Britain’s Scout movement is considering welcoming atheists for the first time by creating a Scout Promise that does not include a pledge of “duty to God”, it said Tuesday.
The Scout Association, whose chief scout is TV adventurer Bear Grylls, is launching a consultation to see whether members would support a fresh version of the oath as well as those that already exist for faith groups including Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists.
The new wording would cater for “atheists and those unable to make the existing commitment” for the first time in the 105-year history of scouting, the association said on its website.
But existing versions would continue to be used.
The parallel Girl Guiding movement, which includes Brownies, said it would start a consultation in January on the wording of its own promise.
The Scout Promise, pledged on joining the movement, reads: “On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.”
Hindus and Buddhists can pledge their duty to “my Dharma” instead of God, while Muslims can refer to “Allah” and non-British citizens can replace the queen with “the country in which I am now living”.
Wayne Bulpitt, chief commissioner of the Scout Association, said: “We are a values-based movement and exploring faith and religion will remain a key element of the Scouting programme. That will not change.
“However, throughout our 105-year history, we have continued to evolve so that we remain relevant to communities across the UK.
“We do that by regularly seeking the views of our members and we will use the information gathered by the consultation to help shape the future of scouting for the coming years.”
Scout membership in Britain has risen from 444,936 in 2005 to 525,364 this year, the association said. Its troops around the country organise opportunities for young people, with an emphasis on outdoor activities such as camping and hiking.
Founded in 1907 by former army lieutenant general Robert Baden Powell, scouting became a global phenomenon and its British branch is also now open to girls.
The National Secular Society welcomed the consultation as a “move in the right direction”.
Terry Sanderson, president of the group, said it would end “unpleasant confrontations” such as the case of George Pratt, 11, from Midsomer Norton in Somerset.
It emerged in October that he was excluded from the Scouts because he did not want to make the Scout Promise in its current form.
Scouts may welcome atheists
