[Mrluvaluva]

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.



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

Is this an old fashioned view? Do The Scouts rules need updating, or do you agree with the decision? Shouldn't everyone be accepted despite their beliefs?