Duty to God (Scout Oath)

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Duty to God - Living the Scout Promise -

  • See Duty to God for other scouting references such as Scouting Religious Awards.

NOTE: ARTICLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION : SEPT 2018
This is a major scouting article specific to the article title, and will require a bit of time to write out. Do not post any other edits until it is substantially complete.

Article Objective

Duty to God is an important yet sensitive topic in scouting.

1st Principle of Scout Promise

Every scout is required to follow the Scout Promise (AKA: Th Scout Oath) which outlines four key principles or duties -

  1. Duty to God
  2. Duty to Country (or King)
  3. Duty to Fellow Man
  4. Duty to Self (ie obey the Scout Law)

WSOM Constitutional Requirements

Duty to God is a specially defined requirement of the Constitution of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). [1] In order to accommodate many different religions within Scouting, "God" may refer to a higher power, and is not specifically restricted to the God of the monotheistic religions. The WOSM Constitution explains "Duty to God" as "Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom."

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which is a sister organization to WOSM, has the very same wording in their constitution (Part I, Article 2: Original Promise),[2] and follows similar policies.

Common Core Beliefs

While there are thousands upon thousands of religious movements in the world today, but Scouting's Duty to God promises attempts to accommodate all of them as best as possible. Many of these will define Duty to God in great detail and with some bit of variation. Many scouting families identify with particular movement. Many others may not identify with any form of organized religious movement, but follow their own traditions in the home. However, many religious traditions follow a few key core beliefs that are important to note:

  1. Faith in a Supreme Being -
  2. Scripture Study - learning and understanding the Word of God.
  3. Prayer - Communication with deity
  4. Worship Service - (Examples: Regularly attend weekly religious service or to commemorate a religious holiday)
  5. Charitable Service - (ie: Do a Good Turn Daily - the Scout Motto)
  6. Obey the Law of God - general righteous living

It is noted here that some religious movements may have additional important core beliefs all of which you should discover during your practice of Scripture Study which will help you to learn about those.

Faith in a Supreme Being

  • Basis for Moral Living

Scripture Study

It is noted here that some religious movements may have additional important core beliefs all of which you should discover during your practice of Scripture Study which will help you to learn about those.

Prayer

Worship Service

Charitable Service

Obey the Law of God

Beliefs of the Atheists

Duty to God Instruction

When and how do scouts learn about the meaning of Duty to God.

References

  1. ↑ "WOSM Constitution and By-Laws". World Scout Bureau. July 1983, April 2000. http://www.scout.org/en/content/download/3271/30808/file/WOSM_constitution_EN.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-10. 
  2. ↑ "WAGGGS Constitution and Bye-Laws". WAGGGS World Bureau. December 1936, June 2005. http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/grab/1109/1/1ConstitutionbookletEnglish.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-10. 
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