I had a discussion yesterday with a guy about the Boy Scouts. He charged them with discrimination (used in the now common negative sense) due to the fact they don't allow atheist or homosexuals to be members. I tried to get him to see that distinctions based on morals/character and religious beliefs is not discrimination. How would you argue these points?
The Boy Scouts is a private, voluntary organization and can make any rules it wants about who can be a member.
: johntwayne Sat Aug 04, 2007 - 06:22:58
I had a discussion yesterday with a guy about the Boy Scouts. He charged them with discrimination (used in the now common negative sense) due to the fact they don't all atheist or homosexuals. I tried to get him to see that distinctions based on morals/character and religious beliefs is not discrimination. How would you argue these points?
What does, "they don't all atheists and homosexuals" mean? Of course, I am in agreement with keeping homosexuals out of the scouts. As for atheists, if it's a Christian organization, they might be able to influence an atheist to reconsider his/her disbelief in God.
: Jon-Marc Sat Aug 04, 2007 - 11:30:18
: johntwayne Sat Aug 04, 2007 - 06:22:58
I had a discussion yesterday with a guy about the Boy Scouts. He charged them with discrimination (used in the now common negative sense) due to the fact they don't all atheist or homosexuals. I tried to get him to see that distinctions based on morals/character and religious beliefs is not discrimination. How would you argue these points?
What does, "they don't all atheists and homosexuals" mean? Of course, I am in agreement with keeping homosexuals out of the scouts. As for atheists, if it's a Christian organization, they might be able to influence an atheist to reconsider his/her disbelief in God.
Corrected
If a "Gay Scouts" is started, will discrimination charges be raised? How would christians respond?
I guess if a private organization say "Jew Scouts" was formed and they would not let atheist or homosexuals be leaders, would that be handled differently?
If the private " X Scouts" not only refused atheists and homosexuals but moved beyond leadership requirments and began terroristic propaganda training, how would that be handled?
Christian principles have been equated with Hate crimes by some believe it or not!
It's a little weird, calling the Scouts discriminatory because they follow their own rules and oaths ad charter and what not.
If people who do not fit the guidelines -- who won't promise to function by the guidelines -- don't like it, they can go form their own group.