DuctTape

http://www.amazon.com/St-Paul-versus-Peter-Missions/dp/0664255612

 

This professor knows more than I, for example.

You mean, like when Peter wrote this in his first epistle?

"... our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,…"

 

It seems like the Saints don't give us much room to favor one over the other.

As with all things biblical and historical, one should not use a single line or event and ignore all the rest. I am not a biblical scholar, nor do I proclaim to have a monopoly on the knowledge of history of those times. I defer to those much more educated and learnned than myself and my statements are based upon what these scholars have written in their studies of the texts and history. Like I said, it requires questioning ones dogma, thus not everyone is willing.

I don't think that James' and Peter's teaching on homosexuality is inconsistent with that of Paul. Unless you're making an argument from silence?

No, I was being general in the sense that there were inconsistencies between Paul and the apostles. And that some do not believe, now as then, that Paul was infallible in his own interpretation. First and 2nd century history is fascinating, although it requires some to question dogma.

Stosh et al

 

A question fo you, and this is a genuine question, something that I have never quite figured out.

 

In the books of the law in the Bible there are all kinds of strange laws that we no longer follow. The most well known being no consumption of shell fish, or pork or wearing of mixed fibers. There's plenty more where they came from too.

 

The majoirty of these laws are ignored by the overwhelming majority of Christians.

 

Why is it that the law against homosexuality is one that you feel needs to be followed when so many of the other laws have been dropped?

As others have mentioned, it is a result of Pauls teachings which were not always consistent withcthe teachings of James and Peter. Why Pauls theology became the "accepted truth" instead of that of the other apostles is mostly a result of Paul teaching to gentiles which grew his following much greater. Some believe Pauls teachings were the will of Gd, others believe Paul was no more than any other human with fall8vle interpretations at the time. Not all apostles agreed all the time, the fact one (and not an original 12) is elevated to a level above others (due to some believing his own vision) makes some question his authority.

Easy solution, close all the US army, air force, etc... bases in TX and move them to another State. I bet the Gov will change his tune rather quickly if this was imminent.

In Danieal Beards, shelters shacks and shanties he provided multiple native (and european) designs specific to the different areas. Some of these were included in older bsa publications. Boys love to make forts in the woods, what a fantastic patrol activity either as a day trip or on a campout to make a shelter based on the natives designs of the area. Outdoors and fun...learning to do things fir themselves. thats is what scouting is all about.

As a non-cub scouter, take my opinion with a few grains if salt. As I read the weather requirements it seems to me the purpose is for the boys to use the thermometer they mounted, and the weather vane they made to gather the data, and to do this on a daily basis. Not trying does not seem to be fulfilling the spirit if "do your best" and adults providing data or even a website to collect it appears to be adding/subtracting from the requirements. From a Boy Scout Scouter perspective, that type of modification will create problems down tbe road where the boys need to do similar observe, record, etc... in BSA requirements (both rank and MB). My 2cents.

Science is not anti-religion nor is it pro-religion. Evolution, gravity, magnetism, etc... are not theory, they exist. Science looks to explain the process by which they operate, this part is scientific theory which is always incomplete. Scientific knowledge increases/changes etc... in the understanding of the specific process, the "how". Religion does not seek to understand the how, for the most part religion seeks to answer the "why" (sometimes "who").

I have been involved in many large organizations. Financial controls often seem tedious, but the best practices are rather consistent across all organizations. Not having a debit card is typical. Checks signed by two individuals is another. Any potential use of a debit card can be accomplished by a reimbursement policy. Though it isnt the same thing, financial controls best practices can be thought of as youth protection for the money.

Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: â€œDue to concerns about merit badge counselor privacy, and since Scouts should receive the names and contact information from the Scoutmaster, unit counselor lists should not be made available to Scouts online.â€

7. Merit badge instruction should be small in scale

Section: 7.0.3.0

What’s new: Rather than large merit badge classes reminiscent of a boy’s time in high school, the BSA encourages smaller-scale instruction.

Can I get an amen?!?!

We can only hope the next step is a full prohibition of the larger and also holding Districts/Councils accointable for their blatant disregard of the requirements by promoting these mb mills.

Another way to accomplish the same idea is to have some merit badges be pre-requisites for others.

 

Camping and hiking as pre-reqs to do backpacking for example.

 

Camping and first aid before wilderness survival.

 

Etc...

My parents only allowed me to choose 1 activity at a time. I had school, school sports team, plus one other. I chose scouts.

My neighbors are always complaining about all the driving, and scheduling for their kids, but they allow them to do everything. In the buffet of life, one cannot choose "all of the above". My neighbors by not teaching their kids to prioritize and choose are doing them a disservice.

Stosh, I would direct you to the link I posted earlier. The article addresses some/all of your questions.

Essay question (50 points)

"The human eye, it's support tissue  and bilateral vision developed as a result of natural selection and Darwinian evolution."  Discuss.

See #14 and #15

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/15-answers-to-creationist/

I agree, I kinda alluded to it with the phrase "since earning FC/Star/Life"  I think the levels of MB that I proposed could be overlapping so that the boy can reasonably finish the upper level MB classes on schedule with everything else.  Same kinda for the service/activities, not so much the younger boy instructional work though.  By the time he gets to the Eagle stage, he could have knocked out his 6 service projects before Life so he had more time to work on MB's for Eagle.  I don't see a problem with that, but I don't want to see a boy doing all his young boy teaching while working on Star and then not doing anything more.

 

I just kinda tossed it out there as general topics to be picked apart, not any precise conclusions drawn.

Agreed Stosh.

 

I for me, it is more of a repetition thing. If a scout does all the menu/patrol cooking type requirements for T-FC all at once, then they miss out on the growth potential from the increased complexity of the requirements at each stage and the lessons learned from repeating the basic portions as part of each next level. This is part of why we have FC scouts who dont have FC skills.

I agree with much that has been stated regarding the issues with the mb colleges, etc... While some make valud points about a few mbs and how they can be done in these venues, I think the proof is in the pudding that in general these types of mass-MB-mills are not a positive means for the boys.

 

The discussion over rank requirements is also apropos. I would eliminate the clause which allows a scout to work on any requirements for any rank at any time.

Who measured those actions (or lack there of) and what were they measure against?

 

Barry

Good question. Perhaps "Do a good turn daily" is an acceptable metric?

If we go back to the early days of scouting, the handbook is quite clear. Ones duty to god is demonstrated by actions. Helping others, doing a good turn daily, etc... Reverence and duty to god were not explained by the scout in terms of his belief system, but demonstrated by his actions.

I treat all my hik8ng clothing with permethrin at the beginning of each spring season. Lasts until the bugs are not an issue in the fall. Have not needed any other repellants since.

I do not see participants here using specific examples as categorizing entire groups.

 

If there exists one example of a scouter, or a troop acting in a negative manner, it is one to many.

 

Just because it may be rare, doesnt mean we should be silent about it, instead we should be cautious about any changes which some might interpret as justification for said behaviors.

Since the discussion has moved on to BOR and beyond a SM conf, wouldn't asking these types of questions (in reference to the Show Scout Spirit requirement)  and then denying a scout based on his answer "retesting" assuming the requirement was signed off by the SM? Just thinking aloud here.

What bothers me about the entire "faith issue" is how it apparently needs its own extra requirements. There is no declaration of patriotic principles on membership application or guidance on how to discuss with a scout his being physically fit in accordance with the Scout oath, etc...  

Personally, i think it better to treat every campout as a backcountry trip, even knowing that most are really tailgate camping...

..... but why not use small tents, personal stoves, mess kits, etc....?

Bring the cooler and maybe some chairs.... well sure. a bit more than you'd pack in, but still, no need for the huge and complex kitchens.... just my opinion....

I agree. Even if a patrol decides to do patrol cooking in the backcountry. each scout packs one pot and one utensil for the group. A patrol of 6 will then have at camp:

1 coffee pot

1 large pot

1 medium pot

1 large fry pan

1 medium fry pan

1 other...

 

1 spatula

1 tongs

1 spoon

1 ladle

1 knife

1 other...

 

A full kit all carried in their backpacks. Food gets packed inside the pots. Personally I think that is too much kit for a patrol. If one plans menus wisely, they can go with much less.

Sad that all national seems to care about is whether the paperwork is in order not whether the scouts actually fulfilled the requirements (for rank or mb).