Gone

Hmmmm. In the military I follow because I have to. I stay because of good leaders and wanting to associate with them.

BSA has a list of accepted religions?

Then any adult seeking to ambush a kid with the "Do you believe in God" question is a pratt UNLESS they eliminate the word "God" and substitute it with "higher power" or something. If they didn't mean "God" they wouldn't use the word, would they? But like much with BSA, the right hand has no clue what the left is doing. Hence why I said I would be in any BOR if I thought I had an adult waiting to ambush a Scout with such a silly question.

Joining fee is around $75. This is a one-time fee for new scouts. Dues for Scouts $75. Dues for registered adults $30.

My point is BSA through their religious declaration is saying that anyone who does not believe in "God". Shinto is the belief in a natural power but not specifically God. Ergo, any religion that does not specifically believe in God is arguably in violation of BSA's stated policy.

First Aid Wilderness Survival Camping Weather Swimming/Lifesaving Orienteering Pioneering Climbing/Hiking EPrep Plant Science/Gardening (Have to grow food if you're lost) SAR

Like = As in this story. Not "Do you like this story".

The flip side of this is being on a camp out and leaving it to the kid to self-medicate and he ODs or something. Our unit requires any meds (prescription or over the counter) to be documented, approval given and medications/dosing to be filled out (original bottles and current date).

EXACTLY!!! We discuss how the scout is reverent and other issues, and we may discuss their duty to a higher power, but we don't specifically ask about God or religion. Most units I know in my area are like this.

No, my concern was that by asking about a belief in God you are asking a private question designed to find out if a boy believes in God or is religious. My point was that if you ask one private question designed to see if a boy is in violation of BSA rules, why not another personal question (e.g., "Are you sexually active? Do you do drugs? Have you stolen anything? When's the last time you lied?, etc.) Any of those questions are just as valid as "Do you believe in God" and the answer could also easily disqualify a Scout for Eagle....just as a negative answer about belief in God could. That's my point. On the "Declaration of Religious Principle", I am willing to bet a LARGE portion of people do not know this exists. I'd bet they certainly don't review it with their Scout, nor do they likely understand that it means if you are Shinto and not Christian and you sign the application you are likely violating this part of the BSA Bylaws.

You missed Cone of Silince.

Not if you have some yo-yo in the EBOR asking a kid about his faith in God. Give me 5 mins with that adult and I'll turn the tables on him. Ambushing a good kid in an EBOR with a personal question like that is below the belt. If an adult is going to do that I will darn well be in there with the Scout...and I don't care how it looks. How's it look being an adult ambushing a kid with a question that adult probably can't answer. Or if he can, he's likely all preachy about it. Not being Scout-like is he?

Let's be fair. The case given above discussed a scout who was unsure if he believed in God being on the fast-track to getting failed during his EBOR because of his beliefs. There is a difference between spirituality and belief in God. I am Catholic so for me they are one in the same. For others may not be. One can live the oath and law and still be unsure of their belief in God. Reverent has many meanings. Doing one's duty to God (or any higher power) can be seen in many ways. Heck, let's define God shall we? Is it the Holy Trinity or something else? Who is to say? Christ taught us about loving one's neighbor among other things. What do you do with a scout that does not necessarily believe in God -- or may be having a crisis of faith -- but lives his life (unbeknownst to him) according to Christ's teachings? Does an EBOR fail him because he does not believe in God but he lives his life cleaner than those judging him do? If we ask about a belief in God, why not ask him about his sexual activity? Many faiths believe ANY such activity before marriage (some even DURING marriage if not for procreation) are a sin, and by extension the person in question is not living up to the law or oath. This can be argued in many permutations. The simple thing to do is stick to the basics: Did the scout meet the requirements for the rank? Is he, by demonstrated deeds and actions NOT of a private nature, living the oath and law? Don't ask questions under which you yourself could stand similar scrutiny. Like I said, I have deep personal faith in God; however, if you asked anyone who knows me they'd probably no clue. I don't wear my faith on my sleeve. Others do. Great! But let's not go looking for reasons to disqualify kids for Eagle. Asking a kid about his faith in God is out of bounds IMHO.

Just curious, but why were they even asking that question about belief in God? There's nothing in the current rank requirements demanding a Scout believe in God. If asked about his belief in God or how he did his duty to God, I would instruct the Scout to answer how he did his duty OVERALL, not just to God. If he were asked directly about his belief in God I would counsel him to say that he considers that a private matter and is not really ready to discuss it. I would further counsel him to re-direct the questions to what he accomplished during his tenure overall as a Scout. To focus on his belief in God and open that to discussion you might as well ask him about his sexual orientation too. If I were anticipating such a review in my unit I would be in the room during the BOR coaching the Scout, or if needed requesting a recess to help him answer or deflect such questions. My two cents.

Uh, where?

In my area the COR and CO are not that involved in troop politics. They don't really see their role as the employer of the CC and SM. They'd more than likely defer to the DE as to who was/wasn't doing their job. I wonder how many units have this model versus the model you describe.

Stosh needs Snapchat.

I'm going to convert to Scientology just to make BSA's head spin on the whole "God" and religion issue. Go Thetans!!! Beat Xenu!!!

Yup, ours too; hence the process I described. It really has helped. The number of projects getting rejected by district has gone way down and the skill set learned by our boys has gone up. One recent grad came back from college and remarked how he was able to use the skills learned in project planning and execution during his Eagle process in college. Straight As and leader of his science club's development project. Another said the skills helped him manage his computer programming project for his final grade. It may not seem like it, but just as first aid or cooking, the project management skills were "life skills" they learned as part of this process. We as adults just helped to hone what was there.

LOL....right. I hate it when I get those parent calls saying I've been praising their kids too much and would I please stop!

Chapter 4 of this wonderful document. As a general rule our adults do NOT address the troop. Our SM meets with the SPL and PLC to make sure THEY KNOW that they run the troop. They can request, and do, that the adults stay in the background and do not address the troop. Period. If your CC cannot abide by that then, frankly, I'd have a meeting with the SPL and CC to make sure each knows their role. If the CC continues to be Der Führer you may not have many options left besides leaving. Frankly, I'd flat out ask him why he feels the need to be so hands on in an organization designed to develop boys as leaders. He may be in the wrong organization depending on his answer.

So not a bug but a question: What is the "Thanks" and "Vote Post Up" per person, per day quota. It seems it is set awfully low or I am handing them out like Eagle badges in my district (did I say that? ).

Yeah, it's in the garbage. I will send it to you.

So BSA requires leaders to live in the council in which they serve? ROFL...good luck enforcing that one, BSA. I suspect BSA that the unit belongs to the council in which it is CHARTERED, not where the leaders live. That would be just silly to require leaders to live in council....and even tougher to enforce.

It it the pendulum swinging the other way after 2013's fun issue.