Atheist Boy Scout fights decision to boot him

Pfc.Green · **Atheist Boy Scout fights decision to boot him -** 10-30-2002, 07:45 PM

The Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts has given Eagle Scout Darrell Lambert about a week to decide "in his heart" if he's truly an atheist. If he insists on sticking to his belief that there is no God, the Council will terminate his membership.

"No way" is he going to change his beliefs, says Lambert, who has been in scouting since he was 9 years old. "It'd be like me asking them to change their belief. It's not going to happen."

His beliefs, if unchanged, give the Scouts no choice, says Brad Farmer, council's Scout executive in Seattle.

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' right as a private organization to ban certain members. The Scouts exclude atheists.
The 19-year-old has earned 37 merit badges, been a quartermaster and three-time senior patrol leader, and now he's an assistant Scoutmaster and a field leader in training as part of the Search and Rescue Program. In his senior year in high school, he racked up more than 1,000 hours of community service.

He doesn't believe in smoking or taking illegal drugs. His mom offered to take him out for a drink when he turns 21. But he doesn't believe in drinking alcohol.

And he doesn't believe in God — not since the ninth grade. And even before then he was unsure.

"You need to have a recognition of a supreme being," said Farmer. "We as the Boy Scouts do not define what that is, but you need to have a recognition."

Every Boy Scout and adult leader must attest to that belief on an application in order to join. It can be part of subscribing to a structured religion — such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Hinduism — or a more amorphous faith in some presence greater than ourselves, Farmer explained.

The issue has garnered national attention over the years. In 1998, 16-year-old twins Michael and William Randall, who refused to take an oath to God, won a seven-year legal battle with the council in Orange County, Calif., and were awarded Eagle badges, Scouting's top award.

Whether Lambert will be allowed to stay remains in doubt, but last night he explained his predicament to the parents of the kids in his Port Orchard troop, Troop 1531. He laid out the choices and asked for their support.

His mom, who is Scoutmaster, and his dad stood by his side. He told the parents that the troop could watch him get kicked out, which he said he would regret because "I couldn't teach merit badges, which is something I absolutely love to do." Or, he said, they could stand up to the Boy Scout Council and say, "It's wrong."

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hake: hake: hake:

Recycled Spooge · 10-30-2002, 08:02 PM

Now blame the liberals. Come on.... SAY IT!

Pfc.Green · 10-30-2002, 08:07 PM

Sorry I cant blame the liberals for this one, they would be on the same side as me on this issue. I mean if the kid takes the oath,doesnt care if the rest of the scouts believe in god and just wants to complete scouts, they should let him.

SoLiDUS · 10-31-2002, 01:02 AM

Whatever. I still can't believe I read it all... eek:

10-31-2002, 01:53 AM

i was going to start with saying "jesus christ" but im not religious and this is a load of shit beyong "jesus" himself. FORCING someone to belive in ANY form of superior being is just a load of shit. Aren't the scouts supposed to mean something now adays? like acceptance? Im gonna read up on this on Canadian scouts and if they have the same rules I guarantee you EVERYONE will know every day they walk in to scouts that they HAVE to belive in a god. Then Im takin it to the scout leaders and demanding their religions, if one and i mean one of those fuckers says they dont have one I will fucking flip.

To think i was going to go into scounts four years ago,

10-31-2002, 01:32 PM

this kid is trying to get shit rolling and it back fired. looks like the boy scouts not a pc org. and he is already a eagle scout there is no higher honor. and its for kids. i say he needs to retire any way.

Sgt>Stackem · 10-31-2002, 02:15 PM

he wants to be a troop leader, from what Ive seen he deserves it. He looks like a good kid. (hes 19 yrs old now)

10-31-2002, 02:18 PM

ahh troopleader. i see now. i personly would have kept my mouth shut.

pest · 10-31-2002, 03:05 PM

The boyscouts are a private org and have the right to kick the kid if they like. They have already been down this road and have paid a price for this right. If they say so, the kid goes.

Vance · 10-31-2002, 03:15 PM

Damn Atheists hake:

Pfc.Green · 10-31-2002, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vance1

Damn Atheists hake:

Whats wrong with atheists? eek:

Pfc.Green · 10-31-2002, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vance1

Damn Atheists hake:

Whats wrong with atheists? eek:

Vance · 10-31-2002, 03:32 PM

They are going to Hell eek:

Pfc.Green · 10-31-2002, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vance1

They are going to Hell eek:

I dont believe in hell. sorry, but why are we so bad, we have morals, standards just like religious people.

10-31-2002, 04:30 PM

*hopes no one remembers a certain old thread by anti*

i dont care what u are. just as long as u dont force it onto others (the idea of hell pops into mind) then i have no problem.