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

[AngryFeet]

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?

SH! I'm an atheist exbrown owl, with non believing guide and scout DCs.

They are wonderful organisations, that open up a whole host of opportunities.

At 7 I decided that my duty to God was to obey Jesus's words "do unto others as you would have them do unto you", ie if I was nice and kind that would have to do for the duty to God bit.

Why they cling to the God bit, I don't know, but I've volunteered enough of my time over the years to feel not in the least guilty about that 7 year olds logic.

DH and I are atheists but DD goes to Rainbows. The leader has links with the church.

I don't see it much differently to her supposed "community" school which the local vicar's children attend, and to which he runs assemblies once a week, with lots of God stuff going on.

I am happy for my DC to be taught about religion as I don't want to do it and then make their own decisions about faith when they are older.

YANBU

The only religious aspect about my brownies is that I run them in a church. I don't tend to do anything else bar the song at the end which no one has complained about.

This is an old chestnut. If you have a faith, it's not a problem. It only becomes an issue if you have no faith. The chap who was identified as a possible Group Scout Leader is instead the chair of the executive committee. He's a Humanist and to become Group Scout Leader would have required him to make the scouting promise and to do his duty to God.

If you do have no faith and don't have a problem with your children taking their promise, there's no problem.

DD2 went to brownies now guides I am not really religious I don't ban religion I just tell them they are allowed to beleive what they like and that I believe god and jesus are just stories passed down and then written down anyway as long as you are not worried about the guide promise and thinking day service then send your child to whatever you want them to go to, and the new promise is MY god not god,

I am a Rainbow leader and an atheist, I have made my promise and agree it is hypocritical, but I am a good leader and no leader, no Rainbows. There is no religion in our weekly meetings (optional church services aside) I love the guiding movement and it provides such great opportunities for fun and learning for so many girls.
I did have to have an in depth talk with my ds's beaver leader when he wanted to join as she was uncomfortable with my atheism (they asked on the form). She was reassured when I pointed out he was free to make his own mind up as he grew up his faith, or lack of it, is his choice not mine. He loves Beavers with a passion but he's still not sure about God though!

I don't think there is any religion at DDS guides not weekly anyway, when i went about a hundred years ago we prayed and sang a hymn every week and did the promise

some brownie packs are religious

I'm a brownie leader

my pack do brownie bells at the end of the meeting and when girls are due to make their promise we talk about loving your god means looking after the world/environment & being kind -doing the things that God would want us to do
I'm not religious in the slightest and this gentle nod towards faith takes about 5 minutes

however, the lady who ran the pack before me came on my first pack holiday to help about 4 years ago and was disgusted that we didn't say grace before every meal

there is another pack local to us who are quite religious and they do children's bible stories like Noah's Ark etc and Christmas is very much about the nativity

there are also Jewish and muslim packs within the city

for the vast majority though, Brownies is about making friends, playing games, doing crafts and having adventures
the best way to find out what your loacl pack is like is to contact the local leader and she will also be able to tell you how long her waiting list is and whether your DD stands a chance of getting in before she is 10

I run a guide unit that is attached to a church. I am an atheist and have quite strong feelings on the subject. To a certain extent, our meetings do reflect Christianity - activities are based around the Christian calendar and we sing taps at the end of every meeting. On camp, we sing grace before each meal. To me, the religious aspect means nothing, but I do think they have a nice message and teaching children to be thankful for what they have is no bad thing. Most of these things are done due to tradition.

As a unit attached to a church, we have monthly church parades which I do have to encourage my girls to attend. I never insist, and try to think about the message of the service rather than the God part - for example the service at Christmas where we take presents for less fortunate children. I really encourage them to attend Remberance parade.

Very few of my girls are actually religious, while some follow other religions. I try to do activities based around other religions because I do think they are interesting. The girls therefore know it doesn't matter what your beliefs are, as long as you respect others. I actually used to teach RE - you don't have to believe to learn about something, or to find it interesting.

Haven't had time to read all posts so sorry if its been mentioned. My son goes to cubs which he loves! On joining I had to fill in a form. It asked what religion we are, I said none and no one batted an eye lid! So yanbu! I think the whole Christianity aspect of it is more to do with keeping up certain traditions from when these groups were first formed.

It's hardly he purpose.

I think whoever it was is a bit confused. My older two go to girl/Boys Brigade, which does have the aim of teaching young people about christianity and so would really be inapropriate unless you want your children to learn quite a lot about christianity and participate in christian worship.

My dts are hindu, they go to scouts. They skip the church services and there is minimal christian content in the meetings. They also unfortunately go to a cofe school and are jsut encouraged to think of someone special during prayers, etc.

You are not the ones going! They are only the DCs of atheists- who knows what they will be in the future? There is only one question- 'do they want to go'?

I'm an atheist and my girls go to Girls Brigade. Although I don't believe, I do think that a passing knowledge of Christianity and Bible stories is desirable general knowledge. Anyway, so far they have turned out as an atheist (who chose to do RS GCSE), an agnostic who might do Theology as a degree, and one believes in the ancient Olympian gods! So any brainwashing or indoctrination has been highly unsuccessful :-)

I was an atheist Owl. I got round the promise by crossing my fingers
I don't remember any religious messages in our meetings. We sang a goodbye song to end our meetings.

I don't think that anyone has been converted to Christianity through Scouts or Brownies!

I don't think that anyone has been converted to Christianity through Scouts or Brownies

No it isn't a brainwashing organisation In dds brownie pack there was a chinese girl who was buddist I am sure her parents didn't think she would be corrupted

I'm in exactly the same position OP. I think it's ridiculous that the organisation expects 5 and 6 year olds to be able to make and understand the decision to believe in and do their 'duty' towards a deity. Utterly ridiculous. But I shall be swallowing my intellectual opposition to religion in the Scouting movement and enrolling ds1 and 2 imminently because they will get so much out of it that it trumps my irritation and uncomfortableness. But there's not a cat in hells chance I will be going to church services with them, I'll take them and stand outside!