Petition the BSA to change its policy of discrimination
April 21, 2011 at 12:01 pm
(This post was last modified: April 21, 2011 at 12:04 pm by kopper.)
Stop the Boy Scouts of America's Discrimination Against Atheists and Agnostics!
Please sign this petition at Change.org:
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the...-agnostics
My son's den leader invited me to leadership training because she felt I would be a great candidate to become a Scout leader. I had to let her know that, because I'm an atheist, they don't want people like me as role models:
From: http://www.bsalegal.org/duty-to-god-cases-224.asp
● Youth and Adult Volunteers
Boy Scouts of America believes that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. Accordingly, youth members and adult volunteer leaders of Boy Scouts of America obligate themselves to do their duty to God and be reverent as embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Leaders also must subscribe to the Declaration of Religious Principle. Because of its views concerning the duty to God, Boy Scouts of America believes that an atheist or agnostic is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law for adolescent boys. Because of Scouting's methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as members or adult volunteer leaders. (emphasis mine)
Remember: I did not join this organization; my son did. He's 7 and far too young to be concerned with the whole atheists vs. theists argument. He just wants to be a Cub Scout because he has friends in his den and he's enjoying the activities and doing positive things for the community. I'm not going to tell him, "Sorry, you can't join because your dad is an atheist." I'm letting him do something he enjoys. I myself was a Scout when I was a kid and I loved it, too. It helps build character and it really is a lot of fun and keeps kids busy doing things that other organizations don't. I wish there was an alternative to them, but there's not. At least none that I have found. Anyway, this petition is being sent to Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America (Robert J. Mazzuca) and President, Boy Scouts of America (Rex Tillerson).
The BSA may be private, but they do benefit from government support. And they're not a church or a cult; they're supposed to be about outdoorsmanship, skills training, leadership, teamwork, education and character building. Thus, their policy of discrimination is WRONG, because by doing so, they're actually encouraging their own members to also be discriminatory against people like us, and that needs to change. So please sign the petition above and share it with your friends and family. Thank you.
Please sign this petition at Change.org:
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the...-agnostics
Quote:OVERVIEW
The Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation's largest not-for-profits, discriminates against atheists and agnostics and has done so for years. 16.1% of America identifies themself as agnostic or atheist, so the Boy Scouts of America is discriminating against quite a sizable minority. The Boy Scouts of America also claims they are open to different religions, which is true. But the irreligious are completely left out. Stop this discrimination, and help us take religion out of the picture.
The Boy Scouts of America also claims they are open to different religions, which is true. But the irreligious are completely left out. Stop this discrimination, and help us take religion out of the picture.
My son's den leader invited me to leadership training because she felt I would be a great candidate to become a Scout leader. I had to let her know that, because I'm an atheist, they don't want people like me as role models:
From: http://www.bsalegal.org/duty-to-god-cases-224.asp
● Youth and Adult Volunteers
Boy Scouts of America believes that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. Accordingly, youth members and adult volunteer leaders of Boy Scouts of America obligate themselves to do their duty to God and be reverent as embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Leaders also must subscribe to the Declaration of Religious Principle. Because of its views concerning the duty to God, Boy Scouts of America believes that an atheist or agnostic is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law for adolescent boys. Because of Scouting's methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as members or adult volunteer leaders. (emphasis mine)
Remember: I did not join this organization; my son did. He's 7 and far too young to be concerned with the whole atheists vs. theists argument. He just wants to be a Cub Scout because he has friends in his den and he's enjoying the activities and doing positive things for the community. I'm not going to tell him, "Sorry, you can't join because your dad is an atheist." I'm letting him do something he enjoys. I myself was a Scout when I was a kid and I loved it, too. It helps build character and it really is a lot of fun and keeps kids busy doing things that other organizations don't. I wish there was an alternative to them, but there's not. At least none that I have found. Anyway, this petition is being sent to Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America (Robert J. Mazzuca) and President, Boy Scouts of America (Rex Tillerson).
The BSA may be private, but they do benefit from government support. And they're not a church or a cult; they're supposed to be about outdoorsmanship, skills training, leadership, teamwork, education and character building. Thus, their policy of discrimination is WRONG, because by doing so, they're actually encouraging their own members to also be discriminatory against people like us, and that needs to change. So please sign the petition above and share it with your friends and family. Thank you.
