Answer any questions honestly.

I have the same issue with my son who loves Boy Scouts and I love him participating in it. His name is Christian and he is a Christian, but he knows that I am vehemently opposed to religion, so I have issues with all of the God stuff in Scouts. I generally fake it when I am at meetings, etc., and I would never be a Scout leader as I know I could or would not want to pretend a belief in God. It's bad enough that the religious effectively lie to their children so I would feel an utter hypocrite if I lied knowing there is no God. It is a shame that Scouts is so religious but I do know it depends on which Pack and Troop you are with. There are quite a few around here in SoCal that are not as religious as others. You just have to cherry pick, just like Christians do with the bible in the first place. I dream of a secular society! Can't we have our own state? Just a little one?

It seems like he's already doing a good job handling them. I achieved Chief Scout (Canadian equivalent) when I was 16. I've never been religious, but not as well informed then as I am now. As long as he keeps looking for the truth, he'll be fine.

my grandson Michael is a junior at Cathedral, a life Scout with only his Eagle project awaiting. He is on the Rugby team, defending national Champs. Good for your son. I am more in line with you on issues like that. Good Christians are way too busy being good Christians to pull young people aside and try to maliciously hurt them. Tell him to fall back on a doctors creed---first do no harm. That all the major religions all have but one god. They can't all be wrong can they? In America we cannot put one ahead of the other without infringing on rights, so we much respect all the beliefs and the best way is to keep our personal relationship with divinity personal---within ourselves and sharing only with the higher poser we believe in an dit is infringing upon that right to have to answer questions about who what how we believe our freedom of religion absolves us of the necessity of answering such questions unless you want to sign a statement saying that I have to answer. and get it notarized as a legal document that I can take to court. That should solidify his position...don't you think?

Wait a few years and get him to join the Masons--become a Shriner---then the two of you can have some real fun. Shriners clowns, Shrine circus, etc. base upon Soloman's temple. so odd that Christians need all these reasons to do good--that doing good itself is not enough reason for them? I can
s explain it.......

I just want to say your son is a saint. I personally can't give any advice because I have no patience to be in something that is religious affiliated unless I was getting paid really good money.

Just last night, I went to the Boy Scouts web site after the announcement that they would allow girls to join. Their charter was an act of the US congress (verified this, <a href="http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(titl"Sam Harris Live w/ Michael Shermer"%20chapter:309%20edition" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="forumlink">[uscode.house.gov]relim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title36-chapter309)&f=treesort&num=0&edition=prelim ). All the religious stuff is in their bylaws. It seems to me that this makes it part of the US Federal government, and as such, these religious requirements are in violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Maybe this has already been settled in the US Supreme Court. I'm still doing research on this.

On the face of it, I'm opposed to the religious requirements. The apparent constitutional issue makes this an even bigger issue for me.

I spent many years as a cub scout and boy scout and was a Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster. At the time I was struggling internally with the dark secret that I was a homosexual though at 16 I barely knew what that word meant and certainly had not acted on any of my impulses. I was called to a meeting with the scoutmaster and three fathers and told I was "queer," which I thought meant "odd" and was kicked out of the troop. I had achieved "Life" status and was working on becoming an "Eagle." I joined another troop. Today, I think that was a big mistake but at the time I did not have the social or political understanding I do now. I know your son has invested a great deal to achieve this rank and I understand his desire to follow through. But I think his rationalizing his way through his current dilemma will be something he will regret one day. It is an act of ratifying the legitimacy of a group that does not honor the diversity of our society. Accepting the rank of "Eagle" given his own beliefs condones their continued bigotry and a furthering of their conservative social agenda. I would propose two option. First, just quit and move on without them being allowed to add his name to a roster that will follow him all his life and which will strengthen their influence. Or, two, go out in a blaze of glory at the presentation ceremony and "Sock it to the Harper Valley PTA" with a speech clearly defining his own beliefs and making known the dissonance that the Scouts have caused in his own head considering the difference between their beliefs and his own. Neither is an easy path to follow. But to stick by his guns and proclaim his identity would be an important exercise on his road to becoming a man.

It sounds like he is doing just fine. You raised a fine young man and should be proud.

tell them that is unconstitutional. they tried to kick me out or rehab because i said i don't believe in god. i said do it the constitution of the united states says i don't have to. they can't do that.

He seems like hes doing pretty well already

Read the scouting oath. It specifies GOD. not which , or who's. but a god. So if this good christian woman wants, she can block him if he openly opposes worshiping, or denies a god.

Seems like he doesn’t need advice, because you’ve done great teaching him. His “old soul” is a an asset, and as long as he remembers to think before he speaks, he should be fine.

I'm also originally from Indiana and I know how it can be up there.
This really aggravates me when someone thinks they can pull someone else's child aside and try to infect them with their disease.