Arrow of Light Duty to God in Action Adventure
Adventure Goal: Learn about and practice the scout's religious faith.
Adventure Requirements:
Complete Requirements 1 and 2 plus at least two others of your choice.
- Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
- Under the direction of your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, do an act of service for someone in your family, neighborhood, or community. Talk about your service with your family. Tell your family how it related to doing your duty to God.
- Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not done so already.
- With your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you better do your duty to God. Do these things for a month.
- Discuss with your family how the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to your beliefs about duty to God.
- For at least a month, pray or reverently meditate each day as taught by your family or faith community.
Ideas for Adventure Requirements:
- Have scouts complete requirements at home. Define time in a den meeting for scouts to share what they did for requirements #1 and #2.
Den Meeting Ideas for Duty to God in Action Adventure:
- Include Graces at your scout meals and snacks.
- Explain and promote the Religious Emblem award to scouts that have not earned it yet.
- Use Faith Service when planning campout services.
Comments:
May 11, 2016 - Maribel
If a Webelo completes requirement 1 for Duty to God
and You, does this also earn him his Duty to God in
Action or does he now need to do requirement 2 in order
to earn his Duty to God in Action?
Aug 12, 2016 - Scouter Paul@Alison - The exact requirement is "Earn the religious emblem of
your faith for Webelos Scouts, if you have not already done so."
If the scout earned the religious emblem and used it to fulfill
one adventure, he shouldn't also use it to fulfill the second
adventure. Instead, he would need to do requirement #2 for that
adventure.
The intent is that earning one religious emblem should not be used to fulfill two adventures.
Nov 29, 2016 - Mark ColemanThe intent is that earning one religious emblem should not be used to fulfill two adventures.
I understand what you're asking, Alison. I had the same question, and our Cub Master said we
should do #2 as well. It is a little vague though. I can see how it's misunderstood. I think they
should make it clear that if #1 was completed as a Webelos, that they should do #2 instead.
Sep 18, 2017 - AdamHello,
My family is not religious and would prefer not to bring religion into our house, yet it seems as if this is a requirement. Is there a waiver for this requirement for those who do not practice a religion?
Nov 16, 2017 - TrishMy family is not religious and would prefer not to bring religion into our house, yet it seems as if this is a requirement. Is there a waiver for this requirement for those who do not practice a religion?
Adam,
Many in our pack do not participate in formal religion or worship God. We did all the requirements but focused on Diversity and Tolerance- accepting others respecting their beliefs and embracing each others differences. We discussed openly the duty to God that some follow /Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhists....We keep it age appropriate for the scouts. Hope this helps. (It is what works for our Diverse Scout Family.
Nov 17, 2017 - DavidMany in our pack do not participate in formal religion or worship God. We did all the requirements but focused on Diversity and Tolerance- accepting others respecting their beliefs and embracing each others differences. We discussed openly the duty to God that some follow /Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhists....We keep it age appropriate for the scouts. Hope this helps. (It is what works for our Diverse Scout Family.
Trish/Adam/et al,
When you apply, both as Scouts or Scouters, you sign the Declaration of Religious Principles which, among other things, acknowledges an obligation to God. While you may not necessarily subscribe to a particular religion it does require an acknowledgement of a supreme or higher being. This will become more important as the Scouts progress toward Eagle. Not sure how any Scout can affirm doing their duty to God without having a belief in a supreme being (God, Allah, etc.). Unfortunately, there are many reports of people earning their Eagle and then claiming that they are Atheist or don't believe. Seems to violate the point that a Scout is Trustworthy. We don't have to push a particular belief, but we should acknowledge that there is someone greater than ourselves. Peace.
Oct 02, 2018 - DavidWhen you apply, both as Scouts or Scouters, you sign the Declaration of Religious Principles which, among other things, acknowledges an obligation to God. While you may not necessarily subscribe to a particular religion it does require an acknowledgement of a supreme or higher being. This will become more important as the Scouts progress toward Eagle. Not sure how any Scout can affirm doing their duty to God without having a belief in a supreme being (God, Allah, etc.). Unfortunately, there are many reports of people earning their Eagle and then claiming that they are Atheist or don't believe. Seems to violate the point that a Scout is Trustworthy. We don't have to push a particular belief, but we should acknowledge that there is someone greater than ourselves. Peace.
Trish/Adam/David/et al,
With the focus for the adventure being a God based higher power, Is this excluding the Native American traditional spirits? I do not see a reference in the emblems of faith for any traditional spiritual influence. Wakan-Taka: The Great Spirit
Many gems of wisdom are contained in the ancient traditions of the Native Peoples. "They believe that all living and non-living things come from the Creator and are, therefore, connected. Native beliefs stress that it is important to maintain a balance among all things in nature and to maintain the balance, people must treat one another, plants, animals, and the land with respect. Native People show respect by offering thanks for the gifts that they receive from nature with prayers, songs, dances and offerings. They also work to maintain balance within their nations, communities and families by valuing one another's roles. Elders have always been valued for their wisdom.
Great reverence for Great Spirit, Father Sky and Great Spirit Mother, Mother Earth, is at the heart of all Native Traditions. "When men and women arose in the morning they thanked the Master of Life that they were alive for another day." We know "The Navajos are a deeply religious people. They do not set aside Saturday or Sundays to tend to spiritual matters, but attend to them full time."
It is time to update the requirements and include Wakan-Taka The Great Spirit.
Oct 09, 2018 - David WillisWith the focus for the adventure being a God based higher power, Is this excluding the Native American traditional spirits? I do not see a reference in the emblems of faith for any traditional spiritual influence. Wakan-Taka: The Great Spirit
Many gems of wisdom are contained in the ancient traditions of the Native Peoples. "They believe that all living and non-living things come from the Creator and are, therefore, connected. Native beliefs stress that it is important to maintain a balance among all things in nature and to maintain the balance, people must treat one another, plants, animals, and the land with respect. Native People show respect by offering thanks for the gifts that they receive from nature with prayers, songs, dances and offerings. They also work to maintain balance within their nations, communities and families by valuing one another's roles. Elders have always been valued for their wisdom.
Great reverence for Great Spirit, Father Sky and Great Spirit Mother, Mother Earth, is at the heart of all Native Traditions. "When men and women arose in the morning they thanked the Master of Life that they were alive for another day." We know "The Navajos are a deeply religious people. They do not set aside Saturday or Sundays to tend to spiritual matters, but attend to them full time."
It is time to update the requirements and include Wakan-Taka The Great Spirit.
David, I would assume that although there are a number of Native
American spirits, that there is a Supreme Spirit. In subscribing
to, believing in and giving honor to that Spirit, you are
meeting the intent of the requirement. As far as the emblems of
faith, the Protestant program is primarily run by P.R.A.Y. Pub,
Catholics run their own programs. Boooks for both programs are
available at most Scout stores. Many of the other religions have
created and run their own programs as well. As the Religious
Emblems Coordinator for my district, I am unaware of any Native
American program at this time. I am sure that, if you were
willing, any of the Nations would be more than happy to provide
info and maybe even assist in helping you create a Native
American program. Good luck!
Nov 30, 2019 - Al RodriguezAfter reading up on the changes for Webelos, I was surprised to see the difficulty many are having with the Duty to God requirement. As the Catholic religious emblems counselor and coordinator for an area covering more than 30 packs, troops and crews, I am dismayed at the insistence of some parents to reject Duty to God, which is one of the core principles of scouting and the 12th point of the scout law.
The points of the scout law are life principles that are built into the scouting program to develop scouts into exceptional adults and leaders, including being reverent to God in accordance with their religious beliefs.
ALL SCOUTS are required to believe in a higher power and have a demonstrable reverence towards the God of their religion/belief. If a parent insists on Atheism or Secularism, then this is not the program for their child.
Adam and Trish are gravely mistaken in their belief that they can alter the requirements to suit their particular lack of religious beliefs. Every Eagle Scout candidate will have to articulate their reverence in order to pass their Eagle Board of review, and secular discussions on diversity will not cut it.
The Scouting program is constantly evolving to meet changes in society, but rejecting reverence to God not a part of the program. Do your scouts and selves a favor, and get with the program as it is written.
Dec 09, 2019 - Lesley WhyardThe points of the scout law are life principles that are built into the scouting program to develop scouts into exceptional adults and leaders, including being reverent to God in accordance with their religious beliefs.
ALL SCOUTS are required to believe in a higher power and have a demonstrable reverence towards the God of their religion/belief. If a parent insists on Atheism or Secularism, then this is not the program for their child.
Adam and Trish are gravely mistaken in their belief that they can alter the requirements to suit their particular lack of religious beliefs. Every Eagle Scout candidate will have to articulate their reverence in order to pass their Eagle Board of review, and secular discussions on diversity will not cut it.
The Scouting program is constantly evolving to meet changes in society, but rejecting reverence to God not a part of the program. Do your scouts and selves a favor, and get with the program as it is written.
If a scout does the Duty to God Requirement as a Webelo, do they
have to do it again as an Arrow of Light requirement?
Dec 09, 2019 - NavyboneWebelos is Duty to God and You, where AOL is Duty to God in Action. Similar but different
requirements.
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