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Guides consider atheists oath
The Girl Guides Association is launching a consultation to see if its members would support an alternative oath for those who feel unable to pledge a "duty to God". A similar consultation was launched by the Scouts a month ago.
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Guide leaders 'struggle' with religious oath
The Girl Guiding Association says that the online consultation on the future of the organisation's oath of allegiance will allow them to match their members needs better.
Girl Guides could remove Queen and God from their oath
The Girl Guides are considering removing references to God and the Queen from their oath of allegiance as the organisation seeks to attract new volunteers.
Thousands of girls are on waiting lists to join the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides because of a lack of trained volunteers to help run events.
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National Secular Society welcomes Scouts atheist consultation
The president of the National Secular Society, Terry Sanderson, said the Scouts' consultation on an alternative oath for atheists was a "move in the right direction".
He also said it would put an end to "unpleasant confrontations" such as that of 11-year-old George Pratt, from Midsomer Norton in Somerset, who was excluded because he did not want to make the Scout Promise in its present form.
Membership of the Scouts on the rise
Membership of the Scouts has risen during the past seven years from 444,936 in 2005 to 525,364 this year, figures released by the association show.
Since 2002, the number of girls taking part has increased by 69% while more than 50 scout groups catering for young people drawn mainly from Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities have opened in the last ten years.
Existing Scout Promise includes a 'duty to God' pledge
The existing Scout Promise contains a vow of allegiance to the God and the Queen .
It reads:
Alternative versions allow Hindus and Buddhists to use the word "my Dharma" while Muslims can use the word "Allah".
Non UK citizens are permitted to replace the phrase "duty to the Queen" with "duty to the country in which I am now living".
Scouts commissioner: 'We have continued to evolve'
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Scouts consider move to welcome Atheists
Atheists could be welcomed into the Scout movement for the first time in 105 years, the Scout Association has said.
The movement, led by TV adventurer Bear Grylls, is launching a consultation to see if members would support an alternative Scout Promise for those who feel unable to pledge a "duty to God".
For more than 40 years, versions of the oath have existed for faith groups including Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, but this is the first time Scouts have considered an adaptation for atheists.
The proposed changes are designed to increase diversity in the movement and enable more young people and adults to join.
Leaders insist the existing Scout Promise - which also contains a vow of allegiance to the Queen - would continue to be used alongside alternative versions.