DD has just joined Brownies and I have an issue with the promise...

[BonyM]

Now, as far as I was aware, Brownies/Guides is not affiliated to any religion, however the part of the Brownie promise is "to love my god".

As humanists, dh and I do not have a god, and dd1 is aware of this (although the christian religion is more or less a "given" as far as her school is concerned). Tbh dh wasn't 100% comfortable with her joining Brownies in the first place as it was his perception that they were "religious", although I had assured them that they weren't. DD was very keen though as a lot of her friends go, and I believed that any religious input would be minimal.

We (particularly dh) are uncomfortable at the notion of her promising to "love my god". DD1 is almost 8 and doesn't really know whether to believe in a god or not (due I guess to the conflicting views she has - ours and the schools).

The question is whether to make an issue of it, risking her feeling alienated from her peers and/or embarrassed, or to just ignore it with the view that whatever she is told at this age, she will make her own mind up eventually anyway.

What would others do in this situation?

I'm with frogs. Brownies are rubbish - woodcraft folk rocks. At least that was my opinion when I wasa kid and it still stands now!

I wish I had the energy,(have been to poorly) to argue about people who place their children in organisations like the Brownies, the Beavers whatever and then complain about horror the religous apsect of it.

Exactly why did she join the Brownies ??

Is it just one more tick on the social to do
list ??

This below is not directed at you BonyM.

And as for people who send their children to faith schools or faith affiliated schools and then complain about the religous aspects.

Sleepyjess - i don't have anything against Brownies, but that doesn't mean we all have to feel happy about sending our children there does it?

As i said before, i wouldn't stop my dd going there if she wanted to, but it won't be on the top of my list of things for her to do.

The bible is very old in very old language - does that mean we can all just accept it being read to us?

According to lower down the thread the promise is to love my God, not do my duty to.

Oh Frogs, that's what my mother said too (although she left the 'proto' bit off)! I SULKED hugely.

BonyM, I'd go for Frogs no. 1 choice – your dd will come up against people who don't share your views all the time and needs to accomodate them. Learning how to tell socially-acceptable white lies is an important part of growing up...

think it's
I promise that I will do my best to love my god, to serve the Queen and my country, help other people and keep the Brownie Guide Law.

Actually having re read your OP it might be. Sorry but it makes me madder than mad.

"Learning how to tell socially-acceptable white lies is an important part of growing up... "

Edam - do you really mean that?

Don't you want your children to be individuals and be proud of their own beliefs? WE can have our own opinion whilst still respecting everyone elses.

But if you don't have anything against Brownies, how could you feel unhappy about letting your DD go if she wanted to? Just asking.. sorry if I am coming across rudely.. to knackered to be tactful altho original comment was aimed at original poster..

Don't most people join Brownies for the social life (such as it is), if they have a thought out reason at all?

oh PARP PARP PARP

Give it a rest

You parp me, countess?

As i said if my dd wanted to go i would let her.

And i don't have anything against Brownies because i'm sure its a great place for Christian children to attend.

I wouldn't make a deliberate choice to send my child somewhere which is centred around a particular religion.

If my child asked to go, i would inform her that it is a Christian centred group (if i felt that the case after visiting the local one) and let her make up her own mind.

Send her to Badgers. She'll learn how to make an arm sling and the uniform is cheaper.

No sorry scumster have not read the rest am parping original post

FGS they are not the Moonies they are the BROWNIES

What's badgers? My son is fond of badgers...

CD - I'm enjoying a discussion on this - i am interesting in hearing other peoples opinions and expressing my own. Tell me - why exactly should we give it a rest?

I will send my dd only to vampire worshipping groups personally.

NO was aimed at original post

anyway will bugger off

PARP!! pARP!! PARP!!

Yup, I do. Children have to learn to say 'thank you' if given a hideous present by Aunty Mabel.

I do have very strong principles but would never force ds to stand up for them. They aren't his beliefs, he didn't choose them. I'll do my best, of course, to teach him about my beliefs and explain why they are very important to me. But I won't put him a position where he is embarrasssed or made uncomfortable for the sake of my principles.

lol at not moonies. Think the moonies might have been more fun than my brownies. Think they are very variable though.

Ok sorry! just when that appears mid conversation, can't help thinking its relevant to the last few posts.

Come back CD, you have been exonerated, also I knew what you meant.

Ok - dd does not go to a faith school (that would be incredibly hypocritical!) - just an ordinary school, which in the UK has an assumed christian ethos (I think this is fairly typical).

Brownies is not something to "tick" on the social to do list! I don't do "social to-do lists! . Dd1 has 3 very close friends at school - all them go to brownies, all of them love it, and talk about it, and therefore dd was desperate to go. I thought it would be unfair to prevent her going just because dh & I don't have a religion, and because Brownies might, on occasion, touch on religion. I probably did know, but had forgotten, about the "promise". I was a girl guide but don't remember any bit religious bent to it - just the occasional church parade. My opinion was that there would certainly be no more religion at brownies than she gets at school (daily assembly, Christmas nativity play etc.).