I'm an atheist, but I want to stay in Boy Scouts?!?

✞✞✞ The answer is obvious...You tell the Scoutmaster that you are an Atheist and you leave the Scouts...You already know this......

Autumn, actually the Girl Scouts is a separate organization that is much more tolerant. They do not require members to say 'god' in their oath. As to the question, I don't know where you got the idea you have to be an Eagle scout to get into Harvard. I wasn't, obviously, and I was accepted there. There are all kinds of extracurricular activities that can help you get in, like debate team and/or community service.

Wow, you do sound intelligent. It's hard to believe this $%^* is still happening. I seem to remember seeing a news piece about an atheist boy scout that was denied eagle scout status because he didn't believe in mother earth or some crap. It's true that a lot of presidents and leaders have been boy scouts, but those qualities come from within, and you don't need a badge on your arm to have honor, to quote "a few good men." Try to picture your life 30 years from now and ask yourself if you'd rather be an eagle scout or have stood up for your values, cause it may be one or the other,

I will make a couple of observations.

1. You like the Scouts. I don't really give a hoot why you like this group; it only matters that you do. If you really like them, then the rules are very, very clear: espouse a belief in a supreme being. You do not need to be a Christian. Just SAY you believe in God. You want to be in the organization? Then you say, "Okay. I believe in God." That's it. If you don't want to be in the organization, fine. Stick to your guns. You know the rules.

Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? If you want to be right, you might have to give up some happiness. It won't make a speck of difference to anybody else; they'll just think you're a stubborn, spoiled kid looking for attention. They won't care. The only person who will lose is you, assuming you really do like Scouting.

2. You say you know there is no God. Fascinating!! It is impossible to prove that position. God might just be hidden from you just now. Of course, I guess they don't really care if you say (a more truthful position) that you are unconvinced that there is a God -- apparently agnostics are also not allowed.

3. You seem a bit put out with others who profess religious faith and then do bad things. I share your disgust with hypocrites who espouse religious faith and then do bad things, but this is about those scum, and has nothing to do with God, so I'm not at all sure why you would even bring it up in this discussion. Lots of hypocrites believe in God -- or claim they do -- and lots of hypocrites do not believe in God -- or claim they do not. No question, there are a lot of liars on both sides. This is irrelevant to the question of whether or not God is real or whether or not God cares about us and in actively involved in our lives. So I really don't see why you even discuss it, unless for some reason you feel it is relevant. And the nature of God isn't in any way effected by my behavior, your behavior or anyone else's behavior.

Oh, and just for the record, I really have to admit that I think the leadership of this organization are foul and disgusting for excluding agnostics and atheists, but that's just my opinion. They are a private organization, and they can run it any way they dang well please, and tough bananas to kids who fancy themselves Freidenkers. (google it)

Hope this helps.

.

If atheism is true (as you must believe it is), why does your opinion matter in the universe at all? You are, by your own admission, just a random accident of time, plus matter plus chance. So, in your world-view, there is nothing "wrong" with the telling a little lie to stay in the BSA, and their is nothing "wrong" with the BSA asking you to leave if you don't meet BSA requirements.

I am a member of a church, and that church believes in God. My membership depends on my also believing in God. If I "decide" one day to become an atheist, I should not expect that church to change it's creed to match my belief system.

Bottom line -- the Boy Scouts are a private organization and can do what they please without worry of discrimination.

As for your Dad suggesting that you lie, I wouldn't worry too much about it. We all lie sometimes, even Christians. You shouldn't worry about telling a lie because you supposedly know that there are no ultimate consequences for not telling the truth, and that there is no such thing as sin -- so by your reasoning, there is nothing really wrong with anything your dad does -- in a atheistic system, man is the measure of all things and man is ultimately no more valuable than any other accident of time, matter and chance. Words like honor and morality have no meaning in a random, accidental universe. For that matter, no words and no thoughts have any real meaning. For the atheist, the mind secretes thoughts as the liver secretes bile -- so much for so-called "free-thinking."

I, too am 14 years old and an atheist. It seems that you're in a very sticky situation. But I respect that you choose not to lie, which goes against your morals.

It clearly states in the rules that atheists and homosexuals are not allowed. If you think that these rules are unjust and go against what YOU think is morally right, I think you may want to reconsider remaining a boy scout. As for your father wanting you to remain a boy scout, just let him know that you do not agree with their policies on religious beliefs/sexual orientation, and you feel that it goes against what you think is morally right. Surely he will understand. Don't just go along with the boy scouts and give in to their expectations that everyone believe the same way. It's kind of fascist if you ask me.

But I applaud you for thinking for yourself and questioning the religion that you were brought up in, as well as an organization that you belong to. Good luck.

You are on a great track. I am (kind of) shocked to hear that there is such an explicit restriction on atheists in the Boy Scouts.

With that in mind, consider that by staying you are implicitly supporting discrimination against atheists, a group you identify with.

It is a difficult decision, as I'm sure you have many friends in the Boy Scouts, and your father is encouraging you to stay. But you obviously feel very strongly about rejecting Christianity. I don't think you would be very satisfied if you stayed with the Boy Scouts.

I don't think you should be in the Scouts. If they force you to believe something you really don't, then it's not the right place for you. Maybe join another club, or a sports team. Something more accepting.

Oh, by the way, how was the God Delusion? I just got the Greatest Show on Earth for my birthday. I haven't read it yet, but I was wondering how the others were.

I'm an 8 year scout myself (quit a few years ago). I did not know about the atheist/agnostic rule. Which is completely ridiculous. I would suggest standing up for your dis-belief, maybe you'll go places. I'm sure if you bring this issue forward to the world, maybe, just maybe, it could be stopped. This is America, we believe in freedom of religion, and the scouting association needs to reminded of that. If they don't believe in freedom of religion, then they don't believe in the one of the basic freedoms our great country was founded upon. America was definitely not founded on religion, but more of an escape from religion.

This issue you've brought to my attention has really made me quite angry.

I now intend on writing a strongly worded email to the BSA, regarding this issue.

Ask them to clearly define exactly what a Christian is in an official public statement from the organization, particularly the minimum requirements to be considered a Christian by them. Then you can see. Who knows, you might fit their definition even as an atheist.

Simple: Look up Boy Scout projects and stuff on the internet and leave Boy Scout, or Don't EVER bring up religion with all the Boy Scouts. Don't talk about it.