Scouts study various religions

Nine-year-old Hannah Woodland, of Riverton, had no idea that believing in "God" could be so different for everyone yet also so much the same.

"They all have a Bible," she said, noting one of the similarities.

Woodland was one of nearly 100 Girl Scouts and their leaders who attended a Girl Scouts of Utah-sponsored event at the Columbus Center in Salt Lake City Wednesday that helped the girls explore religious diversity on a personal level.

"It's great to give them an opportunity to learn about other faiths and meet real people who practice these religions," said Baha'i presenter Karen Webb, of Centerville. She said a lot of misrepresentations involving religion could be cleared up by just talking openly about religion.

In addition to Baha'i, representatives from the Eastern Orthodox, Islam, Jewish and Roman Catholic faiths and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided the girls with a 13-minute synopsis of their beliefs, explaining who and how they worship, how and when they fast, which books they read and how they help the needy.

Girls were asked to note the basics of each faith. They determined that all six believe in a form of a God, and all six worship that God through some sort of prayer. Fasting was common to all the represented religions, but they practice it differently and at different times in the year.

Charity is practiced by all the represented religions, through various voluntary donations. Each has a book of scripture, which is meant to be read and referred to often in daily life.

"It was interesting to me that the girls were pointing out the similarities and not the differences," said Bountiful troop leader Alecia Gale. "We're all the same in a lot of ways."

Gale's daughter Kylee, 7, said the experience helped her to "not make fun of people who are different."

Many of the girls have had little experience to learn about other religions, said Girl Scouts of Utah Director of Communications Cheri Beck.

"This organization and our Girl Scout Promise is flexible, is founded on such principles as freedom of religion and is based on the girls' own spiritual beliefs," she said. "We encourage them to find that in themselves."

Such flexibility is evident within the Salt Lake City Muslim troop led by Noor ul-Hasan. Although the activities they participate in are much the same as other troops, their motto is a bit different.