Back in the early 1990's, when the Boy Scouts of America, Inc, was busy engaging in flagrant religious discrimination in opposition to their officially published policies (as well as to their earlier dealings with Unitarian Scout, Paul Trout, which the exact same BSA officials, namely Ben Love, then willfully betrayed six years later), their
Scouting magazine, published for the unit leaders, quoted the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell, as contrasting the Scout Law against a list of "thou shalt not's" as being a list of "thou shalt's", a list of what a person needs for a good life. It doesn't take much to realize that that "list of 'thou shalt not's'" is the Ten Commandants.
The Scout Law is taken as a list of "thou shalt's". Now, understand that the USA BSA added to the Scout Law. What Lord Baden-Powell was talking about was:
1. A Scout's honour is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is Loyal to the King and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers.
3. A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs.
5. A Scout is Courteous.
6. A Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or scout master without question.
8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
Now, the Boy Scouts of America, Incorporated, have added to Baden-Powell's Scout Law:
A Scout is Trustworthy.
A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.
A Scout is Loyal.
A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation.
A Scout is Helpful.
A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.
A Scout is Friendly.
A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.
A Scout is Courteous.
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.
A Scout is Kind.
A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.
A Scout is Obedient.
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.
A Scout is Cheerful.
A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.
A Scout is Thrifty.
A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
A Scout is Brave.
A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.
A Scout is Clean.
A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean.
A Scout is Reverent.
A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
Please note that even until Point 12, "A Scout is Reverent", even an atheist can meet those requirements.
Around age 12 or 13, I had started to read the Bible, from start to finish (which is what turned me into an atheist). I'm pretty sure that I was unable to reach Genesis 19, wherein Lot's daughters did incestuously rape their father and were rewarded by God by producing future nations (a blessing from God) -- let's face it, an adolescent boy would have surely remembered that! .
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