Neopaganism infused into the new Girl Scout curriculum
Linda Harvey
What’s going on lately with the Girl Scouts? Unfortunately, it’s not the same wonderful organization we knew in our youth, but has instead become a training ground for radical political correctness. Parents, listen up here.
Over the fall of 2008 and into 2009, the Girl Scouts are introducing a new curriculum for girls called “Journeys.” Developed with the help of a group called the Ashland Institute in Oregon, this program challenges Girl Scouts to change their world through leadership skills. But how is this to be done? Mostly, it seems, through politically correct projects and non-Christian faith practices.
The Ashland Institute openly embraces New Age spirituality. Jesus Christ is conspicuously absent from their recommended curriculum, but instead, their method is to start within the girls themselves. Girl Scouts are to seek self-power and “deep self-knowledge,” go through rites of passage, and older girls will study female archetypes and symbols. This sounds a lot like Jungian occult psychology. Girls are to find meaning in the ceremonial and the symbolic, and the culmination is the “transforming power” of the circle.
Is it just me, or does this sound like a pagan coven? The transforming knowledge of Christ brings real power, yet Christianity is missing from a program which favors native American and Eastern practices. Self –esteem is the goal,which leaves each girl in danger of becoming her own “god” and thus vulnerable to spiritual deception. What happened to arts and crafts, learning first aid, and singing songs around the campfire? Will tribal chanting and drumming be next? Already on the Girl Scout web site is some questionable religious material. One exercise features an “Inner Beauty” quiz for girls, to find out their “ancient Indian (Ayurvedic) body type”, which is thinly- veiled Eastern religion. The illustration shows a girl sitting in the Lotus position.
The Girl Scouts have been going in a non-Christian direction for years. Unlike the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts decided some years ago that openly homosexual troop leaders were okay. For example, among the 13 Girl Scouts chosen from across the whole nation for the coveted Gold Award in 2007 is a teen from Wisconsin whose achievement was a report decrying the so-called intolerance against homosexuals.She received help from her church on this report, one that apparently approves of homosexual lifestyles. Just the type of high example to give to younger Scouts.
Sadly, the Girls Scouts have been radicalized by the extremes of feminism and other unbiblical attitudes. Do you want your daughters and granddaughters to join hands with other girls in a ritual of earth worship, possibly guided by a leader who models a questionable lifestyle? If not, then it’s time to find an alternative.
And a great one is the American Heritage Girls, which now has chapters in 34 states. This group emphasizes traditional girlhood and teaches old-fashioned values, including unashamed respect for our country, the importance of our American heritage and respect for God.
Given the current trends and in spite of the cookies, I’d avoid the Girl Scouts and choose American Heritage Girls for my daughters any day.
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