DawnM
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2005
- Messages
- 16,648
According to the boy scouts, Buddhists are not atheists.
Here is their official stance from Wikipedia:
The BSA does not require adherence to any particular religious beliefs or ethos beyond this. The Boy Scout Handbook goes on to explain that "A Scout is Reverent" simply means that "A Scout is reverent towards God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." Buddhists, followers of Native American religions, Muslims, Jews, Christians of all denominations, Wiccans, and many others, including those who define their own spirituality, can be and are members of the BSA. The BSA recognizes religious awards for over 38 faith groups including Baha'i, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Hinduism, and 28 varieties of Christianity.[11] Boy Scouts of America approved religious emblems exist for all these except for Wicca and Native American religions. The former exists but has not been approved due to the fact that there are fewer than 25 chartered Wiccan units
Was your BIL openly gay when he was in boy scouts? I am honestly not sure if the homosexual thing has to do with only leaders or boys too. According to the same Wikipedia article, it seems to refer to leaders only.
Dawn
Here is their official stance from Wikipedia:
The BSA does not require adherence to any particular religious beliefs or ethos beyond this. The Boy Scout Handbook goes on to explain that "A Scout is Reverent" simply means that "A Scout is reverent towards God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." Buddhists, followers of Native American religions, Muslims, Jews, Christians of all denominations, Wiccans, and many others, including those who define their own spirituality, can be and are members of the BSA. The BSA recognizes religious awards for over 38 faith groups including Baha'i, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Hinduism, and 28 varieties of Christianity.[11] Boy Scouts of America approved religious emblems exist for all these except for Wicca and Native American religions. The former exists but has not been approved due to the fact that there are fewer than 25 chartered Wiccan units
Was your BIL openly gay when he was in boy scouts? I am honestly not sure if the homosexual thing has to do with only leaders or boys too. According to the same Wikipedia article, it seems to refer to leaders only.
Dawn
Not sure we can say they don't allow them to join. The local homeschool Boy Scout group said they would be happy to allow DS to join, though he is Buddhist (DH is Buddhist and was a Boy Scout). The leaders said that they are Christian and they have Christian stuff in their houses, and they lead prayers, but that they don't require the kids to join in.
And BIL was in the Boy Scouts, and he's gay (and Buddhist).
But the organization has official stances...which is the problem. It's just that not all troops go along with the national stuff.
I'm so sorry about that. I had some trivial stuff with my wedding photographer and it still rankles...let alone having a problem with them being out of focus!
