Promise and Law
Scouting is available to people of all faiths as well as people who are humanist, atheist or have no affirmed faith and therefore must therefore take account of the different religious obligations or non religious beliefs of its Members. Similarly, people of other nationalities resident in the United Kingdom, who may become Members of the Association, owe allegiance to their own Country.To meet these circumstances, there are different variations of the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout Promise that can be made, allowing for the individuals obligations while upholding the essential spirit of the Promise.
The Scout Association has a core Scout Promise and is fully committed as a Movement to exploring faith, beliefs and attitudes as a core element of its programme.
The phrase “to love God” and “duty to God” implies belief in a Supreme Being and the acceptance of Divine Guidance. In each Promise, the phrase “Duty to God” or, in the case of Beaver Scouts, “to love God”, is suitable for most faiths (including Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs).
Hindus may use either the words “my Dharma” or “God”. Muslims may use the word “Allah” in place of “God”. Buddhists should use only the words “my Dharma”. Muslims may use the phrase “In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful” in place of “On my honour” when making the Promise.
Those who do not follow a religion may replace “Duty to God” with “To uphold our Scout values”, or for Beavers to replace “to love God” with “to love our world”.
For people of other nationalities resident in the United Kingdom taking the Cub Scout or Scout Promise, the phrase “duty …to the Queen” may be replaced by “duty…to the Country in which I am now living”. However, British subjects must promise to do their “duty…to the Queen”.
The attached fact sheet lists alternative promises available.
The core promise for each section is listed below:
Beavers make their promise when they are invested into the Beaver Colony.
The Beaver Scout Promise is:
I promise to do my best
To be kind and helpful
And to love God
The Beaver Scout Motto is:
Be Prepared.
Cubs
The Promise and Law are at the heart of what we do as Cubs. They express the values we believe in as members of the worldwide family of Scouts.
The Cub Scout Promise is:
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Cub Scout Law.
The Cub Scout Law is:
Cub Scouts always do their best
Think of others before themselves
And do a good turn every day.
Scouts
The Promise and Law are at the heart of what we do as Scouts. They express the values we believe in as members of the worldwide family of Scouts.
The Scout Promise is (Scouts, Explorers and Adults):
On My Honour, I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law.
The Scout Law is:
1. A Scout is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout is friendly and considerate.
4. A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts.
5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.
