Archive for Scout Law

Scout Law – Interfaith

The Scout Law and the World’s Wisdom  /  Compiled by Reverend Timothy B. Cargal, Ph.D.

For National Capital Area Council Wood Badge Course 82-84 — PDF avail right-click here

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Mesoamerica: “Never lie, for it is a great failing. When you tell anyone what has been told to you, tell the simple truth, and add nothing to it.” (Biart, The Aztecs, from “An Aztec Father’s Exhortations to his Son”)

Scouts: A Scout is Trustworthy.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Confucianism: “The duties of universal obligation are five, and the moral qualities by which they are carried out are three. The duties are those between ruler and subject, between parents and children, between husband and wife, between elder sibling and younger, and those in the intercourse between friends. … Wisdom, compassion and courage—these are the three universally recognized moral qualities of human beings.” (The Golden Mean, section 13)

Scouts: A Scout is Loyal.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of the Quran, the scriptures of Islam: “The righteous … give sustenance to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, saying, ‘We feed you for God’s sake only; we seek of you neither recompense nor thanks.’” (Quran 76:8-9)

Scouts: A Scout is Helpful.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam: “All God’s creatures are God’s family; and the one is the most beloved of God who does most good to God’s creatures.” (Ab-dullah and Al-Suhrawardy, Sayings of Muhammad, p. 89).

Scouts: A Scout is Friendly.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Buddhism: “Avoid harsh language … [and] speak such words as are gentle, soothing to the ear, loving, such words as go to the heart, and are courteous, friendly, and agreeable to many.” (Anguttara Nik~ya 10.176)

Scouts: A Scout is Courteous.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Hillel, a sage of Judaism: “A certain heathen came to Hillel and said to him: Convert me provided that you teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot. … Hillel … said to him: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary; go and learn it.” (Shabbat 31a)

Scouts: A Scout is Kind.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of the Book of Samuel, a shared scripture of Jews and Christians: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord. Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

Scouts: A Scout is Obedient.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Taoism: “If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are.” (Tao Te Ching, 44)

Scouts: A Scout is Cheerful.

 

Leader: From a parable of Jesus of Nazareth: “The master said to his steward, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)

Scouts: A Scout is Thrifty.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of the Sioux: “With the Sioux, courage is absolute self-control. The truly brave one, we contend, yields neither to fear nor anger, desire nor agony. The brave one is at all times master of oneself.” (Ohiyesa, The Soul of the Indian, 115)

Scouts: A Scout is Brave.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Hinduism: “Let one therefore keep the mind pure, for what one thinks that one becomes: this is a mystery of Eternity.” (Maitri Upanishad VI:24)

Scouts: A Scout is Clean.

 

Leader: From the wisdom of Augustine, a saint of Christianity: “You, O God, awake us to delight in your praise; for you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” (Augustine, Confessions, I.1.3)

Scouts: A Scout is Reverent.

 

ScoutingForGod suggestion : Scout Law readings are a great way to share a Scouts’ Own service with other Scouts.  Consider printing and tearing this into 12 strips; and then handing out to twelve scouts.  Each Scout can then read one, the group can recite that element of the Scout Law, and then the next reader continues.

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