The Boy Scout Movement in America

Abstract

Edwin A. Breiling’s 1946 essay, The Boy Scout Movement in America, presented to the Nebraska District of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), offers a detailed critique of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) from a confessional Lutheran perspective. Breiling outlines the history and structure of the BSA, emphasizing its moral and civic aims. However, he argues that the movement constitutes a false religion due to its vague references to God, its non-sectarian stance, and its emphasis on character development as a path to salvation. Breiling critiques the Scout Oath and Law for promoting moralism, indifferentism, and unionism, and warns against Lutheran participation in the movement. He concludes that affiliation with the BSA compromises Christian doctrine, violates the separation of church and state, and risks spiritual harm. The essay reflects the historical WELS position on Scouting and its theological concerns. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)