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| Copyright: prawny / 123RF Stock Photo |
"That's impossible," I replied. "You can't sing a grace that will satisfy all beliefs of a diverse group of hundreds of volunteers."
"Well, these are approved," she said.
I looked down at the lyrics in my hand. Johnny Appleseed included "...and so I thank the earth..."
I'm a Catholic. This was at best not a grace and, at worst, in direct conflict with the First Commandment.
I had been honored when I was asked to lead the grace at the volunteer recognition dinner, but now it seemed I'd have to bow out.
"Look, if I'm going to lead the grace, it can't be something that I consider pagan. I know everyone doesn't believe in God. All I ask is that they respect those who do. You're welcome to find someone else who will sing what's on this page and I'll respect that. But if you are seriously afraid of offending anyone then you shouldn't have a grace at all."
In today's society, we often choose that last option. We hide our beliefs in a closet, because we've reached a point where it can offend someone to simply be reminded that we don't all have the same belief system.
...To serve God and my country,...
God is in our promise. Girl Scouts allows individuals to substitute another word for God, based on their own spiritual beliefs, and in consultation with family and faith leaders. Girl Scouts is a secular organization which does not promote specific religious beliefs or practices.
So how does God fit into the program?
Through service and a dose of religious tolerance. Schools and society often shy away from this. Pretending that religion doesn't exist or that we all share exactly the same beliefs doesn't help our girls to respect their own faith as well as those of others.
Merriam-Webster defines tolerance as willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own.
The Museum of Tolerance definition is A fair and objective attitude toward those whose opinions and practices differ from one's own. The commitment to respect human dignity.
Tolerance is agreeing to disagree. Tolerance doesn't mean that you can't practice your religion because it might offend someone. It is exactly the opposite. Tolerance means not to be offended that someone else is practicing a different religion than you. That is true religious freedom, serving both God and country.
How can we promote religious tolerance with our girls? The first step is allowing them to share their faith within the troop. This doesn't mean proselytizing. For young girls it might just mean sharing their holiday traditions during their faith's important holidays. Older girls may share the deeper tenets of their beliefs or compare teachings on a specific issue. It's important that the girls understand that the point is not to change anyone's mind or judge anyone else's beliefs, just to understand and accept the religious diversity around them.
Discussing religion in the troop can be a sensitive issue. If you are planning a program activity on religious sharing and tolerance, be sure to follow your council's guidelines for parental notification and consent. Sometimes, especially with older girls, these topics may just come up in conversation. Keep your ears open, and be sure parents are notified if anything occurs that might be considered sensitive to them.
You can also help girls deepen their own faith and tie it to Girl Scouting with religious recognitions.
I did lead grace at that volunteer recognition. I don't remember which grace I sang. I'm sure that it was acceptable to me and most others, but almost certainly didn't represent everyone in the room. Everyone stood respectfully, even if they disagreed. That's what I want to teach my girls.
