Scouts to open it's doors to atheists.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242584/Scouts-pledge-drop-mention-God-promise-new-members-able-declare-atheists.html

Along with all other discipline it seems, who told that kid he could bend the peak of his uniform cap in such a way?

Soon they will be allowed to wear the peak either at the side or at the back.

What is the World coming to?

[Khandro]

^ I think you just did :-)

[Zeuhl]

<But does anyone seriously believe that a young child eager to join in with his or her mates into a 'club' that offers them interesting adventures both indoors and outdoors, is old enough at the ages of 6-8 years for the Beavers, 8-10½ and Scouts 10½-14 to make a decision about religion and the monarchy. >

Exactly aog

That is why they should not be asked to make that oath

To do so is wrong and by your own admission - worthless

[naomi24]

Khandro, “Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

All children are oblivious to the possible existence of any god until they are taught otherwise. Therefore, they are without belief – atheists – without gods. It’s impossible for them to be otherwise.

[jno]

does anyone have any proof of these assertions that babies are born without religion? Or is it just "common sense" without need of scientific validation?

[LazyGun]

@jno Belief in a supernatural deity - and more, belief in a particular religion - is learnt, not innate. Such concepts require the ability for abstract thought, and for self-awareness, and the brain is insufficiently developed at birth for this level of sophistication. Concepts of belief, of faith, of creation, of a supernatural entity will all require the capacity for abstract thought.

Babies do not even begin to display self-awareness until around 18 months or so.

[anotheoldgit]

Kromovaracun /// Well, actually, yeah, in quite a few cases I do. I was easily within the 10-14 age gap when I started refusing to pray in school assemblies, and I know plenty of people who were the same. A lot of my classmates did. /// That is truly unbelievable (not that I am saying you are lying) but when I was at school at that age, I or any of my form, would not have thought about any revulsion towards religion, let alone actually refusing to participate. We might have on the other hand, been rather bored by the length of Assembly, but then aren't all kids, if the subject isn't to one's liking, but religion would not be the only subject that seemed boring, so would Maths, English, Physics, Shakespeare, etc. etc. But I doubt if anyone including yourself and your 'class mates' would dare to refuse to participate in any of those subjects.

[naomi24]

//when I was at school at that age, I or any of my form, would not have thought about any revulsion towards religion, let alone actually refusing to participate. // In that case, thank 'God' for progress.

[anotheoldgit]

LazyGun /// no baby is born with an independently derived religion. All babies are born as atheists. /// Atheist - One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods. And a new born baby, possess the mental ability to come to those conclusions? LOL

[missnemesis]

Just because YOU didn't refuse AOG that doesn't necessarily follow that no-one else would. How supremely arrogant and deluded you are showing yourself to be.

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24 /// In that case, thank 'God' for progress. /// Oh, please be careful who you thank, or you might give the impression that you are not such an atheist as you first thought you were.

[Duncer]

Ironic pathos escaping you?

[Khandro]

AOG; There is little point in continuing with people who cannot even speak correct English. See my post yesterday 15:19

[anotheoldgit]

missnemesis /// Just because YOU didn't refuse AOG that doesn't necessarily follow that no-one else would. How supremely arrogant and deluded you are showing yourself to be. /// Judging by your unnecessarily rude statement, it only goes to prove that I belong to a much better class than you obviously do, so therefore you can not be expected to understand, that it was not just me but also my fellow Form mates.

[Duncer]

";...................a much better class than you&quot;? Are you serious?

[jackthehat]

I rather think he is..... A baby is a baby is a baby and is rather more concerned about where it's next feed is coming from rather than to whom it is expected to give thanks for it's safe arrival in the world.

[anotheoldgit]

I think that we can now take it that most on this thread are not only Left-Wing but also Anti-Monarchy and Atheist, which is more fitting to Communist Russia than England. But to all those Atheist amongst you I ask these questions; Have you ever visited a Church? Have you ever been or had your off springs ";Christened&quot;? Have you ever married in a Church? Have you ever been to a Christian funeral?

[jackthehat]

1. Yes 2. Yes 3. No 4. Yes Which proves 'what' exactly?

[anotheoldgit]

/// Sorry, my post is a victim of The Answerbank newline formatting bug. /// And mine also it seems. What is happening Ed?