Atheism and the scouts...

[Napoléon]

The UK scout association is "considering" an alternative oath for atheists apparently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20584208

The 105-year-old movement is launching a consultation to see if members would back a Scout Promise for those who feel unable to pledge a "duty to God".

Versions of the oath already exist for the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist faiths, but this is the first time such an adaptation has been considered.

If there are already different versions for Muslims, Buddhists etc, why is it even debatable that the non-religious are entitled to their own version too?

It's really quite funny that the scouts seem to get so arsey about it. I remember reading an article on the Daily Fail about one such instance (yeah and what). An 11 year old kid didn't want to mention "God", so he wasn't allowed to join.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...y-God.html

Is this not discrimination pure and simple? Or are the scouts entitled to have the oath they like?

For the record, I didn't even know the scouts got into the whole god business at all. I thought it was simply about hiking, going out picking up litter, earning badges and generally being a nice person. Why do you need to say an oath to god to do any of that?


I thought I'd point out a funny quote from the BBC article though:

But the grandson of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell told the BBC that the words of the oath provide a "sense of purpose to cling on to"

That choice of words. "Cling on". Tells you a hell of a lot doesn't it.

[Cyberman]

Sure does:



When I was a wee laddie, I was a member of a local Cub Scouts troop for a short time. I say a short time, because the only activities we ever did seemed to revolve around church and football. Since even at that age I was never a fan of either, it was decidedly boring. The tin hat on it was when my 'Six' won some competition or other, the prize for which was to be a trip to the pictures, and I was ruled ineligible to share in the prize because I hadn't been a member all that long. For a young lad in single figures, this was an insulting disappointment. Luckily my parents agreed and I never went back.

[Napoléon]

the prize for which was to be a trip to the pictures, and I was ruled ineligible to share in the prize because I hadn't been a member all that long

Miserable cunts.

[Kayenneh]

For the record, I didn't even know the scouts got into the whole god business at all. I thought it was simply about hiking, going out picking up litter, earning badges and generally being a nice person.

At least the scout troop I belonged to wasn't too religious, once a year we had a gathering at a church, where special commendations were awarded during st. George's day. I can't remember that we ever had to say an oath involving any gods.. It was really all about wilderness survival, badges, community service, sailing and having fun, but I know of troops in Finland that are really religious.

[Cyberman]

the prize for which was to be a trip to the pictures, and I was ruled ineligible to share in the prize because I hadn't been a member all that long

Miserable cunts.

You said it. It's one of my earliest memories of that sort of disappointment-by-shell-game. Probably explains quite a lot.

[Annik]

Scouts and acceptance is really dependent on who is running your local troop. My father was a Scoutmaster for many years and he would've never done that to you, Stimbo. ): He actually ended up making his own troop in Boy Scouts because the only other troop in town was miserable and elitist.

[Welsh cake]

As a child I never had a single nice day with the cubs or scouts. Some people have had it far worse than me when Akela stops leading and starts interfering with the younger members of the pack.

Fuck them all.

[Minimalist]

If there are already different versions for Muslims, Buddhists etc, why is it even debatable that the non-religious are entitled to their own version too?

Because the cunts subscribe to the notion that any god is better than no god.

[frankiej]

I was in the Scouts for a very short period of time... I simply asked if I could omit any religiousy parts of the oath and they were okay with that. I then found out that it was far more boring than causing mischief around my neighbourhood, so I left.

[Minimalist]

Yup.


Tying knots and walking in the woods is much less enjoyable than drinking beer and fucking.