Religious Emblems Programs
Encyclopedia
Religious emblems programs also called religious recognition programs are awards set up by some religious organizations for members of various youth organizations.
and other Abrahamic religions
, the Dharmic religions and Zoroastrianism
. The religious emblems are "created by the various religious groups to encourage youth to grow stronger in their faith. The religious groups, not the youth organizations, have created the emblem programs themselves. Each religious organization develops and administers its own program." Many religious groups have separate programs for different age levels within scouting, and some offer different programs or emblems for boys and girls. Some offer different programs or emblems for each youth organization.
The youth organizations do not run the programs, and youth organization leaders do not guide the youths through the program unless they also are the youth's religious leader or mentor. The youth organizations can choose to decide whether the emblems of a particular religious program will be worn on the youth organization's uniforms.
Once a youth has completed the program of their religion, they are usually presented with the emblem at a ceremony organized by their religious institution or the youth organization. The emblem is generally in the form of a medal, pin, or patch. Depending on the youth organization, the emblem can be worn only on formal or religious occasions, or may be worn all the time.
Many of the religions also have awards for adult members; however, adult members are generally nominated by others for service to the religion within Scouting. A few religious organizations offer awards for adults who serve as leaders or mentors for youth earning the awards. In most cases, adults do not have a formal program to complete to earn an award.
In the United States many, although not all, religious organizations with programs contract with the Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) business office to handle the mechanics of order processing. P.R.A.Y. itself develops and administers the God and Country program aimed at Protestant youth. P.R.A.Y. also promotes the religious emblems programs in general for all religions approved for scouting, both through lists and brochures distributed on the website and to scouting organizations, and through rotational segment patch programs designed to promote religious awards.
(BSA) are designed to encourage youth to learn about their faith and to recognize adults who provide significant service to youth in a religious environment.
Boy Scouts who complete approved programs may also wear the universal religious emblem knot insignia on the Scout uniform at all times. Participation in a program is not required. although doing so is one method of completing some requirements for some Scout ranks.
To promote religious awards within BSA, P.R.A.Y. offers a "Duty to God" rotational segment patch program for scouts and adults who attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment to fulfill their "duty to God
". This program is similar to the "To Serve God" GSUSA and "Love God" AHG programs.
(GSUSA) participation in a religious emblem program is optional and only a small percentage of Girl Scouts earn them. P.R.A.Y. has a list of religious emblems approved for Girl Scouts, but it is not considered exhaustive.
To promote religious awards within GSUSA, P.R.A.Y. offers a "To Serve God" rotational segment patch program for girl scouts and adults who attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment "to serve God
". This program is similar to the "Duty to God" BSA and "Love God" AHG programs.
participation in a religious emblem program is optional. P.R.A.Y. has a list of religious emblems approved for Campfire USA members, but it is not considered exhaustive.
organization, the American Heritage Girls
(AHG) approves of the Protestant God and Country program from P.R.A.Y., Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting (MCCS), as well as the Catholic programs available from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (N.F.C.Y.M.). Recognitions from other organizations, denominations, or religions are not approved for use with the organization.
To promote religious awards within AHG, P.R.A.Y. offers a "Love God" rotational segment patch program for girl scouts and adults who memorize the Biblical verses Mark 12:29-31
, attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment to "love God
". This program is similar to the "Duty to God" BSA and "To Serve God" GSUSA programs.
and Girl Guides of Canada
offer the Religion in Life badge. Different faiths develop their own programs which are approved by Scouts Canada (which also administers the program for Girl Guides of Canada).http://www.girlguides.ca/default.asp?id=149http://www.scouts.ca/inside.asp?cmPageID=276
Each program has multiple age stages and a badge can be earned for each stage with the border color indicating the stage. The emblem on the badge indicates which faith.
Currently recognized programs are
The above all have the same badge of a circle around a Greek alpha
and omega
. The following all have different badges.
United States (USA)
In the USA, there are more than thirty different religious emblems, each representing a different faith. A diverse selection of religious groups participate in the program, including denominations of ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and other Abrahamic religions
Abrahamic religions
Abrahamic religions are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him...
, the Dharmic religions and Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
. The religious emblems are "created by the various religious groups to encourage youth to grow stronger in their faith. The religious groups, not the youth organizations, have created the emblem programs themselves. Each religious organization develops and administers its own program." Many religious groups have separate programs for different age levels within scouting, and some offer different programs or emblems for boys and girls. Some offer different programs or emblems for each youth organization.
The youth organizations do not run the programs, and youth organization leaders do not guide the youths through the program unless they also are the youth's religious leader or mentor. The youth organizations can choose to decide whether the emblems of a particular religious program will be worn on the youth organization's uniforms.
Once a youth has completed the program of their religion, they are usually presented with the emblem at a ceremony organized by their religious institution or the youth organization. The emblem is generally in the form of a medal, pin, or patch. Depending on the youth organization, the emblem can be worn only on formal or religious occasions, or may be worn all the time.
Many of the religions also have awards for adult members; however, adult members are generally nominated by others for service to the religion within Scouting. A few religious organizations offer awards for adults who serve as leaders or mentors for youth earning the awards. In most cases, adults do not have a formal program to complete to earn an award.
In the United States many, although not all, religious organizations with programs contract with the Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) business office to handle the mechanics of order processing. P.R.A.Y. itself develops and administers the God and Country program aimed at Protestant youth. P.R.A.Y. also promotes the religious emblems programs in general for all religions approved for scouting, both through lists and brochures distributed on the website and to scouting organizations, and through rotational segment patch programs designed to promote religious awards.
Boy Scouts of America
A variety of religious emblems programs approved by the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA) are designed to encourage youth to learn about their faith and to recognize adults who provide significant service to youth in a religious environment.
Boy Scouts who complete approved programs may also wear the universal religious emblem knot insignia on the Scout uniform at all times. Participation in a program is not required. although doing so is one method of completing some requirements for some Scout ranks.
To promote religious awards within BSA, P.R.A.Y. offers a "Duty to God" rotational segment patch program for scouts and adults who attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment to fulfill their "duty to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
". This program is similar to the "To Serve God" GSUSA and "Love God" AHG programs.
Girl Scouts of the USA
In the Girl Scouts of the USAGirl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
(GSUSA) participation in a religious emblem program is optional and only a small percentage of Girl Scouts earn them. P.R.A.Y. has a list of religious emblems approved for Girl Scouts, but it is not considered exhaustive.
To promote religious awards within GSUSA, P.R.A.Y. offers a "To Serve God" rotational segment patch program for girl scouts and adults who attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment "to serve God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
". This program is similar to the "Duty to God" BSA and "Love God" AHG programs.
Camp Fire USA
In Camp Fire USACamp Fire USA
Camp Fire USA, originally Camp Fire Girls of America, is a nationwide American youth organization that began in 1910. The organization has been co-ed since 1975 and welcomes youth from pre-kindergarten through age 21. Camp Fire was the first nonsectarian, multicultural organization for girls in...
participation in a religious emblem program is optional. P.R.A.Y. has a list of religious emblems approved for Campfire USA members, but it is not considered exhaustive.
American Heritage Girls
As a ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organization, the American Heritage Girls
American Heritage Girls
The American Heritage Girls is a Christian Scouting organization founded in 1995 by Patti Garibay and other parents from West Chester, Ohio, who were unhappy that the Girl Scouts accepted lesbians as troop leaders, allowed girls to substitute another word more applicable to their belief for "God"...
(AHG) approves of the Protestant God and Country program from P.R.A.Y., Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting (MCCS), as well as the Catholic programs available from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (N.F.C.Y.M.). Recognitions from other organizations, denominations, or religions are not approved for use with the organization.
To promote religious awards within AHG, P.R.A.Y. offers a "Love God" rotational segment patch program for girl scouts and adults who memorize the Biblical verses Mark 12:29-31
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
, attend or make a presentation about religious awards, then make a personal commitment to "love God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
". This program is similar to the "Duty to God" BSA and "To Serve God" GSUSA programs.
Canada
Scouts CanadaScouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
and Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada - Guides du Canada is the national Guiding association of Canada. Guiding in Canada started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. As of 2006, the association had 116,206 members.-History:Mary Malcolmson...
offer the Religion in Life badge. Different faiths develop their own programs which are approved by Scouts Canada (which also administers the program for Girl Guides of Canada).http://www.girlguides.ca/default.asp?id=149http://www.scouts.ca/inside.asp?cmPageID=276
Each program has multiple age stages and a badge can be earned for each stage with the border color indicating the stage. The emblem on the badge indicates which faith.
- Stage 1 - Ages 7–9 - yellow border
- Stage 2 - Ages 10–12 - green border
- Stage 3 - Ages 13–15 - blue border
- Stage 4 - Ages 15 and up - red border
- Stage 5 - adult - purple border
Currently recognized programs are
- Anglican Church of Canada
- Apostolic Church of the Pentecost
- Canadian Baptist Ministries
- Canadian Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Canadian Armed Forces (Protestant)
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Christian Science
- Church of the Nazarene
- Congregational Christian Church of Canada
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- Evangelical Church of Canada
- Free Methodist Church of Canada
- Lutheran Churches of Canada
- Moravian Church of Canada
- Orthodox Church
- Pentecostal Assemblies
- Polish National Catholic Church of Canada
- Presbyterian Church in Canada
- Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Roman Catholic Church in Canada
- Salvation Army
- The Standard Church
- United Church of Canada
The above all have the same badge of a circle around a Greek alpha
Alpha
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Alpha or ALPHA may also refer to:-Science:*Alpha , the highest ranking individuals in a community of social animals...
and omega
Omega
Omega is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Greek numeric system, it has a value of 800. The word literally means "great O" , as opposed to omicron, which means "little O"...
. The following all have different badges.
- Bahá’í Faith - nine pointed star
- Buddhist Faith - wheel of the law
- Canadian Unitarian Council - flaming chalice
- Hindu - omOmOm is a sacred syllable of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.OM and similar may also refer to:-Music:* Om , a stoner metal band* Om , a 1965 album* OM , a 2006 album* Om...
- Islam in Canada - AllahAllahAllah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
in Arabic above a crescent moon and star above Allah in English - Jewish Religion - Menorah
- Sikh - Khanda
- Zoroastrianism - FravashiFravashiA fravashi is the guardian spirit mentioned in the Avesta of an individual, who sends out the urvan into the material world to fight the battle of good versus evil...
Footnotes
Further Information
- Programs of Religious Activities with Youth. Also known as P.R.A.Y.. The administrator of a set of Protestant religious programs but their business office is also a clearing house on info about the Religious Emblems Programs in the United States in general.
- Boy Scouts of America info on the Religious Emblems Programs
- Policy of the Boy Scouts of America Pertaining to Recognitions Granted by Churches, Synagogues, Temples, Mosques and Other Religious Organizations
- Friends Committee on Scouting
- National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire and National Catholic Committee on Scouting (Boy Scouts)
- National Lutheran Association on Scouting
- Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting
- National Jewish Committee on Scouting (Boy Scouts) National Jewish Girl Scout Committee
- Baha'i Religious Emblem Program
- National Buddhist Committee on Scouting
- North American Hindu Association
- National Islamic Committee on Girl Scouting