I understand your situation. My nephew and his wife have allowed their son to be in Scouts. He loves it so much, and it's given my nephew the opportunity to
spend more father/son time with him. They're going camping this weekend, and kiddo is super-pumped for it.

I really hate that he's involved with that organization, but he's not my kid,
I wasn't asked for my opinion, and I didn't stick my nose where it didn't belong.

Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I let him know that not everyone
believes in the same god he does, some people don't believe in any gods
at all, and none of that makes him better than them, or makes them "bad"
people. He seemed to accept that. Haven't told him yet that I'm an atheist. I will when he's a little older.

If I had a young son, I would NOT have him involved with the BSoA, under
any circumstances.

I would support it. My kids went to church with their Catholic cousins and my parents. I dated a minister for more than a decade. She mostly did hospice chaplaincy and they participated in volunteer work with her and some of her church group. They had friends who were of varying religious persuasions and they went to some youth meetings and such with those friends. I supported all of that and more. And I had honest, frank, on-going conversations about it all. It was very useful in having practical real life dialogs about existential issues, diversity, friendship, social injustice, and just about any other topic you can imagine.

All of these organizations offer positive and negative influence. And all of it is there as a way for you to dialog with your child. Be open to dialog and let them explore the world as it exists now while they are in your care everyday.

My three are adults now and well inoculated against blind faith, but open to different paths for themselves and others.

this must be an american thing certainly the scouts over here are not religiously affiliated that said unless the religious aspect is so overt i feel he would probably get a lot out of it my kids loved the camping aspect and it gave them skills for when they were teenagers and wanted to go with school friends for a day or 2 without adults plus they made friends with other kids. Ild be more worried he is coming home from school saying he believes in god if your raising him in a secular/atheist household good luck

I wear this quite proudly.

Let him be a scout, I was a scout and we did not have a lot of religion in it! You can give him your reasons why you don't believe and let him make up his mind for himself. A ten year old may say one thing in scouts and another at home. The scouting experience will be good for him and he may make some life long friends. It is his life let him live it.

I was a troop parent and I think we had one religious service in the 7 years that I was involved and that was at a jamboree. Look at the troop, talk to the leader, Who is the sponsor of the troop, mine was a VFW and we had a good time.

I was in scouting when I was a kid. I don't recall the experience has overtly pushing religion and am more aware of that aspect of it now, as an adult, and I don't like it. I wouldn't prevent your son from participating. I think the best thing you can do for your son is teach him to be a critical thinker. Teach him to do his own research on this and other topics and come to his own conclusion. That's what I have tried to do with my two kids and neither of them are believers.

I'd let him join the scouts. It doesn't have much to do with religion, and you can discuss things with him when they come up. It would be good for him in other ways.

I spent five or dix years in boy scouts as a youth. Ive bern an atheist mlmfor 45 years. I think that there are some good aspects that the boy scouts can offer. Citizenship, respect, and access to the out of doors. My recommrndation to you is that you carefully check out the troop sponsor. Make sure they are not a relgious zealot (evangelical nazi). Sit in on one of troop meetings and observe the children's intetactions and the general chemistry of the troop. Then make up your mind.

Join the scouts. He can drop out if it's not something he likes..

Give it a go I say. He can learn many valuable skills with the scouts.

I was a scout...and yes I had to recite prayers at every meeting...and March as the troops flag bearer at every Corpus Christi Parade...but apart from that nonsense..I got a lot out of it..it was character building actually..and taught me manners..respect for nature..elderly people and civil duty..to name but a few things....

Let the kid go...it was never really about faith in God...it was always more about having faith in yourself and your fellow scouts...

Our job is to give them options, so eventually they can make an informed decision and chose whatever makes them happy. It's their life, not ours. He wants to join the boy scouts and you are concern about any potential damage, think about the resentment he will develop against you likely because he will be missing spending time with friends and nothing else. Try to understand those concerns are yours, not his. Don't make him pay for it.

Trust your son, let him join. I loved being a boy scout, don't remember it as a religious experience at all. All my good memories are about camping, outdoors, and great friendships!

Religion is a very small part of the organization and see if you can find a more secular den mother/master. That way it is even less. A troop really is about what the den mother/master wants to do at meetings.

The Boy Scouts that aren't Mormon controlled don't really push religion. They teach many valuable skills that will help help him for life. I am an Eagle Scout and would love to help, but in this area you have to be Mormon, or they won't let you be involved.

I am not much for indoctrination, so giving him freedom to choose is paramount. Just realize that the scouts have an agenda and tend to have some religion mixed in (depending on the local leaders) so be ready to answer questions.

I think a lot will depend on the local adult leadership. Several friends and I were all semi-out as atheists while we were in Boy Scouts, and had no issues -- one atheist friend made it to Eagle. But I suspect other scout troops may have a stronger religious bent.

Being up north, I would suspect your odds are better at the troop leader being more moderate approaching this aspect of the org. No guarantees, but my advise is to just talk to the troop leader about it and get a feel on how much this will be a focus; may only be an occasional prayer. Given the diversity of Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, etc. in America, I myself would play safe with a moment of silence if I was leading the troop. Honestly, I'm sure he's more excited about doing the outdoor stuff with friends from school.

I was in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts the God and believe thing they really didn't push when I was a kid it was more about the outdoors and survival and just plain old having fun camping hiking and being there.
That being said of course it's your call.

I was a den leader for several years and found that in that position I was able to stress inclusion and play down dogma. But there is an eliment of religiosity that one encounters. A lot depends on the posture of the other adults involved as well. At some point though Santa has to be unmasked.

I think the benefits of the program outweigh the problem. When you enroll, are you allowed to choose which troop he would be in? I would contact different troop leaders and ask them directly how much religion is involved in their leadership, and let your son decide. I think at 10 years old he should be given the choice.