Finding Religion
When I was in my high school World Cultures class, the unparalleled Mr. Kessler taught us all about the different world’s religions. He provided an unbiased and insightful grand tour of each faith’s tenets and let the class debate their merits. Sometimes the discussions got heated, especially when a particular person’s religious faith was under discussion. When it was all said and done, no one took it personally or were ever offended. It was thoughtful, intelligent discourse that I’m afraid is sorely lacking in today’s conversations about politics or religion. My 10th grade World Cultures class was probably my most appreciated and beneficial class I ever took, because I feel I can talk to others about religion without being ignorant or dismissive about other people’s beliefs.
That’s why when I read this article in the Post-Gazette about Boy Scouts going on a grand tour of their own to learn about different faiths, it was very heartwarming. Even if you find fault with the Scouts on their policies regarding religion and/or the sexual orientation of their scoutmasters, they are attempting to educate the youth on people’s differing views on (or lack thereof) a higher power.
My hope is that after it was all said and done, the particular scoutmasters allowed the scouts to make up their own minds when it came to religion and debate it themselves vs. offering their own opinions.
(Photo Courtesy of the Post Gazette)
(Also, I know I didn’t post yesterday… I was out a lot longer and later than I thought. Consider this Friday’s post)
i hope so too.
The Boy Scouts have Christian roots; why should their leaders remain neutral in religious matters? Would anyone give a second thought to a Jewish organization promoting Judaism? I don’t think so. Why is it that Christian organizations are asked to remain neutral to please the secular wet blankets while other religious organizations are encouraged to maintain their identities in the name of diversity?
I’m not advocating that a particular organization remain neutral in religious matters. I don’t even mind if they place the context of the visit in the sense of how the organization was founded… saying in effect “The tenets of the Christian religion is the foundation for the good works of the Boy Scouts.”
My opinion was more about that after the visit is said and done, that scoutmasters wouldn’t say, “Well, those religions are all well and good but they are incorrect” or “See how foolish some of those beliefs are”.
I really don’t like the word “tolerance” when it comes to religions, politics, etc. That presupposes it’s something painful to endure or something you HAVE to do even if you don’t want to. I prefer open-mindedness. With religion or politics (the two things my Dad told me never to talk about with people) I believe that family or authority figures can represent the values and teach them to young people, but let them make their own decisions as to whether or not they adopt them or consider alternatives.
Secular wet blanket is a great term… I think that would make an awesome band name.
While it’s not the Boy Scout leaders job to teach theology, I don’t think it would be wrong, assuming the organization still identifies itself as explicitly Christian (and it may not), to compare religions to Christianity in terms of how they are different and/or incorrect.
Oops. ;)
Nobody’s forcing kids to join the Boy Scouts or preventing someone from forming other scouting organizations based on other religious beliefs or no belief at all. I’m a big fan of freedom of association. In other words, if a group is founded on certain beliefs, it shouldn’t be forced to compromise those beliefs to satisfy the nanny state and itss political correctness police. If parents don’t want their kids taught that Christianity is right and other religions are wrong, they don’t have to involve their kids in organizations founded on and professing Christian faith.
“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” - GK Chesterton
Sounds more like an album name to me.