An 11-year-old boy has been banned from the Scouts because he does not believe in God, it has emerged.

George Pratt had attended his Scout group for ten months before being asked to invest in the group with his friends.

But because he is an atheist he refused to take the Scout Promise, pledging his allegiance to God, and was told not to come to any more meetings.

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The 11-year-old says the snub is 'very unfair' and he is missing out on adventures because of his views.

But he defiantly added: 'I'm not going to change my decision.'

His furious father, Nick, 45, accused the Scouts of being 'narrow-minded'.

'Christianity is meant to be about being tolerant, forgiving and understanding,' he said. 'You are allowed to join if you are a Christian or a Muslim but you can't not believe in God.'

George, of Radstock, Somerset, joined the 1st Midsomer Norton Scouts in January and was looking forward to going on a caving expedition before his ban was imposed by scoutmasters.

Simon Carter, a spokesman for the Christian movement, said: 'All young people are required to make the Scout Promise to become a Scout.

'Variations of the Scout Promise are available for different faiths (such as the use of "Allah" to replace "God" for Muslim Scouts), however all variations of the Promise must recognise the "Duty to God" element,' he added.


Metro

Originally Posted by GypsyGoth (Post 5552715) Isn't the scouts a religious organisation? So I think it's fair that they have rules like swearing loyalty to their god or whatever.

Originally Posted by Karl (Post 5552828) I hate religion

Originally Posted by GypsyGoth (Post 5552715) Isn't the scouts a religious organisation? So I think it's fair that they have rules like swearing loyalty to their god or whatever.

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 5552730) Makes you wonder why he wanted to be a member anyway.

Religion in Scouting The Scout Association is not directly and immediately concerned with the religious education of its Members. That responsibility is with the religious families to which the Members belong, although some sponsored Groups will have a more immediate responsibility towards their Members' religious development. However, the purpose of The Scout Association includes 'to promote the spiritual potential of young people'. This responsibility is a fundamental part of The Scout Association and needs to be achieved through the programme, method and structure of Scouting. Members The Scout Association is a diverse organisation that welcomes Members from all backgrounds, as long as they are able to make their promise. Part of the promise 'To do my duty to God' requires that the person taking the promise believes in a higher being - this can be called 'God', 'Allah' or 'Dharma'. Therefore when we have new adult leaders we ask that they believe in a higher being so that they can help the young people under their care to fulfil the promise they make as Scouts. Young people The purpose of Scouting is to ‘contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials’. We encourage young people to explore their beliefs and develop their spirituality. This process can happen in many ways, but especially through the Programme we deliver. Our policy states that to be a youth member of The Scout Association, a young person is required to make the promise.

The Promise Scouting is available to all faiths and must therefore take account of the different religious obligations of its Members. Similarly, people of other nationalities resident in the United Kingdom, who may become Members of the Association, owe allegiance to their own Country. To meet these circumstances, there are different forms of the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout Promise that can be made, allowing for the individuals obligations while upholding the essential spirit of the Promise. The phrase ‘to love God’ and ‘duty to God’ implies belief in a Supreme Being and the acceptance of Divine Guidance. In each Promise the phrase 'Duty to God’ or, in the case of Beaver Scouts, ‘to love God’, is suitable for most faiths (including Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs). Hindus may use either the words ‘my Dharma’ or 'God’. Muslims may use the word ‘Allah’ in place of ‘God’. Buddhists should use only the words ‘my Dharma’. Muslims may use the phrase ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful’ in place of ‘On my honour’ when making the Promise. The Association provides advice where some other form of wording is required for a member of a particular faith or religion.For people of other nationalities resident in the United Kingdom taking the Cub Scout or Scout Promise, the phrase ‘duty ...to the Queen’ may be replaced by ‘duty...to the Country in which I am now living’. However, British subjects must promise to do their ‘duty...to the Queen’. The tables below (onsite) show the different forms of the Promise: Notes: 1. For some Muslims there is a difficulty with the phrase “On my honour” because some Muslims are not permitted to “swear by” anything except Allah. The phrase “On my honour” indicates swearing by their personal honour. ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful…’ has therefore been provided as a comparable alternative. 2. There are many different approaches to Islam. Many will accept the term ‘God’ (meaning Allah’) some Muslims may prefer to use their term ‘Allah’ 3. There are many different approaches to Hinduism. Some Hindus will accept ‘God’ but others do not agree with the concept of an omnipotent God and therefore will prefer to use my Dharma’ (meaning ‘the divine force which directs my life’) 4. Where some other form of wording is required for a member of a particular faith or religion, advice should be sought from The Programme and Development Department. In making a decision it is important to: a. Recognise the individual’s nationality b. Be fully aware of the exact nature of their faith or religion c. Ensure that the Promise taken is fully binding to them personally d. Provide literature on the Scout Movement for young person’s parents (where the parents do not speak or read English, information should be provided in their own language) e. Assure parents of Members that their child’s religious obligations will be upheld.

Originally Posted by Omah (Post 5553948) The Scouts is a faith organisation which, apparently, caters for almost any faith : http://www.scouts.org.uk/supportreso...ch/?cat=25,285 http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/...s/fs322016.pdf It seems to me that the Scouts is completely open and specific about its faith requirements, so anyone who hasn't bothered to read their literature deserves to be banned, since he/she is the wrong sort of applicant for the organisation, anyway ..... :hmph:

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5554081) Well you could argue from there that his religious obligations are not being upheld or taken into account.

Some Hindus will accept ‘God’ but others do not agree with the concept of an omnipotent God and therefore will prefer to use my Dharma’ (meaning ‘the divine force which directs my life’)

Originally Posted by Livia (Post 5552730) Yes. Perhaps the thinking is that the whole organisation should change their ethos so that people who don't agree with what the organisation stands for should be able to be included. Makes you wonder why he wanted to be a member anyway.

Originally Posted by Omah (Post 5554101) No, I couldn't because, apparently, he has NO faith (and presumably no " religious obligations") so therefore nothing to pledge to ...... the Scouts do not insist that the faith has to include a "God": :idc:

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5554450) Well he chooses not to believe. That's his obligation.

The ACF is a national, voluntary, uniformed youth organisation. It is sponsored by the Army but not part of it and neither our cadets nor our adult volunteer leaders are subject to military call-up. We offer a broad range of challenging adventurous and educational activities, some of them on a military theme. Our aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life and develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva (Post 5554450) Well he chooses not to believe. That's his obligation.A lot of kids practice (and I use the term loosely) religion in order to please their peers, when they don't necessarily believe in that. I really don't see the point in this. What is the point to faith if you do not believe in it? And being excluded because of your belief is surely not right? Would the church ban you from services if you did not join in prayer or hymns?