A popular song of the sixties declared “what a lovely, lovely world this would be if everyone learned to live together.” Movements to make the world a better place have existed for thousands of years. Today, despite problems with crime, predominant religions of the world still attract new members and teach them to live by certain standards, laws, and guidelines. By adhering to these teachings, members are aided in improving their own lives and, as a result, the lives of those with whom they come in contact. A brief view of teachings of the world’s three major beliefs shows the commitment required of its members.

Islam teaches that God, the creator of the whole universe, forbids lying, stealing, adultery, and murder. In addition, the Koran (Islam’s holy book from the Arabic word meaning “recitation”) teaches many great virtues such as honor for parents, kindness, honesty, patience, and courage.

Judaism teaches that there is one God who wants His people to be just and merciful. A person serves God by studying the scriptures and practicing what is taught. Serving God and fellow man is central to Judaism. Almost all civil law in Western society is based on Jewish scriptures, known to non-Jews as the Old Testament. The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, is basic to Western law.

Christianity, which has its foundation in Judaism, also embraces the Ten Commandments. To be an obedient Christian, one must serve God with heart, might, mind, and strength, and love one’s neighbor as one’s self.

If all people were to live the principles set forth in Islam, Judaism or Christianity, this world would have no need for welfare, prisons, or law enforcement officials. Indeed, as the song declared “what a lovely, lovely world this would be!”

As Scout leaders, we believe we can improve the world by molding positive character traits in the boys with whom we work. One of these traits is doing “good” to our fellow man, known as the “good turn.” Additional guidance for correct living is embodied in the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. If people, on their honor, would do their best to do their duty to God and country and to obey the principles enumerated in the Scout Law, an outpouring of peace and good-will would fill the world with love such as the earth has never before seen.

Duty to God and religious responsibility were close to the mind of Baden-Powell when he developed the principles and methods of Scouting. Here are some quotes from B-P regarding religion and duty to God:

“Scoutcraft is a means through which the veriest hooligan can be brought to higher thought and to the elements of faith in God; and, coupled with the Scout’s obligation to do a Good Turn every day, it gives the base of Duty to God and to Neighbor on which the parent or pastor can build with greater ease the form of belief that is desired. This is in addition to the realization of God the Creator through His wondrous work, which when coupled with active performance of His will in service for others constitutes the concrete foundation of religion.

“The Promise that a Scout makes on joining has as its first point: ‘To do my duty to God.’ Note that it does not say ‘To be loyal to God,’ since this would merely be a state of mind, but to do something, which is the positive, active attitude.

“The main method in the Boy Scout Movement is to give some form of positive training rather than merely to inculcate negative precepts, since the boy is always ready to do rather than to digest.

“Therefore, we put into his activities the practice of Good Turns in his daily life as a foundation of future goodwill and helpfulness to others. The religious basis underlying this is common to all denominations, and we, therefore, interfere with the form of none.”

“No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every Scout should have a religion.”

“Religion seems a very simple thing: first love and serve God; second, love and serve your neighbor.”

“There is no religious side to the movement. The whole of it is based on religion, that is, on the realization and service of God.”

In order to experience Scouting to the fullest, Scout leaders must ensure that boys have the opportunity to learn values, laws, and guidelines held dear by their religious heritage. Although every Scout may be able to repeat the Scout Oath from memory, many do not know what is their duty to God and country. Several specific promises are made in the Scout Oath, the first of which is to “...do my duty, to God...” Since duty to God is the first commitment mentioned in the Scout Oath, it should receive a higher priority than perhaps given in the past. To many boys, because these are lofty words, the statement may have no meaning. Consider the story of the two-year old who always ran to the corner to play with a friend. His mother or father retrieved him with a little pat on his bottom, and told him he was not allowed to go to the corner. Finally after a dozen such episodes, the little fellow asked his mother, “What’s a corner?” How could he do his duty without a clear understanding of the duty? He did not comprehend the words. Likewise, we must help our boys learn their duty, especially their religious duty.

Unless we are the boys’ minister, we should encourage them to seek out their spiritual leader to learn the requirements for earning their religious emblem. These requirements will help them come to a fuller understanding of their duty to God. Attainment of the award provides the Scout with a knowledge of his faith’s religious teachings, values, laws, and guidelines.

Although no percentage of the number of boys receiving their religious award is available, an examination of a few numbers may give a feel for how few earn their religious emblem. In a recent year, 975,589 boys were registered in Boy and Varsity Scouts. By the end of that year, 24,103 Boy and Varsity Scouts had earned their religious award for that year. Since a boy could be in Scouting from one to several years and earn the religious award once, an exact percentage is unattainable. However, we can estimate that if all boys were in Scouting for six years, and these other numbers were constant, 144,618 boys (24,103 boys per year over 6 years) would earn their religious award out of the total of 975,589 boys. This figure is still only 14.8 percent of the total enrollment who earn their religious award. This estimate is not encouraging.

The low percentage may not be a reflection of the boys’ indifference, but may be due to the lack of emphasis given by Scout leaders. Certainly, fire starting and cooking are important, but Scoutcraft must be balanced with the duty to God that is fundamental to the beliefs of Scouting.

Most of us are involved in Scouting because we believe we can make a positive difference in the lives of young boys, and, in turn, build a better society. Scouts grow up to be leaders in their community and the nation. Let us commit ourselves to double or triple the number of boys who receive their religious award. In this way, boys will not only recite the Scout Oath but practice the principles to its fullest. We may very well be making a valuable contribution toward, “a lovely, lovely world.”