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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send my children to Brownies and Beavers even though DH and I are athiests?

43 replies

AngryFeet · 17/10/2012 19:43

I wanted my DC to attend these as I think they are good fun, they get to socialise with kids outside school, learn new things etc.

I help out every week as they were going to have to close down without extra help and I take my DD to church parade as I am happy for her to explore religion if she wants to.

But someone said to me the other day that Christianity was what it was all about and kids shouldn't go if they aren't religious.

AIBU?

OP posts:
MyNeighbourIsHorrid · 17/10/2012 19:45

No, whoever said they shouldn't go is daft.

lilachair · 17/10/2012 19:47

Totally!

I'm an atheist, and my girls are well aware of that, and they LOVE Brownies.

It is part of my Grand Plan to keep them so busy as teens they do not have time to be vile Grin

But really, the church bit is a tiny part of it, and you can choose whether they attend or not, and whether ou go with them so you can hear what they are learning and field questions.

Let them go, they will have a fab time, and Brownie camp is so good for them - they cone back so confident and full of new things Smile

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/10/2012 19:47

I would feel comfortable swearing allegiance to the Queen or doing my duty to God now, so do they? I did when I was a Brownie. Didn't think twice.

Gimblinginthewabe · 17/10/2012 19:47

I went to brownies, guides and rangers and helped out at rainbows. I never noticed any religion apart from when we went to church for the remembrance service.

The brownie bells is about god but it depends how strongly you feel about it.

The normal meeting stuff isn't about god at all.

Leftwingharpie · 17/10/2012 19:47

It's not about Christianity, it's about exploring a spiritual relationship with whatever your own personal concept of god(s) is. That may not be any more palatable of course!

PeggyCarter · 17/10/2012 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lurkedtoolong · 17/10/2012 19:49

No - I'm a Brownie leader and very agnostic which I explained from the beginning. We have a couple of Muslim girls in the group - both of whom actually come to the Christingle service. Guiding does have a Christian background but that isn't how it works these days with the exception of occasional and non-compulsory church parades.

Keep taking DD - as long as she enjoys it.

tazzle22 · 17/10/2012 19:49

I can only speak directly for the guiding movement but I am sure scouting it the same .......... they are all inclusive, they explore and include religions other than c of e. Maybe your church parade is in a church because the majority of the children who attand also attend christian based schools.?

wickedfairy · 17/10/2012 19:52

We are not religious and send DS to Beavers - in fact, I didn;t even realise they were a Christian thing until he was invested and had to pledge to be good to God (or whatever the wording was).

I am sure there will be children from all religions going and am sure that the majority of it will be fun things to do and not church related. DS loves Beavers!

stinklebell · 17/10/2012 19:53

Neither DH or I are religious, and our DDs go to Scouts.

There's not much religion involved, I regularly help at Beavers with DD2 and religion is never mentioned.

They are expected to turn out for Remembrance Day parade and St George's Day parade, but no other church services

Ours our Sea Scouts, rather than Scout Scouts, I don't know if that makes a difference

meditrina · 17/10/2012 19:54

It is a faith based organisation (any faith), and that is included in The Promise (in UK), though the actual level of religiousness (and which religion) varies between packs.

If you are atheist, then this is a direct contravention of your beliefs. You would probably be better to look for a secular organisation that would clearly be a better fit to your personal ethos.

stinklebell · 17/10/2012 19:55

As far as I remember, the promise they made was

'to do my duty to my God'

No mention of Christianity or any particular god

LauraPashley · 17/10/2012 19:56

I used to be an owl Grin
They had changed the promise from when I was a kid, so you say I promise to love MY god (the my wasn't there before), I thought that was a good idea.

marshmallowpies · 17/10/2012 19:59

Might depend on the individual leader...there was a boy in our village scout troop who used to say he'd been 'banned' from Cubs because his parents were atheist and wouldn't let him go to Church parade. Roll on a few years and the Scout leader was much less strict about who he let in!

I'm atheist and I hope DD will do Brownies, if she wants to...I loved it.

MaryZed · 17/10/2012 19:59

It is definitely not about Christianity (at least most packs aren't). If anything, it's more about spirituality - an appreciation of nature for example.

As long as you are going to allow them to make the promise (even if you are vaguely disapproving, you shouldn't make an issue out of it if you want them to make it, iyswim), then they can join.

Leftwingharpie · 17/10/2012 20:19

They can join but not make the promise as well - although what child would want to exclude themself like that I don't know. At one of my units in north London I had a Brownie whose family worshipped the Norse gods and goddesses.

alpinefresh · 17/10/2012 20:23

they dont even have to promise to serve god, there is an alternative promise, all about doing your best.

Send them, its good fun

RiaOverTheRainbow · 17/10/2012 20:29

I'm an atheist and I've been involved in Guiding most of my life in various forms. There is God in the Promise and Brownie Bells (song at the end of meetings) and optional church services, but very rarely more than that.

Ask your local leaders if you're still not sure, but I bet the most religious they get is Christmas cards and Easter eggs.

Isandri · 17/10/2012 21:23

As I not very devote catholic I was always very uncomfortable with the pledge in brownies. First because I was starting to realise that religion probably wasn't for me and secondly because as a catholic I shouldn't be swearing allegiance to the head of a rival church. I also found it uncomfortable because of the ban on Catholics becoming PM or marrying into the royal family. It maemde me feel like a hypocrite.

LabMonkey · 17/10/2012 21:40

GirlguidingUK not a religious organisation. My Guides include girls being brought up in Christian, Muslim and Atheist families and that's just the one's who talk about these things.

Guides are just a bunch of girls messing around in a safe setting learning new things and having fun - religion doesn't come into it. :-)

LabMonkey · 17/10/2012 21:43

GirlguidingUK not a religious organisation. My Guides include girls being brought up in Christian, Muslim and Atheist families and that's just the one's who talk about these things.

Guides are just a bunch of girls messing around in a safe setting learning new things and having fun - religion doesn't come into it. :-)

LabMonkey · 17/10/2012 21:44

And this Guider can't post properly - sorry!

whathaveiforgottentoday · 17/10/2012 21:49

I'm atheist and my dd goes to rainbows and there is very little religion involved. I really wouldn't worry. She doesn't even have church parade which I remember having to do once a month as a brownie (long time ago in the 70's)

Cardea · 17/10/2012 21:51

I'm an atheist and I'll be leading beavers this week, they have a oath for members of every religion but the sessions don't revolve around religious teaching or anything, it is mainly small children running around going mental having a brilliant time - I'd ignore your friend

glamourousgranny42 · 17/10/2012 21:55

My son is an atheist and a republican so he is doubly stuck! But he has gone through beavers, cubs and scouts and he has got so much out of it. Admittedly his pack is fantastic and give them loads of opportunities to do different things. He attends every activity on offer except the church services and church parade. Nobody has ever mentioned it. (And we don't stand up for the national anthem!) Religion is not a big thing at all.