The world we live in... again

This is ironic... Right after enthusing about how Scouts are maintaining a Christian presence in our secular country, and still encouraging boys to "do their duty to God and country" I read this as I was browsing through Christianity magazine:

"Scouts Consult on Including Atheists.

"The UK Scout "promise" may be changed to accommodate atheists and those unable to make the existing commitment.

A nationwide survey was launched last month asking members whether alternative wording should be developed.

The 105-year old organisation said the consultation was about 'finding a way to allow young people and adults who have not previously been able to join the movement to be part of the scouting adventure."

The UK scouting movement has been under pressure from secular campaigners over the religious pledge.

In October it was reported that George Pratt, an 11 -yr old from Somerset, was refused membership in his local troop after he said he was an atheist and declined to make the promise.

Assistant director Simon Carter told Christianity, "The consultation will be open until the end of January, If we do go down the pathway of offering a variation in the promise, there'll be another whole discussion around what that promise says. It's an open consultation, so even if you're not a member, you can make a comment, and we're interested in all views." Alternative versions of the promise are currently available for people of other faiths."
         Christianity February 2013 pg 10

In my opinion, non-Christians should not have to say a promise they don't mean, nor be excluded - but, don't take away the promise for everyone, just to suit the few. What will we be left with?

Alex's Promise

So pleased that Alex has joined the Boy Scouts and was invested on Friday evening. Dan and I went with him to watch the event, in a tucked-away Scout Hut, where an old boy scouter, Terry, who must be 70 if he is a day, manages to corrall a crowd of scruffy boys, make them stand in their patrols, make them all salute him, and then gives them a ton of fun every Friday evening. I take my hat off to him. It was only Alex's third time going, but his friends who have been there for a while rave about it. The moment the evenings get a bit lighter, all the meetings are held outdoors and involve being in the woods, lighting fires, learning outdoor skills. For now they seem to play wild games in the Scout Hut, and build things.

The investment included having to walk across a rickety plank bridge set up across some chairs, and then the usual exchange of questions and the promise, said with right hand held up by the ear in the three-fingered Scout salute.

"Do you know what your honour is?"   "Yes"

"So you can be trusted?"   "Yes"

"Do you know the Scout Law?"  "Yes"

"Do you know the Scout promise?"

"On my honour,
I promise that I will try my best
to do my duty to God and the Queen,
to help other people,
and to keep the Scout law."

In this very secular country where we now live, it amazed me to hear not only Alex but several other boys as well (!) promising to do their duty to God and the Queen. OK, they probably don't mean it... all of them... but, there they are, forty boys on a Friday night, laughing, playing, saluting an old man and showing him respect, inspecting their gangly green-cloth arms patched with tens of badges,
under the banner of promises of honour and trust. This is Good.

I am so glad Alex is a Scout. And I am grateful for Terry and others like him, who give their time, to give boys a chance to live well.