Scouting for Gnostics
Apr. 8th, 2008 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cdave"The Scout Association has been reported to the equality watchdog for allegedly discriminating against atheists by making them swear an oath to God."
Well it seems I was well ahead of times then.
I remember I was having doubts about Christianity when I joined Scouts, and asked if I had to swear an oath to "do my duty" to something I wasn't sure I believed in any more. They pointed out that the God mentioned is not explicitly the Christian God, so I could swear to what ever deity I wanted. When I said it was the whole God thing I had problems with, I was told that basically there is no alternative version, and if I wanted my woggle I'd have to swear the oath. So I did.
I don't think I would/could now.
Well it seems I was well ahead of times then.
I remember I was having doubts about Christianity when I joined Scouts, and asked if I had to swear an oath to "do my duty" to something I wasn't sure I believed in any more. They pointed out that the God mentioned is not explicitly the Christian God, so I could swear to what ever deity I wanted. When I said it was the whole God thing I had problems with, I was told that basically there is no alternative version, and if I wanted my woggle I'd have to swear the oath. So I did.
I don't think I would/could now.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-08 02:08 pm (UTC)I guess we get onto the definition of duty then. I certainly didn't mean I'd go to war when I swore mine.
who do not believe in taking oaths lightly
Actually that's a really good point. It's not exacly the sort of thing that needs an oath. An affirmation should be enough.