Over 10 Years in the Works

[Grif]

Today I am officially an Eagle scout. Finally after years of work (a lot of it fun, but a lot of it crap).

I had to lie during the interview at the end. They asked me about my religion, I'm a radical atheist (radical is rather loosely used, I say it just so people don't mistake me for being agnostic) and I had to say that I believed in a higher power.

Other than that it's been a good run and I'm glad I did it. I'm especially glad that I didn't turn out looking like the stereotypical eagle scout (if you don't know, it's really nerdy).

[Helicoradian]

So you have to be a religious person to move up to a higher ranking in the scouts? Never knew that, thought it was more about honor, community service, and stuff like that.

[Sovereign]

The Scout Law specifically states that a Scout is "reverent." This has been interpreted (by the Scouts) to mean belief in a higher power, just the same as the Scout Oath's "morally straight" clause being interpreted to mean sexually "straight."

I am also an Eagle Scout, so from one Eagle to another, congratulations Grif!

[Fighter-of-Wars]

I never had time to get into scouting, but I can understand that something that took 10 years to accomplish is no small feat.

I wish you a happy congratulations.

[Stanley_9875]

Very cool!

[txen]

Congratulations on your hard work. I was never much of a scout, but I know what's involved.

[tallbluewanderer]

Originally Posted by Grif

Today I am officially an Eagle scout.

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by Sovereign

The Scout Law specifically states that a Scout is "reverent." This has been interpreted (by the Scouts) to mean belief in a higher power, just the same as the Scout Oath's "morally straight" clause being interpreted to mean sexually "straight."

I'm curious as to the story behind this. I don't know the first thing about the Scouts -- does the organization itself have a religious background, or has it been modified to be that way? I'm religious myself, but the words "reverent" and "morally straight" don't immediately suggest (to me) an absolute religious requirement... "respectful" and "conducting oneself honorably" are the first things that come to mind.

[ZenitYerkes]

I remember having some trouble for being Agnostic on my first scout year, and I eventually quit because of the frictions within the group. They were nice and all, but I just couldn't stand praying five times a day something that didn't have meaning for me anymore.

Being this scout group a Catholic oriented one, it wasn't the best place for me (though it was the closer one I had on my area, hence why I got in).

But anyway, congrats Eagle scout

[Grif]

Luckily they sort of just asked, I said yes, and they moved on to the next question. It seemed more like a check list item than something that was really important like my eagle project.

[rapunzel77]

Congratulations Grif. My brother made Eagle Scout many years ago and even went on to the Order of the Arrow. I know how difficult it is. Its a good accomplishment .

[Human No More]

I will admit I don't know so much about all this, I think the entire organisation is something different over here, but since people are congratulating you and you said 10 years, it must have been hard, so congratulations

[Sight Unseen]

Congratulations . But i would like to say that religion being a prerequisite for advancement isn't a good thing, there is something wrong with that picture. Nothing against the scouts though.