I’m moving to a small town this summer so we can be closer to my husband’s family. It’s already pretty obvious that my particular views on religion are not the norm in the area. Tonight my MIL asked if I would be willing to be a Brownie leader for the troop that my daughter and my niece would be in next year. Apparently the current leader is either going to quit or get booted.
Since I was not a Girl Scout myself I had to do a little research about the basics of Girl Scouts and what the leaders are expected to do. I have no objection to the actual work, and I like the idea of giving the kids something productive to do. I get that the main goal of the scouts is to sell those cookies to make money for the higher ups and such, and I can let that slide.
What’s got me on edge is the pledge, and the fact that it only takes 9 words to get to God. I know that the organization allows members to do some editing to that part, but since I would be the one teaching the pledge I can’t really do that without either faking it myself or potentially offending some of the other moms.
Anybody been here that can let me know whether it’s possible to pull off this gig without inflaming the fundamentalists?
For the record, my kids are free to choose their own beliefs, and since my daughter wishes to participate for the social and entertainment aspects of Girl Scouts, I’m going to let her try it regardless of whether I’m her leader or not, so I don’t need speeches about not letting my kids be indoctrinated.
Any Atheist Girl Scout/ Brownie Leaders Out There?
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What pledge, the US pledge of Allegiance, or do you mean the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law?
As Wiccan who is Girl Scout Leader in a very fundamental Christian area, I have to tell you that while I’ve had my rough times with a couple of mothers pulling their daughters and saying bad things about my religion, overall it ha been a wonderful experience. Most of the girls and parents in our previous troop (my daughter aged out as was the intent with this troop, we intentionally kept taking in new brownies and juniors and let the Cadettes age out and orm a sister troop) were very accepting and the girls openly discussed their beliefs with each other in a very respectable manner.
However we had already been in the troop a little over a year and I was not yet a leader when I accidentally outed us to all the parents. We were not the only non-Christians in the troop and the leaders knew this but the other parents did not. The leader and I talked about trying to find an appropriate religious award for my daughter. When I found one through a coven in California I meant to send the link to the 2 leaders but I accidentally sent it to the troop list instead. The reaction I received was amazingly supportive except for 2 mothers. 1 left the troop the end of that year and tried to get us kicked out. Funny thing is I became a leader after that and I now hold 2 positions with the service unit.
ETA: As for the promise and law, I would teach them as is but explain that one is free to leave God out of it. Once the girls have it memorized, you (and your daughter) can easily omit it.
The Scouts are a private organization and therefore have the right to restrict membership to heterosexual theists. THat said, why would you want to be part of such an organization. Let someone else take the gig.
Edit: Well, then you have to ask yourself what is more important to you. Not having to mention a god you don’t believe in in a pledge or helping out the Girl Scouts.
It would be best to fake it being, these parents have their children in Scout’sbrownie’s to teach them the true American way and leaving God out is not what they have in mind. If you force the issue you may have no children to be there for you to be a Scout leader to.
I don’t personally know about the Girl Scouts or Brownies, but I know the Boy Scouts don’t let atheists be members or leader. I don’t know if that is the same thing for the Girl Scouts or Brownies.
Iohnt no I’m goldie.
Just to be fair to yourself please check the following out !!!
The proof of God’s true existence is His willingness to tell us what He will do centuries before He does it !!! As a case in point He put the dates of messianic events written in the skies at creation !!! Those events include His conception, His birth and death !!! You have to have a little information about astronomy, Feasts of Israel, the stars and their positions in the sky, and your willingness to go and discover information that may change your thinking and maybe your life !!! http://www.bethlehemstar.net/http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance…http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm
Since you know the Girl Scouts allow atheist members, it sounds to me like you’re basically asking whether or not to basically “keep your beliefs to yourself” in terms of allowing Christian doctrine into the speeches or troupe, or to take a stand and proudly proclaim your atheism despite the problems it might cause. If this is the case, I don’t think anyone else can answer your question but you. It really depends on what kind of person you are.
I’m a loud mouth who doesn’t mind confrontation so if I accepted, I would go ahead and make the changes I feel are necessary. But I also don’t get along with a lot of people. That might not be the type of person you are. I think only you can really answer this question.