Pentagon To Cut Boy Scouts From Bases

[Sharp-kun]

Ironic that the Scouts are so against homosexuals considering that Baden Powell who started off scouting was a homosexual.

Its the Boy Scouts of America, not the Scouts as a whole that have these policies. I told the Chief Scout I was atheist, he didn't care. One of the guys who got his Queens Scout the year after me was gay, nobody cared.

[Master of Ossus]

Ironic that the Scouts are so against homosexuals considering that Baden Powell who started off scouting was a homosexual.

Its the Boy Scouts of America, not the Scouts as a whole that have these policies. I told the Chief Scout I was atheist, he didn't care. One of the guys who got his Queens Scout the year after me was gay, nobody cared.

He also founded it as an alternative to Christian youth groups, but they don't care about that, either. The BSA's position is actually spectacularly ironic, since they use Powell's name for its historical significance, but have completely divorced themselves from the principles they were founded on and completely ignore the fact that modern scouting has little or nothing to do with what it was intended to do.

[jegs2]

I was in the Boy Scouts for a couple of years in the early 80's. Some little Hitler wannabe somehow thought I was in competition with him, made First Class (I was a Second Class), and then became a Patrol Leader. He then tried to make life in the Scouts miserable for me, at which point I thought to myself, "I'm paying for this ... Why?!"

I quit shortly thereafter. Did earn three merit badges and some skill awards.

[Enforcer Talen]

I went on sabbattical because I was in a troop of inbred farmers.

after I moved, I joined said boyscout gang, and had a lot of fun.

never made it past first class, tho.

[Plekhanov]

Ironic that the Scouts are so against homosexuals considering that Baden Powell who started off scouting was a homosexual.

Its the Boy Scouts of America, not the Scouts as a whole that have these policies. I told the Chief Scout I was atheist, he didn't care. One of the guys who got his Queens Scout the year after me was gay, nobody cared.

Sharp-Kuns right it’s just the BSoA the scouting movement in Britain (and as far as I’m aware in most of the rest of the world) is, no doubt to much to Shep’s disgust, really quite enlightened

There is no basis on which any Volunteer offering his or her services in any capacity can be refused an appointment in, or Membership of, the Movement on the grounds of heterosexual or homosexual orientation. Homosexuality has been perceived as incompatible with Scouting by some people (both within and outside The Scout Association) on the basis of a presumed link between homosexuality and paedophilia. This perception has been used to deny homosexual people the chance to work with young people as Scout Leaders. There is no link between homosexuality and paedophilia, and therefore there is no justification for restricting Membership on this basis.

Also It's OK to be gay and a Scout! Advice for young people. (from Development) pdf

For some reason they aren't so good on Atheism though:

The Scout Movement is not a religious organisation, but does expect its Members to follow a religious faith and conform to its practices. A belief in the spiritual aspect of human beings and a belief in a spiritual power greater than ourselves is fundamental to Membership of the Scout Movement. Religious observances are part of the regular life of the Scout Group and the wider Movement. As Scouting, both in the United Kingdom and world-wide, is open to followers of all faiths these observances include a range of prayers and worship, dietary requirements and behavioural rules.

These principles are clearly stated in the Religious Policy of The Scout Association as laid out in Policy, Organisation and Rules. A Warranted Leader must be both fit and able to carry out the Religious Policy of the Association, in which their role is to:

* promote the spiritual development of the young people in the Group (who may be of the same or a different faith);
* demonstrate to the young people their own beliefs and practices.


3. Restrictions to adult Membership on the basis of religious belief

While it is not acceptable to deny a volunteer entry to the Movement because of their membership of a faith community, a person would not be suitable as a Leader if he or she:

* were an atheist;
* believed that religious belief and spiritual development did not matter, although were willing to make the Promise;
* were a humanist and did not believe in a spiritual aspect to human beings;
* had religious beliefs which conflicted with other fundamental principles of Scouting, such as the world-wide family of Scouting.

These requirements are less strict for Helpers and Administrators who are not required to make the Promise.

Must say the policy on atheist leaders surprised me, I was a beaver, a cub and a scout and even though we were called the 26th Methodists & met in a Church Hall (because we couldn’t afford a Hall of our own) and went on monthly Church Parades (largely due to tradition & also it seemed polite seeing as how we used the hall) scouts was totally irreligious in practice.