Were the Boy Scouts right to kick out atheist? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 11-05-2002, 08:04 PM

Okay. I believe in God. But do I believe the Boy Scouts were right to kick out a 19-year old guy because he said he DOESN'T believe in God? This guy has tons of merit badges and all, but he just happens not to believe in God, which is something the BSA requires for membership. Any kind of God or "higher being". Is that right? If a person has problems with believing in God, shouldn't the Boy Scouts leadership HELP this guy with understanding God and all that? Okay, so we have to believe in God to get in. What if the kind of God one believes in isn't the RIGHT kind of God? What would they say if someone believed in a god that was a lemon-yellow colored Yeti with a purple beanie who sat around in heaven blowing up balloon animals for all eternity? Silly, huh? But what if a person SERIOUSLY believed that was his conception of a higher being? (You'd prolly say THAT person was a *higher* being...

)So are the Boy Scouts a RELIGIOUS organization? Do you have to swear by some loyalty oath stating a belief in God? And if you don't, welllllll....Can you be a good loyal scout and NOT believe in a God? So who's right??

Btw, a Yeti is the Abominable Snowman.

Jinny Girl · 11-05-2002, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blair's My Cherry Pie
Okay. I believe in God. But do I believe the Boy Scouts were right to kick out a 19-year old guy because he said he DOESN'T believe in God? This guy has tons of merit badges and all, but he just happens not to believe in God, which is something the BSA requires for membership. Any kind of God or "higher being". Is that right? If a person has problems with believing in God, shouldn't the Boy Scouts leadership HELP this guy with understanding God and all that? Okay, so we have to believe in God to get in. What if the kind of God one believes in isn't the RIGHT kind of God? What would they say if someone believed in a god that was a lemon-yellow colored Yeti with a purple beanie who sat around in heaven blowing up balloon animals for all eternity? Silly, huh? But what if a person SERIOUSLY believed that was his conception of a higher being? (You'd prolly say THAT person was a *higher* being... )So are the Boy Scouts a RELIGIOUS organization? Do you have to swear by some loyalty oath stating a belief in God? And if you don't, welllllll....Can you be a good loyal scout and NOT believe in a God? So who's right??

Btw, a Yeti is the Abominable Snowman.

i think this rule of the boyscouts is violating peoples freedom of religion. A person shouldn't be required to believe anything to get where they want in life or do what they want. Technically, its discrimination to make a certain group outcasts from your stupid little club. And besides, what does being godly have to do with the boyscouts? The boyscouts build campfires, and pick up trash, and build 3 oz race cars to race down a track (thats a godly activity there) so this point has helped me make up my mind to overthrow the boyscout government and change it to the "Boy's Anarcy Club of America"!!!

Chocoholic · 11-05-2002, 09:11 PM

I'm a Christian, but I still think the Boy Scouts are wrong to throw out someone who is an athiest. Christianity is supposed to be about loving thy neighbor and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, not about condemning people for their beliefs.

DarleneIllyria · 11-05-2002, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jinny Girl

i think this rule of the boyscouts is violating peoples freedom of religion. A person shouldn't be required to believe anything to get where they want in life or do what they want. Technically, its discrimination to make a certain group outcasts from your stupid little club. And besides, what does being godly have to do with the boyscouts? The boyscouts build campfires, and pick up trash, and build 3 oz race cars to race down a track (thats a godly activity there) so this point has helped me make up my mind to overthrow the boyscout government and change it to the "Boy's Anarcy Club of America"!!!

I agree with Jinny Girl. You shouldn't have to believe in God to be a member of the Boy Scouts.

dovesong · 11-05-2002, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenny

I agree with Jinny Girl. You shouldn't have to believe in God to be a member of the Boy Scouts.

Okay, I'm gonna put my 2 cents in here... Don't hate me.

I don't necessarily think the guy should have been ousted, but consider this....

The Girl Scouts and Boys scouts were founded based on religion. How can you say that they are discriminatory? That's like going to church and expecting to be accepted even though you don't believe the way they believe.

Religion is a choice, why would you want to be a part of a group that didn't believe the way you believe?

Just food for thought, I'm not condemning or condoning either person(s) behavior.

Jinny Girl · 11-05-2002, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dovesong

Okay, I'm gonna put my 2 cents in here... Don't hate me.

I don't necessarily think the guy should have been ousted, but consider this....

The Girl Scouts and Boys scouts were founded based on religion. How can you say that they are discriminatory? That's like going to church and expecting to be accepted even though you don't believe the way they believe.

Religion is a choice, why would you want to be a part of a group that didn't believe the way you believe?

Just food for thought, I'm not condemning or condoning either person(s) behavior.

I attend a catholic school, and I am accepted even though I was not raised a part of any real religion and i disagree with the bible. if a non catholic (well i was baptized and all that stuff but i wasnt raised it) girl can go to catholic school and atheist should be able to be a boyscout.

ABlairican Pie · 11-05-2002, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jinny Girl

i think this rule of the boyscouts is violating peoples freedom of religion. A person shouldn't be required to believe anything to get where they want in life or do what they want. Technically, its discrimination to make a certain group outcasts from your stupid little club. And besides, what does being godly have to do with the boyscouts? The boyscouts build campfires, and pick up trash, and build 3 oz race cars to race down a track (thats a godly activity there) so this point has helped me make up my mind to overthrow the boyscout government and change it to the "Boy's Anarcy Club of America"!!!

AMEN TO THAT!!!! A WOMAN!!!!! A FERRET!!!!!!!!! A BIG HELLA YEAH TO JINNY GIRL!!!!!!

So how gawdly IS making those teeny cars to zoom down tracks??? Heck, when I was in Cub Scouts at the age of 7, I made one of those bloody things and it didn't even win ONCE!!!!!

Geeeee, I'm smelling something bad here, a stinkin' LOYALTY OATH like they had in the '50s during the McCarthy Era where people had to swear they weren't gawdless Commie Pinkos!!!!
Instead of HELPING people with their problems with religion, they CONDEMN them for not believing!!!! "Either you believe in God or we kick you out and people will hate you forever!!!" Yeah, real godly...

So much for all that love bizness by the Scouts...
And what's with this good scout leader getting kicked out for admitting he was gay--IN SPITE OF showing how loyal and commendable he was as a leader?? "The shortest straw has been pulled for you..."

Boys' Anarchy Club...I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!

Mo' Girls ALOUD!!!!

(Yeah, I meant to spell it like that...

)

Ewan's My Man · 11-05-2002, 10:53 PM

Think about how hypocritical THIS is. We live in a country where some places don't say the pledge in skool...b/c of "Under God". Now...if we can get away with aliminating religion completely from skools...religion sure as hell shouldn't be a big deal in non-skool programs. Did that make since? It sounded better in my head. NEwayz...they have no right to kick somebody out...Jinny Girl's right...it violates the person's freedom of religion. They all r soooooooo patriotic...but then when something bothers them they go completely against the constitution

ABlairican Pie · 11-05-2002, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dovesong

Okay, I'm gonna put my 2 cents in here... Don't hate me.

I don't necessarily think the guy should have been ousted, but consider this....

The Girl Scouts and Boys scouts were founded based on religion. How can you say that they are discriminatory? That's like going to church and expecting to be accepted even though you don't believe the way they believe.

Religion is a choice, why would you want to be a part of a group that didn't believe the way you believe?

Just food for thought, I'm not condemning or condoning either person(s) behavior.

Okay, maybe I've not looked at the beginnings of the Scouts, so it makes sense... I wonder though...

Jinny Girl · 11-05-2002, 11:07 PM

*plots ways to overthrow boyscouts*

so do you think I should start off by taking over the Cub scouts who wear the bloo, or the ones in khaki?

Crimson and Clover · 11-05-2002, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jinny Girl

i think this rule of the boyscouts is violating peoples freedom of religion. A person shouldn't be required to believe anything to get where they want in life or do what they want. Technically, its discrimination to make a certain group outcasts from your stupid little club. And besides, what does being godly have to do with the boyscouts? The boyscouts build campfires, and pick up trash, and build 3 oz race cars to race down a track (thats a godly activity there) so this point has helped me make up my mind to overthrow the boyscout government and change it to the "Boy's Anarcy Club of America"!!!

Right On. couldnt have said it better myself. i dont think they should keep gays out either as long as the person isnt coming on to the other boyscouts it shouldnt matter.

MandieR1980 · 11-06-2002, 01:10 AM

I am an atheist myself and it's not something I come right out and tell people because I don't want people looking down at me thinking I'm some sort of loser or devil worshipper and I'm not. I don't put down anyone's religion but I think it's unfair that I get called a "heathen" just because I wasn't raised to believe in what everyone else believes in. The Boyscouts were wrong in kicking him out and I hope there is a law suit because that's got to be against that boy's constitutional rights.

DarleneIllyria · 11-06-2002, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MandieR1980
I hope there is a law suit because that's got to be against that boy's constitutional rights.

I'm willing to bet they file some sort of lawsuit. I don't blame the kid either for filing one.

Penny Lane · 11-06-2002, 12:13 PM

Having never been in the Scout program I was wondering, Is religion a rule in being a Girl Scout too?

UpstairsSteak · 11-06-2002, 12:35 PM

I realize too that they were founded based upon religion, however, think about the stature that the BSA have attained in this country. Scouting has been touted as something that every boy should do, builds character etc...., and has been brought into schools. They can't have it both ways - either you accept everyone (which would be what we've always been taught that GOD wants) or you call yourself a religious group and pull out of the schools. It's disgraceful that the boy scouts have outwardly banned homosexuals, now it's athiests, what next? Pretty scary lessons to be teaching to children. What's worse is the power they hold - they can do all of this with the protection of operating as a religious group. The Supreme Court upheld their right to ban homosexuals as troop leaders and the ACLU hasn't made much headway either despite their lawsuits against them.

11-05-2002, 08:04 PM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Were the Boy Scouts right to kick out atheist? Okay. I believe in God. But do I believe the Boy Scouts were right to kick out a 19-year old guy because he said he DOESN'T believe in God? This guy has tons of merit badges and all, but he just happens not to believe in God, which is something the BSA requires for membership. Any kind of God or "higher being". Is that right? If a person has problems with believing in God, shouldn't the Boy Scouts leadership HELP this guy with understanding God and all that? Okay, so we have to believe in God to get in. What if the kind of God one believes in isn't the RIGHT kind of God? What would they say if someone believed in a god that was a lemon-yellow colored Yeti with a purple beanie who sat around in heaven blowing up balloon animals for all eternity? Silly, huh? But what if a person SERIOUSLY believed that was his conception of a higher being? (You'd prolly say THAT person was a higher being... )So are the Boy Scouts a RELIGIOUS organization? Do you have to swear by some loyalty oath stating a belief in God? And if you don't, welllllll....Can you be a good loyal scout and NOT believe in a God? So who's right?? Btw, a Yeti is the Abominable Snowman.

11-05-2002, 10:53 PM	#8
Ewan's My Man I'll Cover You Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 29, 2001 Location: Beneath the opera house... Posts: 5,682	Think about how hypocritical THIS is. We live in a country where some places don't say the pledge in skool...b/c of "Under God". Now...if we can get away with aliminating religion completely from skools...religion sure as hell shouldn't be a big deal in non-skool programs. Did that make since? It sounded better in my head. NEwayz...they have no right to kick somebody out...Jinny Girl's right...it violates the person's freedom of religion. They all r soooooooo patriotic...but then when something bothers them they go completely against the constitution
	__________________ Don't you ever wanna be somebody to envy Don't you wanna be footloose and free? Well, you could be the life of the party If you were more- Like me! All you have to do is jump over the moon Moo with me!

11-06-2002, 01:10 AM	#12
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	Atheists I am an atheist myself and it's not something I come right out and tell people because I don't want people looking down at me thinking I'm some sort of loser or devil worshipper and I'm not. I don't put down anyone's religion but I think it's unfair that I get called a "heathen" just because I wasn't raised to believe in what everyone else believes in. The Boyscouts were wrong in kicking him out and I hope there is a law suit because that's got to be against that boy's constitutional rights.
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

11-06-2002, 12:13 PM	#14
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,270	Having never been in the Scout program I was wondering, Is religion a rule in being a Girl Scout too?
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

11-05-2002, 09:11 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I'm a Christian, but I still think the Boy Scouts are wrong to throw out someone who is an athiest. Christianity is supposed to be about loving thy neighbor and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, not about condemning people for their beliefs.

11-05-2002, 11:07 PM	#10
Jinny Girl Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2001 Location: ...I'm not sure (looks around) WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE!!?!??!? Posts: 2,726	plots ways to overthrow boyscouts so do you think I should start off by taking over the Cub scouts who wear the bloo, or the ones in khaki?

11-06-2002, 12:35 PM	#15
UpstairsSteak Shine On Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 303	I realize too that they were founded based upon religion, however, think about the stature that the BSA have attained in this country. Scouting has been touted as something that every boy should do, builds character etc...., and has been brought into schools. They can't have it both ways - either you accept everyone (which would be what we've always been taught that GOD wants) or you call yourself a religious group and pull out of the schools. It's disgraceful that the boy scouts have outwardly banned homosexuals, now it's athiests, what next? Pretty scary lessons to be teaching to children. What's worse is the power they hold - they can do all of this with the protection of operating as a religious group. The Supreme Court upheld their right to ban homosexuals as troop leaders and the ACLU hasn't made much headway either despite their lawsuits against them.