Religious Duty in the Boy Scouts of America

To understand the role of religious duty in the Boy Scouts of America, the best place to begin is with how these characteristics of a Scout are explained in the Boy Scout Handbook with reference to the respective phrases of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Scout Oath: "To do my duty to God"

The current edition (11th edition, 1998, 5th printing) of the Handbook explains the meaning of this promise as follows:

"Your family and religious leaders teach you about God and the ways you can serve. You do your duty to God by following the wisdom of those teachings every day and by respecting and defending the rights of others to practice their own beliefs." (p. 45)

Scout Law: "A Scout is Reverent"

Likewise the Handbook offers an explanation of this principle of a Scout's conduct, beginning with words that echo the interpretation given to the "duty to God" in the Scout Oath:

" A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

"Wonders all around us remind us of our faith in God. We find it in the tiny secrets of creation and in the great mysteries of the universe. It exists in the kindness of people and in the teachings of our families and religious leaders. We show our reverence by living our lives according to the ideals of our beliefs.

"Throughout your life you will encounter people expressing their reverence in many different ways. The Constitution of the United States guarantees each of us the freedom to believe and worship as we wish without government interference. It is your duty to respect and defend others' rights to their religious beliefs even when they differ from your own." (p. 54)