Much as I value and admire the fantastic opportunities Scouting offers to young people I wholeheartedly support the NSS criticism of Bear Grylls recent declaration that the Scouts “…allow people of all backgrounds to come together …”: when; in the teeth of all the evidence that most young people today are not religious, the Scouting movement continues to insist they will not be welcomed if they do not agree to include a duty to God in their obligatory ‘Promise’.
Many years ago now; we wrestled with the same issues when our daughter was looking to join the Girl Guides. During the conversations one exasperated leader exclaimed “she only has to say it – she doesn’t have to mean it”.
As the NSS point out in an open letter to Mr Grylls, young people either have to make a hypocritical or dishonest statement or risk being refused full membership of the Scouts. And when it comes to recruiting potential Scout leaders the Scouts compound their prejudices by categorically stating ‘The avowed absence of religious belief is a bar to appointment to a leadership position’ … a dubious distinction we non-religious now share with paedophiles.
Mr Grylls and the Scouting hierarchy are well aware that the Scouts applied for and were granted an exemption from equality legislation precisely to be able to continue this discrimination and accept only members with religious beliefs; or who are [at least] prepared to make a promise to a god – so public declarations of allowing “…people of all backgrounds to come together.” are; to say the least, disingenuous.
I hope Mr Dent reads this then he might at last understand that this is a specific legitimate criticism of the scout movement based on fact! Not a witch hunt.
Don’t hold your breath … If his earlier comments are anything to go by he strikes me to be the kind of person who sees only those things he wants to see – and hears what he wants to hear … ah well!
Nest time I see the scouts collecting (for example in Morrisons) I will refuse to contribute and politely explain it’s because they discriminate against non believers. Perhaps it would be an idea to complain to the store management as well.
The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK have recently announced they are [finally] considering extending membership to the non-religious by amending the wording in their ‘Promise’.
There has been a long campaign by the BHA & NSS for the present compulsory promise to God or another deity or religion to be optional in order that new recruits can join in with Scouting / Guiding without being obliged to lie in order to be accepted.
The Scout / Guide resistance has always seemed curious to me: not least because it appears that: as far back as 1912; the founder of the Scouting movement Baden-Powell recognised there would be people who could not, for reasons of conscience, recognize a duty to a King. Or members of religions that do not worship a deity: and members of orthodox religions that do not use the name of God in secular settings”.
It was called the Outlander Promise: “On my honour, I promise that I will do my best, To render service to my country; To help other people, And to keep the Scout Law.”
Well – now there is to be a consultation process running from 4th January to 3rd March: and it’s open to all [you don’t have to be connected to either organization]
Respond to the Scouting consultation before 31 Jan 2013: http://www.scouts.org.uk/fundamentalssurvey
Respond to Girlguiding UK’s announcement: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/news/promise_consultation_anno
unced.aspx