The SA have announced the following –
The Scout Association (TSA) has launched an additional alternative version to the core Scout Promise in order to officially welcome atheists into the Movement.
Following an extensive 10-month consultation process within and outside of the Movement, TSA has introduced an additional alternative version of the Scout Promise that can be taken by those without a faith for the first time in its 106-year history.
See the rest of the article here.
The wording of the new Promise for atheists has been announced today. And I think it’s not a bad thing. The main Promise stays as it is but this is an alternative and
Scouting remains fully committed as a Movement that explores faith and religion as a core element of its programme.
I think they’ve done the right thing and not dropped faith as the Guides have done. The announcement has had a positive reaction from both faith leaders and the British Humanist Association (see the SA’s article). Shame the National Secular Society have to be a bit grumpy about it –
“At the same time, we think the Girl Guides’ response to this issue was infinitely superior. Their approach relieves young people of having to make a decision about what they believe at a time in their lives when maybe they haven’t decided.”
Thoughts / comments?
I share the opinion that this is very good news. TSA leading the way on a difficult issue with an intelligent and inclusive choice.
I don’t know that the Guides dropped faith, they expanded the idea of good conscience, I mean they didn’t send the faithful away did they?
I don’t know, just that the faith element was completely removed from the Promise.