Fishman

This is America 2012. A nation of fatties. Scouting is not immune any more than just about any activity. About the only place I've gone too where fat isn't a majority is when my wife goes to races (5k+). People just don't take care of themselves.

Ok so we went to the meeting and it looks like things will be alright. The charter is through what is basically the school PTA. The religious aspects don't seem to be stressed and it looks like a pretty good group. I appreciate the input I received here.

"I guess I still think the Oath would be best and easiest to follow the path that the Pledge of Allegence has.. It still has "under God" in it, because many would be upset with it being removed.. But an Athiest can remain silent during this line, and still be considered respectful of his country in his version of the Pledge.. I am sure an atheist group has done something to remove the silent pause, if doing the pledge within their own group." As someone who grew up atheist while attending Catholic school for most of the time until I was 18, and is now over 40, I've never worried to much about saying "under God" or the like. Its not like I worry it will do something bad to say it, that it will "turn me religious", nor do I worry about its affect on my son. I think thats where many atheists loose the plot. As long as your life isn't being directly repressed by religion somehow, I see no reason to attack its public displays.

I have to say I've been encouraged by what I've been reading here. Yes I expect there will be those who are dogmatic on the issue, but that I can deal with. We will see how the recruitment meeting goes tonight.

"So are you strong atheists, meaning that you have no doubt that there is no possibility of God or gods, or are you weak atheists, and just see no signs that there is a God or gods." One of the ironies of atheism if that if you are a strong atheist, you are exhibiting faith. I allow for the possibility, I just count that as a very low possibility, and even lower for the versions of god taught by most organized religions. God can not be disproved logically, I just see no evidence or need. I myself am not anti-religion in that you won't see me ever complaining about "In God we Trust" on our money, and I've supported the Boy Scouts in terms of their stances on homosexuality and religion at a philosophical level. While I was only luke warm on scouting and quit when we moved when I was a child, my father was an Eagle Scout. What I wasn't expecting though was my son to come home VERY excited about the scouts and having to deal with the offical stance on atheism. These issues are beyond a 7 year old, and I don't want to see him hurt either by denying him the option, or him being told he can't play in the reindeer games later on.)(This message has been edited by Fishman)

This is an old thread, I know but the topic I'm sure comes up every year. I actually became an atheist while I was in scouts (no relation) and before a priest tried to touch me inappropriately (no relation to it either). My son is 7 and I've raised him so far "religion neutral". I've never mentioned gods or god one way or another. Not to long ago someone at school did and he came home and asked about it. I asked what do you think? And his response was he didn't think it was real. Then of course being 7 he gets the scouting presentation at his public school (as a libertarian myself I have no problem with scouts discriminating on this issue, I do have an issue with it at a public school). It of course has nothing to do with god but all about what every boy would like. So hes all excited about the presentation tonight (again at his school). Apparently to scouting its ok if you believe every other religion is going to hell of some sort, that gods have multiple heads and may wear a necklace of severed heads (points if you know the religion), but secular humanism is right out. I've decided to let him join if he wants for a couple of reasons. If it turns out to be a more lax troop, odds are he won't have an issue, and if it turns out to be one that is not he will learn a valuable lesson about people.