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Duty to God (Scout Oath): Difference between revisions
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== | ==Do you Have to Believe in God? == | ||
Fulfilling your Duty to God is actually private, personal spiritual quest for each individual. Scouting does NOT have a set Religious standards test. In fact, the opposite applies, where everyone has the free agency to define and pursue any religious they belief appropriate and are willing to allow all others the same liberty. | |||
Now it could certainly be possible, that a person is unable to find a belief that is agreeable to their conscience. Some people spend their lifetime wrestling with their beliefs. Many others may conclude that God does not exist. | |||
Look again at the wording of Requirement #2 (BSA) for Eagle rank: '''<font color=green>"Tell how you have done your duty to God..."</font>'''. The test is not if the scout became a devout member of a particular faith system or completed some might miracle, but rather he is to explain the efforts he/she has made to ponder the nature of the universe, the difference between good and evil, and what is his role and responsibility therein. | |||
=== Non-Faith Definitions === | |||
Consider the following general definitions that may fit who will exploring his Duty to God, may have decided that his/her path is not to join any set organized religion: | |||
# '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism Humanism]''' - a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism and empiricism) over acceptance of dogma or superstition. Generally, however, humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It views humans as solely responsible for the promotion and development of individuals and emphasizes a concern for man in relation to the world. In modern times, humanist movements are typically non-religious movements aligned with secularism, and today humanism typically refers to a nontheistic life stance centred on human agency and looking to science rather than revelation from a supernatural source to understand the world. This group may define their ideal as seeking the betterment of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanity_(virtue) Humanity] or of all life forms in the Universe. | |||
# '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism Agnostic]''' - a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God. It is the view that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. | |||
# '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism Atheist]''' - a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods. Atheism is, in the broadest sense, the absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is the rejection of belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. | |||
# '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_conversion Convert]''' - one who sets aside the religious traditions of his ancestors to pursue another faith that he feels better defines his duty to God. | |||
== Duty to God Instruction == | == Duty to God Instruction == | ||
