GRRR Stupid Boy Scouts!!!

[irishgrl]

apparently you must profess a belief in God, and attend some sort of service or you cant join or advance in rank. they dont recognize the Wiccan Way either.

Im really pissed right now because my son wants to join but I'll be DAMNED if I'll let the Religious Fundies force me or my boy to attend an organized religious service. and just in case anyone doubts their position:

All levels of advancement in the Scouting program have requirements recognizing “duty to God”:

● Bobcat Cub Scout
A boy is required to promise to do his best to do his “duty to God,” which means “Put God first. Do what you know God wants you to do.” (seems harmless right?)

● Wolf Cub Scout
A boy is required to “[t]alk with your folks about what they believe is their duty to God,” “[g]ive some ideas on how you can practice or demonstrate your religious beliefs,” and “[f]ind out how you can help your church, synagogue, or religious fellowship.” (unless your church isnt recognized by BSA...then what?)

● Bear Cub Scout
A boy is required to “[p]ractice your religion as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious community” or “[e]arn the religious emblem of your faith.” (see below)

● Webelos Scout
A boy is required to either “[e]arn the religious emblem of your faith” or do two of the following:

“Attend the church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs, and tell your family and Webelos den leader about what you learned.”;

“Tell how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, Discuss this with your family and Webelos den leader: What character-building traits do your beliefs and the Scout Oath and Scout Law have in common?”;

“With your religious leader, discuss and write down two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things.”;

“Pray to God or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, synagogue, or religious group. Do this for at least one month.”;

“Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos den leader. Tell them how it made you feel.”; or

“List at least two ways you believe you have lived according to your religious beliefs.”

and they dont recognize Wiccan religious symbols (for example, the Hart and Crescent--

Question: since AA talks about a higher power, are they a religious organization? I gotta wonder how that would play in the press.

Answer: Yes, they are. Courts in several states have ruled that AA attendance can't be mandatory precisely because they are a religious organization, because of that bit about a "higher power" (AA isn't the only game in town, and their success rate isn't very good anyway). Courts can mandate alcohol treatment, but they can't mandate theistic alcohol treatment.

The BSA has refused to recognize a Wiccan religious award (the Hart and Crescent) apparently because they don't like that religion.

taken from Are the Boy Scouts a Religion?


And here is a court case they lost (check out the last sentence--this is from the BSA legal issues site):

● Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America, 275 F. Supp. 2d 1259 (S.D. Cal. 2003) The City of San Diego has established policies for leasing City property to nonprofit groups which benefit the community. Other lessees include the Girl Scouts, the Salvation Army, a Jewish Community Center, and Presbyterian churches, among dozens of other community organizations. Still other groups receive money subsidies from the City, although Boy Scouts does not. Nevertheless, the District Court held that the lease to Boy Scouts violated the Establishment Clause because the City did not seek non-religious bidders to compete for the lease. The effect of the decision is to discriminate against Boy Scouts for believing in God.

there's more believe me...Im just outraged that the Fundies have taken over this hallowed American Organization. I know it wasnt like this when my Brother was a member...and to show Im not Bull****ting ya:

Hey, the Boy Scouts USED to be a public accommodation until they got taken over by theists. Shoot I got my Religion merit badge with a project that basically said the only viable religion was Deism signed off by a Baptist minister.

What happened is the BSA went before the highest court of the land and claimed they had become a private religious organization and by doing so they voluntarily closed a number doors that are open to public accommodations. A federal agency CAN'T sponsor a private discriminatory religious youth group anymore than they could a chapter of DeMoley or the KKK Youth. Civil municipalities operate under the same rules usually. The BSA tossed all these options away because THEY changed and they became something they hadn't been in the past.

Any price they pay is the result of their own actions and of their own choice. Private religious organizations shouldn't expect to get special deals from civic governments.

Posted by: BobVB at February 19, 2006 08:59 PM

more by BobVB:

As long as the BSA has a religious test for participation they ARE a religious organization be definition! This isn't about an 'acknowledgement' of God', the YMCA has that - but they REQUIRE a belief in God for participation -that they clearly confirmed this by their own statements before the Supreme Court of the United States is just icing on the cake.

(all these blog posts are found on the above link should anyone care to read the whole page, I must say its pretty enlightening...)