It turns out that you have to believe in God in order to be a Boy Scout. This was a shocker to my family and we are still in disbelief. My son got his first lesson about intolerance in the society...
Being immigrants from China, we are very conscientious in getting our kids to blend into the so-called "mainstream" America, including social activities, sports, pledge of allegiance, etc. When it was my son's turn to join the Boy Scouts, it was a nobrainer. They meet every week at their school in the cafeteria. He liked the weekly meetings very much, and brought home some of the works to continue to work at home. Last week when I went to pick him up, they were reciting the Scout Oath,
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Although our family do not particularly have any strong religious beliefs, we do accept that in this country the Christian belief is the dominant religion, and we are ok with having "God" in these oaths. If in a court I am asked to take the oath on a Bible, I would do it, not because I believe in the Christian God in particular, but because I accept it as a way of promising to tell the truth. I also tell my children to accept "God" as a fact of life, and to respect other people's feelings about religion.
My son was doing fine with reciting the oath. They were practicing it so I heard him reciting it several times while I was there. Before we left, one of the Scout leaders came over to me and told me that my son had volunteered that he didn't have any beliefs. He also said that they had told him that he needed to allow others to hold their beliefs. I nodded in agreement, not realizing that this would be a problem.
A few days later, I got this email from the Scout leader,
Hello YYYY,
As a scout advances in scouting, he will be dealing with statements in
scouts like "Do my duty to God..." and "a scout is reverent", etc.
The last requirement for the Webelos badge deals with the scout's
religious beliefs and how they help guide his life and his actions.
During he last den meeting, CCCC informed me that he has no
religious beliefs. I mentioned to him that he needs to respect others
rights to believe in what they want to believe.
I do see a problem coming up for him if he continues in scouting. The
religious aspects will only get more apparent as he advances. For
instance, this February 14th is the Scout Sunday at First United
Methodist Church and we are all strongly encouraged to attend and
participate.
I don't know how to handle this requirement in order for him to
complete the Webelos award.
Scouting does not direct boys to any one religion, but the idea that
there is a supreme being is one of the most important core beliefs.
If I am mistaken on what he believes, first, I apologize, and
secondly, please complete the 8th requirement for Webelos and after he
has completed the Bobcat requirements, he will have earned his
Webelos.
XXX
In total disbelief, I went on BSA website, and found their statement of religion,
Declaration of Religious Principle, Bylaws of Boy Scouts of America, art. IX, § 1, cl. 1
"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, ‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.’ The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life."
Let me repeat, the BSA states that "no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God". Well, now I know that Boy Souts of America is indeed a group of intolerant religious zealots. After talking to my son, we decide that he does not need to be a member of such an intolerant organization.
I promised to my son that we will find other ways to help the community.