Either the percentage of current members vs boys in the age range
That's a lot harder to get, but when its less than one percent of the total population, and the BSA covers an 11 year period (14 if you include the older members of en.wikipedia.org , but that's a small group), the percentage in the age range is going to be a decided minority even withing the age and sex group it covers.
Small towns can be totally entangled with the Scouts, particularly in flyover areas.
In small areas of low population, some group or other, is likely to be far more common or popular than it is in the general population. Going from that to the idea that its oppressive for the group to promote any religious ideas is a major leap to say the least. Freedom isn't oppressive. Freedom means the ability to make your own choices, including choices that other people might not like. Including choices to push religious ideas or to set membership criteria.
The scouts were organized by church.
Not exactly. They are sponsored by churches, schools (apparently private schools, esp. with the religious messages from the boy scouts, but I haven't actually researched if any are sponsored by public schools or government groups, I don't think they are), local clubs and foundations, etc.), not always by churches or religious schools.
Or maybe you meant your Brownie group was sponsored by a church, not that all scouts are.
When the group excludes the kid, membership is not voluntary.
If either partner in a relationship (scouts, clubs, gyms, jobs, church groups, etc.) can't choose to not have the relationship, then it isn't voluntary. Something's only voluntary if everyone involved consents to it. |
