Re:Mike Replies To A Slightly Offended, Not Very Enthusiasti...
by SwellJoe on Thursday June 17, 2010 @04:29PM
(#1440236)
The rules were probably the same or worse when you were younger.
Not quite true, according to what I've read. The BSA had no official policy on homosexuals or atheists until a few years ago. No position is definitely better than a position of blatant intolerance, in this case.
Admittedly, "reverent" has been in the Boy Scouts Law forever, as far as I know. It does not define "God", though, so it's a pretty flexible sort of thing. The Order of the Arrow, and its borrowing of lots of Native American mythology, seems to make it clear that "God" means whatever your conception of God might be, probably including a simple naturalist concept of greatest good, which I'd have no trouble professing reverence for. Jewish and Muslim kids are welcome in the Boy Scouts, so it can't be merely the Christian God.
Consider: refusal to participate and let youth see your good example hurts only the boys. And really helps no one.
Valid argument. But, the fact that the official position of the Boy Scouts is now against gays and atheists, the only example I could set would be one of lying in order to participate. Being an atheist, I am explicitly prohibited from being involved in Boy Scout leadership. I would have to profess beliefs I do not hold, either actively or passively, in order to take part. I'm not willing to do that. I'm not an angry atheist, or anything, and I don't really care to trumpet my beliefs (or lack thereof) from the rooftops, but I also won't pretend to believe in something I actually believe is generally a destructive force.
Not quite true, according to what I've read. The BSA had no official policy on homosexuals or atheists until a few years ago. No position is definitely better than a position of blatant intolerance, in this case.
Admittedly, "reverent" has been in the Boy Scouts Law forever, as far as I know. It does not define "God", though, so it's a pretty flexible sort of thing. The Order of the Arrow, and its borrowing of lots of Native American mythology, seems to make it clear that "God" means whatever your conception of God might be, probably including a simple naturalist concept of greatest good, which I'd have no trouble professing reverence for. Jewish and Muslim kids are welcome in the Boy Scouts, so it can't be merely the Christian God.
Consider: refusal to participate and let youth see your good example hurts only the boys. And really helps no one.
Valid argument. But, the fact that the official position of the Boy Scouts is now against gays and atheists, the only example I could set would be one of lying in order to participate. Being an atheist, I am explicitly prohibited from being involved in Boy Scout leadership. I would have to profess beliefs I do not hold, either actively or passively, in order to take part. I'm not willing to do that. I'm not an angry atheist, or anything, and I don't really care to trumpet my beliefs (or lack thereof) from the rooftops, but I also won't pretend to believe in something I actually believe is generally a destructive force.