Atheists welcomed by Scouts
ATHEISTS are to be welcomed into scout packs across the UK for the first time in the movement’s 106-year history.
A new version of the Scout Promise with no mention of God or faith is to be introduced for boys and girls who say they are not religious, after the Scouting Association bowed to pressure from secular groups.
The existing promise includes the pledge to “do my duty to God”.
In the atheist version this becomes a promise to “do my best to uphold our Scout values.”
Wayne Bulpitt, the UK Chief Commissioner for the Scout Movement, said the change showed “its determination to become truly inclusive and relevant to all sections of society.”
He added: “We are a values-based movement and exploring faith and beliefs remains a key element of the scouting programme. That will not change.”
The UK has 536,787 scouts, according to the latest figures.