religion?
Date: 27 April 1996

Q.   What is the position of the GSUSA as related to God and religion?

A.   Adopted at the GSUSA National Conference, 20-25 October, 1993:

       "THAT, since the Girl Scout organization makes no attempt to
interpret
       or define the word 'God' but encourages members to establish =
for
       themselves the nature of their spiritual beliefs, it is the =
policy
of
       the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. that individuals when making the =
Girl
       Scout Promise may substitute wording appropriate to their own
spiritual
       beliefs for the word 'God'."

       Stated explanation for policy change:

       "For some individuals, the word 'God', no matter how broadly
       interpreted, does not appropriately reflect their spiritual =
beliefs.
       Since the belief in a spiritual principle is fundamental to =
Girl
       Scouting, not the word used to define that belief, it is =
important
that
       individuals have the opportunity to express that belief in =
wording
       meaningful to them.

       It is essential to maintain the spiritual foundation of Girl
Scouting,
       yet be inclusive of the full range of spiritual beliefs. This
[policy
       change] does not take the word 'God' out of the Girl Scout =
Promise.
It
       gives those individuals who wish to do so the option to state =
their
       commitment to the spiritual concepts fundamental to the =
Movement
with a
       word or words more appropriate to their own beliefs. For =
instance,
an
       individual may say 'my faith' or 'Allah' or 'the Creator'."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject;   What is GSUSA's position on atheists in GSUSA Girl Scouting?

                   The Girl Scout organization does not endorse =
or promote any
                   particular philosophy or religious =
belief.   Our movement is
                   nonsectarian, founded on American democratic =
principles,
                   one of which is freedom of religion.   Each =
individual decides
if
                   she or he can meet our membership =
requirements, which
                   include making the Girl Scout Promise.

From: the GSUSA book "What We Stand For".

© 2008 FAQS.ORG. All rights reserved.