforced by, the belief in God.


But I guess that next you will be insisting that they are discriminatory against girls, and that they should be forced to accept them, like they did with the Jaycees.


The "imagined freedoms" you are suggesting be taken away is known as the freedom of religion and the freedom of association, otherwise known as the First Amendment to the Constitution.
24 months ago: OOTB - I agree. If folk don't like the Scouts inclusion and submission to God that's their prerogative. However trying to mess up the core of the organization is wrong.

Why screw up the BSA? All the dissenters have to do is simply start up another type of boys scouting group from the ground up and have fun with that. It's a pretty simple solution but some folk just like to cause trouble and make waves rather than respect what has already been established.
24 months ago: Gosh, it is such a mystery. Young men who pledge: A scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Brave, Clean and Reverent are found in Churches? Yes, quite a mystery.
24 months ago: Woop, Left out "Thrifty". Yes, when a young man is able to say and mean these things, don't you think he is also capable of understanding his Church's religion? Church creed isn't meant to be literally applied toward eliminating friendships. Instead he can apply his religion's principles in appropriate ways.

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