Will there be a ‘mass exodus’ of religious groups from the Scouts?

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Prayer Circle

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(RNS) Now that Boy Scout delegates have taken their long-awaited vote and permitted openly gay Scouts, will there be a mass exodus by religious groups?
It depends on who you ask.
The Assemblies of God is certain there will be.
“We believe that the BSA policy change will lead to a mass exodus from the Boy Scout program, as Assemblies of God and many other churches can no longer support groups that are part of an organization allowing members who are openly homosexual,” the Pentecostal denomination declared minutes after 61 percent of delegates to a Boy Scouts of America meeting voted Thursday (May 23) to change the policy.





“Our family are evangelical Christians. This is the reason our church will no longer be chartering our troop or have Scout Sundays. What do gay Boy Scouts grow up to be? Gay Boy Scout leaders.”
– Mari LaCom of Chatsworth, Calif., after the Boy Scouts of America voted to allow gay boys to be members.​
 

CabVet

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If there is an exodus, for consistency, they should stop buying things at Macy's (or anywhere else for that matter), because they also sell stuff to gay people. And since all sins are the same, they should burn all of their TV's because TV channels show all kinds of sins. There should also be a mass exodus away from every American city, since they are full of gays and other sinners.
 
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Maren

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If there is an exodus, for consistency, they should stop buying things at Macy's (or anywhere else for that matter), because they also sell stuff to gay people. And since all sins are the same, they should burn all of their TV's because TV channels show all kinds of sins. There should also be a mass exodus away from every American city, since they are full of gays and other sinners.

On one hand, I think your criticism is unfair. The question is if churches would continue to sponsor the Scouts, and the church does not sponsor TV channels, televisions, businesses, etc.

OTOH, it does seem to be stupid for churches to no longer sponsor Scouting simply because they can not deny membership to kids that are attracted to other people of the same gender. It is still against Scouting rules to have sexual relations, whether gay or straight, so these Scouts should not be acting in ways that go against their religion (and if they do they can then kick them out). That there are Christian churches that may end their scouting programs, merely because they cannot discriminate against those attracted to the same gender, would tend to imply these churches are against (and even bigoted toward) homosexuals, and not just homosexual sin.
 
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CabVet

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On one hand, I think your criticism is unfair. The question is if churches would continue to sponsor the Scouts, and the church does not sponsor TV channels, televisions, businesses, etc.

Of course you do, by watching, buying, etc. Remember, the church is nothing more than its members.

OTOH, it does seem to be stupid for churches to no longer sponsor Scouting simply because they can not deny membership to kids that are attracted to other people of the same gender. It is still against Scouting rules to have sexual relations, whether gay or straight, so these Scouts should not be acting in ways that go against their religion (and if they do they can then kick them out). That there are Christian churches that may end their scouting programs, merely because they cannot discriminate against those attracted to the same gender, would tend to imply these churches are against (and even bigoted toward) homosexuals, and not just homosexual sin.

Do they kick people out of the church for being homosexuals? If not, why would they do it for other things?
 
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The policy is flawed because while the Scout leadership bowed to pressure to allow gay youth into the Scouts, they haven't amended their policy to allow gay Scout leaders.
So when the gay boy advances in the ranks, they'll be blocked for ascending to leadership positions, due to the fact that they're gay.

All this measure does is prove the Scouts bowed to public pressure and violated the tenets of the organization in being inconsistent in the process. Allowing gay boys to enter without allowing them to advance because they're gay, is not change. It's pandering.

I wonder how many gay rabbi's there are in temples around the U.S. ?
For those who are Jewish, or claim to be Messianic.

It's troubling when Christians who's faith is about repentance of sins, argue that one immoral sexual sin is OK, in order to be politically correct in the secular world, while eternally damned in the Christian doctrinal one.
 
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GarfieldJL

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No, and anyone that does leave over this is better off gone anyway.

Sarcasm: Another shining example of leftist tolerance.

If those religious groups do pull out of sponsoring Boy Scouts, I suspect the Boy Scouts are going to take a huge hit in membership, financial backing, etc., just like the girl scouts did.

I also suspect another scouting group will be created by those same religious organizations just like what happened after the Girl Scouts pulled this stunt and the new organization will end up doing quite well.
 
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CabVet

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It's troubling when Christians who's faith is about repentance of sins, argue that one immoral sexual sin is OK, in order to be politically correct in the secular world, while eternally damned in the Christian doctrinal one.

I find that troubling as well. But you know what I also find troubling? The fact that everyone sins, yet many sinners are willing to throw the first stone.
 
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GarfieldJL

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I find that troubling as well. But you know what I also find troubling? The fact that everyone sins, yet many sinners are willing to throw the first stone.

Would you want a 17 year old boy whom is attracted to boys sleeping in the same tent as your 11 year old son?

That's what this entire situation boils down to.
 
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I find that troubling as well. But you know what I also find troubling? The fact that everyone sins, yet many sinners are willing to throw the first stone.
That's an old and false defense for sin.
Simply because all sinners are called to repent.
While those who advocate for gay sin not only refuse to do that, but argue that the homosexual immoral sexual sin should be exempt from repentance, and given special rights and protections and designations under secular law, so as to not only continue , but to prosper, advance, and be afforded special lawful rights due to their sin.

As we witness, the Southern Poverty Law Center declares Christian groups that advocate Christian family values, and uphold scripture that condemns the sin of homosexuality, are deemed 'hate groups' , engaged in 'hate speech.' Thank God SCOTUS does not (yet) agree.
 
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Marius27

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I find that troubling as well. But you know what I also find troubling? The fact that everyone sins, yet many sinners are willing to throw the first stone.

I wonder how many divorcees or adulterers are scout leaders? How about obese scout leaders? Clearly all of them must be banned too if we're going to be consistent.
 
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Marius27

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As we witness, the Southern Poverty Law Center declares Christian groups that advocate Christian family values, and uphold scripture that condemns the sin of homosexuality, are deemed 'hate groups' , engaged in 'hate speech.' Thank God SCOTUS does not (yet) agree.

They are hate groups. They are on par with Nazis and the KKK. They do nothing but spread lies, myths, and anti-gay propaganda.

Clearly you don't comprehend how much harm those groups cause.
 
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GarfieldJL

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I wonder how many divorcees or adulterers are scout leaders? How about obese scout leaders? Clearly all of them must be banned too if we're going to be consistent.

Maybe you should stop dodging the issue and actually address the question I raised...
 
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Sarcasm: Another shining example of leftist tolerance.

If those religious groups do pull out of sponsoring Boy Scouts, I suspect the Boy Scouts are going to take a huge hit in membership, financial backing, etc., just like the girl scouts did.

I also suspect another scouting group will be created by those same religious organizations just like what happened after the Girl Scouts pulled this stunt and the new organization will end up doing quite well.

Yes, religion is perfect as long as you keep the sinners out. I do know one person would disagree with that though. This person was asked this question once: "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?". The answer to that was: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Any idea who that was?

What most Christians today fail to realize is that accepting gays in our society has no relation to accepting or condoning their activities. I have a few friends that are drug addicts, does that mean I approve it? Absolutely not. Should I simply cut them out of my life? Not a chance, I am sure I can be a much greater influence if I remain close to them.
 
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Marius27

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Sarcasm: Another shining example of leftist tolerance.
I don't tolerate ignorance and discriminating against minorities. And my point was, if people are so quick to abandon the boys in the scouts over a decision made by leadership, then they aren't very good role models in the first place and have no business educating children.
 
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Marius27

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Would you want a 17 year old boy whom is attracted to boys sleeping in the same tent as your 11 year old son?

That's what this entire situation boils down to.
Since all studies show that heterosexuals are the most likely to abuse boys, I'd be far more concerned putting a heterosexual adult in those tents. But I've found that any facts that go against the Conservative viewpoint are usually dismissed or claimed to be liberal bias, so I don't expect this argument with you to be worth dealing with.
 
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GarfieldJL

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Yes, religion is perfect as long as you keep the sinners out. I do know one person would disagree with that though. This person was asked this question once: "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?". The answer to that was: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Any idea who that was?

What most Christians today fail to realize is that accepting gays in our society has no relation to accepting or condoning their activities. I have a few friends that are drug addicts, does that mean I approve it? Absolutely not. Should I simply cut them out of my life? Not a chance, I am sure I can be a much greater influence if I remain close to them.

Drop the strawman argument...

The issue is over whether or not you want a 17 year old boy whom is sexually attracted to other boys in the same tent as your 10 to 11 year old son...

This is honestly like saying you'd be okay with a 17 year old heterosexual boy sleeping in the same tent as your 12 to 14 year old daughter...

I don't tolerate ignorance and discriminating against minorities. And my point was, if people are so quick to abandon the boys in the scouts over a decision made by leadership, then they aren't very good role models in the first place and have no business educating children.

No, you're just intolerant with everyone whom disagrees with you. They aren't talking about simply abandoning boys whom are in boy scouts, they are talking about pulling their children out of an organization that turned its back on its core values and creating a new organization for boys to join instead of the one that caved to pro-homosexuality groups.
 
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CabVet

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That's an old and false defense for sin.
Simply because all sinners are called to repent.

Being called to repent is not the same as shunning, exclusion and prejudice, especially at a boyscout age.

While those who advocate for gay sin not only refuse to do that, but argue that the homosexual immoral sexual sin should be exempt from repentance, and given special rights and protections and designations under secular law, so as to not only continue , but to prosper, advance, and be afforded special lawful rights due to their sin.

Ok then, let's do that with all sins, alright? Drug tests should be done before all marriages, and only virgins (and by that I mean virgin women, of course) are allowed to marry. Put if this way, if you ever committed a sin you should not be given special rights, protections and designations under secular law. When you agree to that I will agree to not making gay marriage legal.

As we witness, the Southern Poverty Law Center declares Christian groups that advocate Christian family values, and uphold scripture that condemns the sin of homosexuality, are deemed 'hate groups' , engaged in 'hate speech.' Thank God SCOTUS does not (yet) agree.

They should be more worried about the logs in their own eyes before advocating "Christian family values" to others.
 
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Marius27

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No, you're just intolerant with everyone whom disagrees with you. They aren't talking about simply abandoning boys whom are in boy scouts, they are talking about pulling their children out of an organization that turned its back on its core values and creating a new organization for boys to join instead of the one that caved to pro-homosexuality groups.
Nope, I'm intolerant of bigots who butcher a multi-thousand year old book to condemn hundreds of millions of people for something they were born with and causes no harm to anyone.
 
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