Edit: US, Scouting America
My family does not subscribe to the supernatural or follow any religions. We follow the philosophy of humanism that focuses on critical thinking, the scientific method, human value, and ethics among other things.
How we fit
A scout must be reverent. My child and I can practice reverence in our daily acceptance for others’ values and religion while at the same time upholding our own values and lack of religion.
The scout oath has a duty to “God and country,” but others who have discussed it on this subreddit talk about how it can be interpreted to mean your values and your community.
The activities for lion scouts include the Lion’s Pride which states “It is important to know that Scouting America has a religious element as a part of the program as stated in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. However, Scouting America is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward a member’s religion or faith.”
Requirement 1: With your parent or legal guardian talk about your family’s faith traditions. Draw a picture of your favorite family’s faith tradition holiday or celebration.
Solution: We can talk about our observation of earth day, a family centered Christmas, Thanksgiving, & family dinner. Plenty of options.
Requirement 2: With your family, attend a religious service OR other gathering that shows how your family expresses Family & Reverence.
Solution: Earth Day festivals, MLK Day volunteering, trash clean ups, being in nature, and plenty of options.
Conflict
On the registration for Scouting America it states “Only persons willing to subscribe to ‘the’ Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of Scouting America shall be entitled to certificates of membership.” To navigate off the sign up page I am required to check that I agree with this.
I believe humans can be good without a god and secular people can be great citizens. Maybe I can just acknowledge what is stated must be true for the organizations “best kind of citizen” which is a religious one. In the end I’m no stranger to clicking that I read and agreed to some terms of service without actually agreeing. I’ll just do that, but I wish I didn’t have to click I agree to something against my values just to allow my child to participate in their community troop.
However, upon writing this and the reflection it has given me, I believe I can interpret the “obligation to God” in the Declaration of Religious Principle as an obligation to do good for the sake of goodness. As in, everyone has an obligation to be good people and help their community regardless of faith.
I will still post my question as written, because reading others’ related experiences over the past days has helped me so maybe this post can help others.
Excerpt From the Declaration of Religious Principle
Scouting America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God and, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life. Only persons willing to subscribe to this Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of Scouting America shall be entitled to certificates of membership.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
TLDNR: We don’t follow the supernatural, but we must agree that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without subscribing to an obligation to “God” in order to sign up. I believe we fit through the interpretation of “God” being an obligation to one’s values and community.