juuule --
WK007 -- The Scout Association say
Scout Association factsheet "Fundamentals of Scouting" (here)
"it is not possible for an atheist to hold a Warrant as a Leader"
Background information to be considered by the Appointments sub-Committee (here)
"While it is not acceptable to deny a volunteer entry to the Movement if the individual is a member of a particular faith community, a person would not be suitable to hold a Warrant in Scouting if they:
- were an atheist
- believed that religious belief and spiritual development did not matter, although were willing to make the Promise
- were a humanist and did not believe in a spiritual aspect to human beings
- had religious beliefs, which conflicted with other fundamental principals of Scouting, such as being part of the world-wide family of Scouting.
These requirements are less strict for Associate Members and others who are not
required to make the Promise."
Scout Association Equal Opportunities [sic] Policy (here)
"With reference to religious belief, the avowed absence of religious belief is a bar to appointment to a Leadership position."
(interestingly, even though that website says that the policy was last changed in November 2006, as recently as May this year it said much the same thing as the Appointments sub-Committee text quoted above, i.e. "The Scout Movement is not a religious organisation, but does expect its Members to follow a religious faith and conform to its practices. A belief in the spiritual aspect of human beings and a belief in a spiritual power greater than ourselves is fundamental to Membership of the Scout Movement [...] While it is not acceptable to deny a volunteer entry to the Movement because of their membership of a faith community, a person would not be suitable as a Leader if he or she were an atheist" Not sure how come it doesn't say that any more but yet hasn't changed for over a year... )
Scout Association Noticeboard article "Promoting Multi-Faith Scouting" (here)
"We are aware that in some newspapers an incorrect statement is made that Scouting is open to atheists. This of course is not true and we have gone back to those newspapers to clarify this point."
Not in theory down to the individual.
Oh, and atheists aren't the only group not allowed as Members. Paedophiles aren't either... anyone else is fine.