Welcome to the ULC Minister's Network

Rick Smith

Scouting is my struggle

  • There is something that draws a person to the clergy, a calling perhaps, or perhaps a challenge to tackle.

    My challenge is in the scouting movement. I strongly believe scouting does a lot of good for young people. I object to any attempt to exclude young people from scouting without giving them a chance.

    Here in the United States the scouting movement has a strong religious cast. This isn't a bad thing, except that it scares kids away who are from nonreligious backgrounds. 

    Scouting needs a "nonconformist" alternative for youth from nonreligious backgrounds. This should help young people find their own notion of God or Divine Providence. Youth must develop such a notion so they can complete badge and rank requirements.

    I also believe that this can help individual youth find the self-confidence to approach other religious activities with respect and reverence. 

    I welcome ideas and assistance from others.

10 comments
  • Rick Smith
    Rick Smith Mystic Angel, I sympathize with your frustration. Individual troops can get rather bizarre, especially if the local leadership allows or encourages it. We could discuss how this ties to competing cultural definitions of masculinity and how they play out i...  more
    September 27, 2016
  • Pastor Richard ( Taz ) Pickett, OM, EM,
    Pastor Richard ( Taz ) Pickett, OM, EM, Fortunately people are allowed to feel the way they feel. You can't force people to accept or associate with those who they choose not to. I was quite happy with the Scouts of the early 2000's and before.
    October 1, 2016
  • Mystic  Angel
    Mystic Angel I'm all for people believing whatever they want, but if the organization preaches one thing and individual troops do whatever they want and accept everyone in BEFORE disclosing their beliefs, then we have a problem,especially when your dealing with child...  more
    October 1, 2016
  • Pastor Richard ( Taz ) Pickett, OM, EM,
    Pastor Richard ( Taz ) Pickett, OM, EM, Unfortunately this happens in every faction of life as we know it. Welcome to liberalistic thinking.
    October 2, 2016