Religion in Scouts Australia
To become a member of the Scout movement you are required to make the Scout Promise. (Policy P7.3 - Membership) The unique wording in the Australian Scout Promise of “do my best to do my duty to my God" allows some flexibility and the movement is open to people of all religious faiths that can make this promise. However, those who choose not to make this promise cannot become members.
Historically, Scouting in Australia was rooted in Christianity as that was the world view of Scouts founder, Lord Baden-Powell. Although Britain is now a majority non-religious nation Christianity was the dominant faith in both Britain and Australia in Scouting's early days.
More recently, members have come from many faiths and although the majority of Scout Groups promote an interfaith approach to religion (Open Groups) many Scout Groups have been formed within existing communities and specific religions (Sponsored Groups), such as Coptic Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Islamic, Judean, etc.
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