Arrow of Light Duty to God in Action Adventure

A possible list of folks that the boys could read about for part 2d above: (borrowed heavily from Reddit thread)

- Corrie ten Boom, Dutch Christian who, along with her family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during WWII. She was imprisoned for her actions. Movie - The Hiding Place

British Olympian Eric Liddell embraced duty to God throughout his life.   Movie Chariots of Fire tells story of 1924 Olympics.  Liddell, a devout Christian, learns that the race he is most likely to win will be held on Sunday. He boldly announces that he will not run on the Lord�s day, despite pressure. He runs in differnt race on different day and wins Gold.

-Martin Luther King - Baptist Minister who was a prominent member of the Civil Rights Movement

-Louis Zamperini, former Boy Scout, (Movie & book - Unbroken) survived a harrowing experience, as a man of faith it helped him persevere.

Mahatma Gandhi - His dogged insistence in nonviolence principles in the face of extreme violence and his own likely death. His late work toward peace and religious pluralism was based on his beliefs that there are as many religions as people but one God present in all things.

Mother Teresa - founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor.

Abraham Lincoln - Lincoln's presidential speeches and letters, are filled with references to bible and use of prayer for God's guidance.

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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?

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@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.

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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.

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Hello,

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?  

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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!

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After 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.

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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?

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Webelos is Duty to God and You, where AOL is Duty to God in Action.  Similar but different requirements.  

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