BSA - What about THIS!

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Achilles

By giving government funded preference to a group that only lets Christian boys join, we send a negative message to those of other religions.

I was in the boy scouts when I was a kid. Good experience. I have nothing against them, but they should probably open up on religious matters. Boy Scouts is a fantastic experience for a kid, so why should they act prejudiced to some children based on religion? IMO, thats wrong.

I'm sorely disappointed that as a former Scout, you demonstrate a great deal of ignorance about the wide variety of faiths openly accepted and encouraged by the Boy Scouts of America. To state that Scouts only support Christianity and discourage other faiths shows a shocking level of misunderstanding about the Scouting program on your part. I'm afraid that I won't let you simply 'step out' of this conversation, as part of your statements aren't simply a matter of opinion, but blatantly incorrect. Allow me to demonstrate why.

As an example of some of the faiths recognized by the BSA, let me list from my son's Bear Scout Handbook the religious emblems given as examples that Bear Scouts of different faiths can earn (listed in order of appearance in the Handbook): Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Christian Scientist, Protestant, Churches of Christ, Meher Baba, Polish National Catholic, Buddhist, Baha'i, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Church of America, Religious Society of Friends, and Roman Catholic.

The introductory paragraph for Achievement #1 reads in part, "The people who wrote and signed our Constitution were very wise. They understood the need of Americans to worship God as they choose."

Given the two examples above, I can't see where one could even begin to worry about the religious persecution of poor little "Joe Bob Muhammed" and his family. As an organization, the BSA supports a very diverse variety of faiths (I won't say all faiths, as I'm guessing Satanism isn't included in that group). If you believe otherwise based upon your experience as a Scout, then perhaps the religious prejudice you learned in Scouting actually comes from your leadership at the time. Have you considered that possibility?

Hopefully you've learned something tonight that you missed earlier in your Scouting experience.

[TPD1280]

"Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF..."

The ACLU and others find that second phrase inconvenient, so they regularly omit it in their definition of Separation of Church and State. Much like the anti gun folks ignore the line, "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," in the 2nd Amendment. Passing laws banning the BSA based on their religious standing violates the Constitution.

People commonly lose sight of the fact that this portion of the 1st Amendment was written to prohibit the establishment of an "Official" religion of the U.S.A., as was the case with the Anglican Church in Britian at the time our foreafthers left. It was never intended to become the anti-religion (or more correctly anti-Christian) billy-club that it has become.

I would love to see the ACLU have to defend the BSA, or someone who was fired/censured for saying Merry Christmas based on a violation of their 1st Amendment rights.

Originally Posted by Achilles

Its a theory with overwhelming evidence.

BS

All science is based on two assumptions. Two faiths.

Do you understand science well enough to identify those faiths?

Originally Posted by Kyobanim

@ Rubberneck - The majority of founding fathers were Deists.

Actually, no. The majority of the best known of the founding fathers may have been Deists, but to claim that the majority of the founding fathers were Deists misses the mark.

[Shark Bait]

BSA does not descriminate against any religions. Also, the whole purpose of the separation of church and state is to avoid having churches run government affairs.

[Jo Sul]

Originally Posted by Greenhat

BS

All science is based on two assumptions. Two faiths.

Do you understand science well enough to identify those faiths?

Beer and Pizza? Those were the two faiths that I devoted most of my time to in my scientific studies in college.

[Shark Bait]

Originally Posted by Jo Sul

Beer and Pizza? Those were the two faiths that I devoted most of my time to in my scientific studies in college.

I believe that's what you base your religious beliefs on, too. Correct?? Enough beer and you might think you can see God.

[Jo Sul]

See God? Hell no - with enough beer I AM God!

[Sacamuelas]

Originally Posted by Jo Sul

See God? Hell no - with enough beer I AM God!

LOL

I've been there before... to many times!

[shootandloot]

I lost all faith in the ACLU being a legitimate Constitution protecting organization back when they defended NAMBLA.

[DunbarFC]

What's next the Little League ?

Their motto of Character, Courage and Loyalty might be a red state plot to take over the world


This is sickening and depressing. Using something that is fun and constructive for little kids to further a political agenda

[Achilles]

Thanks for pointing that out, Razor. Its just been a long time (and I didn't have the chance to stay in long enough to make Eagle). I never had a scout in my troop that wasn't Christian and from the allegations of the ACLU I wrong assumed that other religions were not allowed to participate. I apologize for the earlier comments on the BSA.

The comments on evolution vs creationism are a matter of opinion, and I apologize if I hit the wrong button, GH.



edit: I also heard the ACLU is trying to get lawyers to defend insurgents in Falluja. The ACLU is insane.

[flyboy1]

Originally Posted by DunbarFC

What's next the Little League ?

Nope.

A full boycott of the self-serving little girls known as Brownies will be next.
Their communist act of selling cookies to all good citizens is an outrage and they have single-handedly caused obesity in America.

Achilles,

You have no idea what my beliefs are. But I find it rather interesting that so many people proclaim their belief in science and the scientific method without understanding that there are two assumptions that must be taken on faith in doing so.

1. Our observations are generally accurate.

2. Repeatibility has some meaning.

Now, I happen to agree with those assumptions. But I do so based on faith because they cannot be proven.

[Achilles]

Sorry if I seemed presumptive about your beliefs, Sir. I did not mean to. I understand where you stand, but from my perspective many aspects of evolution are just as plausible as the theory of gravity. I know it does not explain for the sudden surge in intelligence of humans circa 10-15,000 years ago. I know that no physicist can explain why matter (nothing more than organized energy) exists or no metaphysicist can find a deinitive answer to the question of reality, and these are questions that will never be fully answered. In my opinion thats where the line between science and divine intervention exists, not whether a species has a greater chance to reproduce via higher survivability.

So... How bout them Cowboys?