I have been considering returning my Eagle Scout Award....
I have been an atheist, since 6th grade. It's funny, I spent so long in Scouts, and all of my troops were sponsored by churches. I made no attempt to hide my non belief. The scouts in a mormon church called me "Algae man" as I spoke of Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Never did religion, really come up. I took the line "... a scout is reverent..." as not making fun of others religion. There was a lot to make fun of.
When I got my Eagle Scout Award, during the court of honor, I was greatly disappointed. This speaker, I did not invite, my troop did, went into a sermon. He spoke how the primary purpose of Scouts was to prepare them for the coming of Christ. Hello? That was not my Boy Scouts. He ruined my moment.
In the past few years, I have studied Buddhist texts and had the Army put Buddhist on my dog tags. I favor the Thai school of thought, without the popery aspects of the Tibetan Dala Lama. In none of my lessons, is god shown as a deity. The scientific method and reason, are part of my dharma.
I have heard of the Boy Scouts banning atheists, as scouts and leaders. I guess I can not help out in the future. I searched their web site, and could not find a definitive position. They say "god", but also say they do not force it. Buddhist have no god, so how can they be part.
My kids will be taught to respect religion, only as part of culture - like Margaret Mead would. Science is not a religion, as some xians claim. The psuedo-science of creationism and the new "persecution of xians" is offensive. Such nonsense is dumbing down children, already dumbed down. My kids will not be mislead by "believers"
I loved camping; and saw the Boy Scouts as a way to show my responsibility and leadership. If my atheist children can not be in the Boy Scouts, how can I keep my Eagle Scout award?
A SIDE NOTE:
A honor society in Boy Scouts is the Order of the Arrow. I was a second level Brotherhood member. It relies on the traditions of native americans and their myths. How does that fit in their dogma?