Duty to God

Religious Emblems


How to earn the religious emblem of your faith.

All Scouts have a Duty to God. One way that Scouts can show their Duty to God is to earn the religious emblem of their faith and to wear the emblem on their uniform.

The Religious Emblems programs are developed by the individual faith groups to encourage their members to grow stronger in their faith. The BSA has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform, but the emblems are administered by the various religious groups, not the BSA.

When you earn your religious emblem, you also earn the right to wear the universal religious square knot. Boy Scouting incorporates Duty to God in the Scout Spirit requirement, but only RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS qualify you to wear the universal religious square knot. This knot will always be on your uniform (it even carries up to the adult uniform). 

Religious_knot-youth.jpg

Religious Knot — Youth

Religious_knot-adult.jpg

Religious Knot — Adult

Even though there is only one square knot, most religious programs have more than one level. When you earn more than one religious emblem, you may pin a special device in your square knot to show that you have earned your religious emblem at different levels.

Your parents and religious leaders will help you earn your religious emblem. This is not a badge we earn together as a unit. We are of different faiths and we belong to different congregations. Scouts will earn the emblem for their own faith. These emblems are opportunities for you and your family to work on something together and for you to get to know your clergy better and to be more involved with your congregation.

Here’s how you get started on these programs

There are four basic steps:

  1. Youth members must obtain the specific booklet for their religion. Use the “Duty to God” brochure to identify the program for your faith. Check with your council store or contact the religious organization directly. Each Scout needs his own booklet to document progress. Some religions offer adult manuals for counselors and mentors.

  2. Parents must review the program guidelines. Some programs require participants to be official “members” of the religious institution. Age/grade requirements vary from program to program. Each program sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some programs require clergy to serve as counselors; other programs allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors.
     

  3. Families should talk to their religious leaders and show them the booklet before beginning any program. Most programs require that they be completed under the auspices of that religious organization. Many programs require the signature of the local religious leader.
     

  4. Scouts need to complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the emblem. These emblems are not available from your local council store (follow instructions in your booklet). 

Talk to you parents and clergy about earning a religious emblem. Together decide whether or not you will earn your religious emblem, and if so, get the booklet and talk about setting up a schedule to earn it.