Religion in Scouting and the Girl Guides is an element of the Scout method. It has been given different interpretations and practiced differently by different Scout organizations over the years. The Scout Movement is separate from any particular faith or religion but the Scout Promise holds to spirituality and a belief in a higher power.
Increasing secularism and religious diversity has caused misunderstandings and controversies in some of Scout organizations.
Views of religion's place in Scouting Founder's views When creating the Scouting method, Baden-Powell was adamant that there was a place for God within it.
In Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell wrote specifically about Christianity:
We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and dealings, and not merely the profession of theology on Sundays…Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell, Oxford University Press.
Indeed, the Scout Promise as originally written by Baden-Powell states that a Scout does his "duty to God".
However, the founder's position moved shortly after the Scout movement began to grow rapidly around the world, and his writings and speeches allowed for all religions. He did continue to emphasise that religion was a part of a Scout's life, without dictating a particular faith:
When asked where religion came into Scouting and Guiding, Baden-Powell replied, It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding.Baden-Powell's position on God and Religion, FAQs.org. Though we hold no brief for any one form of belief over another, we see a way to helping all by carrying the same principle into practice as is now being employed in other branches of education…Baden-Powell on Religion , Inquiry.net . Take a negative instance. A Mohammedan Guider comes to England and addresses a lot of Girl Guides on religion, in the course of which she quotes Mahomet as the one divine teacher. This in spite of the fact that her audience are believers in Christ. How would you regard her action? As tactless, as insulting, as fanatical? At any rate it wouldn't be exactly polite or in accordance with our laws of courtesy. Yet I have known Christian Guiders as well as Scouters do exactly the same thing with Jews or Hindoos or people of other beliefs present, and these on their part have sat under it, too polite to raise objections but none the less made uncomfortable by it. Once, at a mixed gathering at a 'Scout's Own' a speaker carefully avoided much reference to Christ and was accused by some there of 'denying Him'. His defence was that he was rather following Christ in that he was showing Christian deference to the feelings of others who, equally with himself, were sons of one Father, under whatever form they rendered homage to God.
Baden-Powell's gravestone bears no cross or other religious symbol. Rather, in addition to the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Badges, it bears a circle with a dot in the centre, the trail sign for "Going home" or "I have gone home": .
World scouting organizations today
Principles Religion and spirituality is still a key part of the Scouting method but the two major world organizations have slightly different interpretations. The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) states the following in its Fundamental Principles: Under the title "Duty to God", the first of the above-mentioned principles of the Scout Movement is defined as "adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom". Note that, by contrast to the title, the body of the text omits the word "God" to make clear that the clause also covers non-monotheistic religions, such as Hinduism, and those that do not recognize a personal God, such as Buddhism. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) stated the following in the 21st World Conference in 1972: The essence of Duty to God is the acknowledgement of the necessity for a search for a faith in God, in a Supreme Being, and the acknowledgment of a force higher than man of the highest Spiritual Principles.
Global interpretation Despite the principles outlined above, questions have still arisen in the early 21st century about the need for a strict adherence to a Scout Promise or Law which contains an explicit statement of "duty to God" or religion. In 2014, the WOSM passed a resolution, "Spirituality in Scouting", recognizing the importance of spirituality, but without defining it with the word "God". The WOSM then convened a 2015 "Duty to God" task force, which in turn produced another draft resolution to be considered at the WOSM 2017 conference. The final resolution passed indicated a need for further investigation, and for WOSM to take into consideration a member organization's "culture and civilization" if asked to approve changes to their Promise or Law. Conversely, a member organization was asked to consider the global movement and its goals if it requested alternative wording.
Scouts Australia and Scouts Canada (to name two) have since included alternative Promise wording for use in their organizations by their members.
National interpretation National organizations may further define their interpretations of the Scouting Principles. For instance, the current Religious Policy of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom states that members should "make every effort to progress in the understanding and observance of the Promise to do their best to do their duty to God or to uphold Scouting’s values as appropriate".
Many Scout/Guide groups are supported by local religious bodies, including Christian, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh communities. These local groups often have a more strict interpretation on the original writings of Baden-Powell concerning religion. However, since they often belong to national organizations that are not of a specific religion, there are usually groups in the neighbourhood that have a less strict interpretation.
Additionally, some national organizations are aimed at the adherents of a specific religion, but there usually are other Scouting/Guiding organizations within that country that are more open or have a more neutral point of view concerning religion.
The Scout Promise is easily adapted to accommodate these, and other, faiths. For example, in its section on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, the website of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) includes a note that: The word "God" [in the Promise] can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.
Membership requirements The WOSM "duty to God" principle has evolved and been clarified by resolutions in their conferences in the early 21st century. There are Scouting associations in some countries, such as France and Denmark, that are segregated on the basis of religious belief. In other organizations, alternative Promises have been requested for optional use among their members.
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America have been non-sectarian in their application of a Scout is Reverent.
The Boy Scouts of America has accepted Buddhist members and units since 1920, and also accepts members of various pantheistic faiths. Many Buddhists do not believe in a supreme being or creator deity, but because Buddhism is still considered religious and spiritual in nature by the BSA, their membership is deemed acceptable, provided the scouting troop leaders subscribe to the BSA Declaration of Religious Principle as they interpret it.
In March 2016, the BSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) after many years of dispute between the BSA and the UUA. While declaring that "all youth members and adult leaders of the BSA must subscribe to the Declaration of Religious Principle in the BSA's Bylaws", the MOU gives any Unitarian Universalist congregation the absolute authority over all phases of the program that affect the spiritual welfare of those who participate in Scouting programs sponsored by a Unitarian Universalist congregation. The MOU specifically mentions Humanism and Earth-centered traditions as being acceptable faiths in Scouting programs chartered by Unitarian Universalist congregations. This MOU may allow for atheist and agnostic members to join the BSA through Scout units chartered by Unitarian Universalist congregations. As part of the agreement in the MOU, BSA recognition of the religious emblems developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association was reinstated as of May 2016.
The BSA policy excludes atheists and agnostics. The BSA has come under strong criticism over the past years due to their religious policy and stance against agnostics and atheists.
Scouts Canada Scouts Canada, as of Summer 2020, has updated their Values statement to include alternate versions of various Scout divisions' promises, one which makes explicit reference to God, and one which does not. As stated on their website, "The development of an additional Scout Promise comes as a pragmatic response to membership feedback and a desire for greater flexibility and inclusivity."
As part of its greater Canadian Path program, Scouts Canada has a "Religion in Life" emblem that is awarded upon completion of a particular denomination's program by a Scout. In 2009, a "Spirituality Award" for Scouts and Guides who did not belong to any denomination was also established.
Girl Guides of Canada Girl Guides of Canada suggested a new version of their Promise that uses "my beliefs" instead of a direct references to God in 2009. The new Promise was approved in 2010.
Scouts Australia Scouts Australia's Policy and Rules states that "Scouts Australia upholds the Principle of 'Duty to God' through facilitating development of one’s 'Spiritual Beliefs'." A further interpretation of this clause appears on their website: "Religion is still a central part of life for many, though there is also an increasing group for whom this isn’t the case. Scouting is open to all. We promote an individual approach to focusing on the exploration of our own beliefs and the use of reflections to make sense of our place in the world." Beginning in August 2017, Scouts Australia provides the option to use one of two different versions of the Scout Promise,"On my honour, I promise To do my best, To be true to my spiritual beliefs, To contribute to my community and our world, To help other people, And to live by the Scout Law." The other option is "On my honour I promise that I will do my best, To do my duty to my God, and To the King of Australia, To help other people, And to live by the Scout Law.."
Girl Guides Australia In 2012, the promise was reworded to have to "develop my beliefs" instead of a direct reference to God.
The Scout Association in the United Kingdom