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Today in quarantine, I started to rummage through my old scouting gear, uniforms, and patches and it got me thinking about this conversation I had about a year ago with a fellow Eagle Scout.
The conversation was about inclusion within Scouts BSA and some of it’s shortcomings.
The conversation was about inclusion within Scouts BSA and some of it’s shortcomings.
Personally, I am proud of many of the great strides BSA has made in becoming a more inclusive org. From allowing members of the LGBTQ+ community and girls to join, BSA has shown a great deal of willingness to become more inclusive.
But one group still can’t join.
Atheists
But one group still can’t join.
Atheists
That’s the conversation we had. Is it right for the Scouts to continue to bar Atheists from joining the ranks?
His argument was anchored in a section of the “Scout Law” that stipulates a Scout must be “Reverent”. Below is the definition provided by the Handbook.
His argument was anchored in a section of the “Scout Law” that stipulates a Scout must be “Reverent”. Below is the definition provided by the Handbook.
Included within the BSA charter and bylaws is the “Declaration of Religious Principle”, which requires leaders and scouts to adhere to the belief of a higher being. Doesn’t matter which religion, just have “a” religion. https://discussions.scouting.org/t/declaration-of-religious-principle-drp/134487/2
Now at this point, I brung up the First Amendment and how our nation cherishes freedom of religion. Surely a group as dedicated to patriotism and upholding the Constitution as the Scouts is wouldn’t continue openly disregarding such a key piece of Bill of Rights? Right?
I decided then to drop a fact that made this a little more personal.
I’m an Eagle Scout. I’m an accomplished Eagle Scout who has completed his Ordeal, joined the Order of the Arrow, and served as SPL.
And I’m an atheist.
I’m personally affected by this ban.
I’m an Eagle Scout. I’m an accomplished Eagle Scout who has completed his Ordeal, joined the Order of the Arrow, and served as SPL.
And I’m an atheist.
I’m personally affected by this ban.
What’s troubling is not that the BSA is a religious organization with many religious events and positions of leadership. What’s troubling is that if I told my Scoutmaster or anyone in leadership I was an atheist, I could’ve been booted from the group for good.
Of course, I never did. I wasn’t about to squander my chance to join the elite 6% of Scouts who made Eagle.
So I kept quiet.
So I kept quiet.
Anyway, as stated before, The BSA has made some amazing strides over the years. It’s certainly possible the next one will be to end their prohibition on scouts without religion.
That’s what I hope for. And that’s something I’ll continue to advocate for as an Atheist Eagle Scout.
That’s what I hope for. And that’s something I’ll continue to advocate for as an Atheist Eagle Scout.
I want to stress that the point of this tweet isn’t to bring attention to myself so much as it’s to bring more attention to the problem broadly.
As a nation that cherishes religious freedom, we shouldn’t be discriminating against others on the basis of their religion or lack of.
As a nation that cherishes religious freedom, we shouldn’t be discriminating against others on the basis of their religion or lack of.
