What is the position of the GSUSA as related to God andreligion?
Description
This article is from the Scouting FAQ, by Bill Nelson nelsonb@nospam.aztec.asu.edu, Soaring Golden Eagle eagle@rangernet.org and Alan Houser troop24@emf.net with numerous contributions by others.
What is the position of the GSUSA as related to God andreligion?
Date: 27 April 1996
Q. What is the position of the GSUSA as related to God and religion?
A. Adopted at the GSUSA National Conference, 20-25 October, 1993:
"THAT, since the Girl Scout organization makes no attempt to
interpret or define the word 'God' but encourages members to
establish = for themselves the nature of their spiritual
beliefs, it is the = policy of the Girl Scouts of the
U.S.A. that individuals when making the = Girl Scout Promise
may substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual
beliefs for the word 'God'."
Stated explanation for policy change:
"For some individuals, the word 'God', no matter how broadly
interpreted, does not appropriately reflect their spiritual =
beliefs. Since the belief in a spiritual principle is
fundamental to = Girl Scouting, not the word used to define
that belief, it is = important that individuals have the
opportunity to express that belief in = wording meaningful to
them.
It is essential to maintain the spiritual foundation of Girl
Scouting, yet be inclusive of the full range of spiritual
beliefs. This [policy change] does not take the word 'God' out
of the Girl Scout = Promise. It gives those individuals who
wish to do so the option to state = their commitment to the
spiritual concepts fundamental to the = Movement with a word or
words more appropriate to their own beliefs. For = instance, an
individual may say 'my faith' or 'Allah' or 'the Creator'."
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Subject; What is GSUSA's position on atheists in GSUSA Girl Scouting?
The Girl Scout organization does not endorse = or
promote any particular philosophy or religious =
belief. Our movement is nonsectarian, founded on
American democratic = principles, one of which is
freedom of religion. Each = individual decides if
she or he can meet our membership = requirements,
which include making the Girl Scout Promise.
From: the GSUSA book "What We Stand For".
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