A reader asks:
We have kids of different faiths and some atheists in our pack. Do you have a good list of non-religious questions for the duty to God requirements?
I think the best solution is to have families do these requirements at home. You can’t know the specifics of each families practices and this approach will ensure that everyone’s beliefs are respected. Just ask the parents to do them with the Cub Scouts and report back to you when they are completed.
If you want, you can have a group discussion later, but no Cub Scout should be force to share. If the parents say they have completed the requirements, then that is all that is needed.
Even in our pack, which is sponsored by a church, the den leaders often have the families do these requirements at home. This is a good way to engage the parents. And even when everyone is the same faith, there might be differences in what they believe or how those beliefs translate into actions.
Also see this post and the comments there: Faith Requirements for Cub Scouts and Agnostics
Readers, what do you think? What is your approach? Add your comments below.
We encourage our families to do them at home, but also give opportunities in den and pack activities. We have scout’s own services a few times a year where it is certainly appropriate for scouts of different faiths (or none!) to participate in discussions. We tend to tie the Scout Law into our messages and sing patriotic songs.
For those of no particular faith it could be appropriate to discuss what makes a good person or good citizen, or how we can respect and appreciate folks with different belief systems or manners of worship.
We do have scouts from different religions in our pack and try hard to make others comfortable and included.
Religion can be very private thing. I think that the requirements should be done with family and cub scout leaders should accept the parents’ signing off on them.
In Girl Scouts, we always sang grace before meals at camp and had a non-denominational time on Sundays.
In the area where I now live, BSA Sunday Scouting are fairly new and or rare due to the predominant religion’s disapproval. With that church no longer sponsoring units, our council is having some 3 day activities. Our unit participated in a Scout Satuday last fall where they went to a variety of religious houses of worship and learned about the different groups. They recently were at a 3 day council activity that included an interfaith Sunday service. They are talking about putting together one themselves. They do have an opening and closing prayer, sometimes made up on the spot by who ever is leading it, but most times read from one of the BSA prayer books that include a variety from all over. Closer to Easter, there will be a meeting discussing the different religious awards available for many different faiths.
We did it at Wood Badge and included stories, prayers, and songs from many cultures and religions.
Group discussions, especially with the younger youth, should take into consideration the maturity level and family background of those involved. It should never push a particular religion or force participation.