Putting aside the context of whether this makes sense with the existence of Girl Scouts, as an Eagle Scout I’m pretty happy that the organization has made strides to turn around its image of exclusivity. It’s certainly about 15 years later than it needed to be, but such a huge organization that is dedicated to inspiring ideals in young people should be sending the right message. It’s a far cry from the early 2000’s era Boy Scouts which was projecting a much different message.
I’m quite ambivalent about the organization’s attitude toward religion, in that it is impossible to be an outspoken atheist and reach the rank of Eagle Scout. To reach the highest rank you must undergo an Eagle board of review, which is an interview of sorts with highly ranked regional council members. During mine, I was asked questions that were mostly formalities until the final question: “Do you believe in a higher power?” When given context to the question, it made a bit more sense: I was told the higher power could be anything, like the Mother Nature or karma. It was then that I understood that the question, however poorly worded, isn’t meant to really be around religion, but instead letting go of your ego. There are much better ways to ask that sort of question though, and being atheist and letting go of your ego are not two mutually exclusive properties.
I was agnostic at the time so it was easy for me, but I still question the approach now even though it wasn’t the WASP-like approach I expected.
Interesting about agnosticism. I didnt specifically process as an agnostic and I was not directly asked the question. The simple question was “Do you believe in a higher power” and no more detail was requested upon my initial answer of “yes”. I imagine if I had elaborated the answe night not have been to the liking of the reviewers.
I’m quite ambivalent about the organization’s attitude toward religion, in that it is impossible to be an outspoken atheist and reach the rank of Eagle Scout. To reach the highest rank you must undergo an Eagle board of review, which is an interview of sorts with highly ranked regional council members. During mine, I was asked questions that were mostly formalities until the final question: “Do you believe in a higher power?” When given context to the question, it made a bit more sense: I was told the higher power could be anything, like the Mother Nature or karma. It was then that I understood that the question, however poorly worded, isn’t meant to really be around religion, but instead letting go of your ego. There are much better ways to ask that sort of question though, and being atheist and letting go of your ego are not two mutually exclusive properties.
I was agnostic at the time so it was easy for me, but I still question the approach now even though it wasn’t the WASP-like approach I expected.