It's been a while, many apologies. Have been busy trying to sort out actual life and other such trivial things. But a few events in recent days have brought me back, keyboard of fury and all.
The first is the story of an atheist kid not being allowed into his Scout troop because he doesn't agree with the promise. It was also published in the Metro.
We've dealt with this before in my emails to the Scouts, but 56% of 18-24 year olds have no religion, and the 2011 Census data shows that religion (especially Christianity) in the UK is in decline. Obviously the current ban on atheists in the Scouts will either a) keep a lot of potential kids from joining or b) force them to lie about their beliefs when they join. Both of these are abhorrent.
But what I find blackly humorous about stories like these is that we're starting to see informed opinion publically going against the Scouts. The inclusion of faith in Scouting is through good natured intentions, yes, but the minority of people who agree with the current stance is shrinking, and public airing of the dirty laundry in this matter can only serve to put further pressure on the Scouts.
This kid is going to miss out on the brilliant things that Scouts can experience in the short few years that they're with us. He's being denied access because he's looked at the world and not found a higher being there, and this is apparently at odds with how Scouts see things. He's not 'fully alive'.
Way to undermine the point of Scouting, guys. But at least now the public think you're wrong too.
