Have you been to the Faiths and Beliefs (FAB) area? If not you definitely should check it out, just look for the purple FAB flags! FAB lets you learn about various religions, explore your own faith, participate in meditations, various activities, and chat with people from all over the world. There are several different faiths represented, an Escape Room, and a final booth highlighting North American Duty to God religious programs. So what happens in each booth? Well I’m glad you asked!

Escape Room: Time bandits have altered our reality, going back in time and ruining the first World Scout Jamboree. You have 30 minutes to solve puzzles, crack codes, and navigate obstacles to make things right. Each of the three (3) rooms can hold up to five (5) Scouts. Good Luck!

Messengers of Peace: The goal is to open up an inter-religious dialogue talking about various religions and teaching Scouts how to have a discussion with a positive focus and dispel misconceptions about religion. You can also learn about the Messengers of Peace program and WOSM’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also have Inter-religious BINGO and you can create a personality web.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints: They focus on two different questions: 1. Why does God care about me? We are all children of God and therefore we are all family and His love for us is perfect, 2. How can I truly be happy? Knowing God has perfect love for us and that we can trust in Him and follow His son Jesus Christ. He teaches us to serve others as we serve others we find true happiness. As an activity, you can earn a Commemorative Coin by completing a set of requirements that helps you explore the religion and serve others.

Won Buddhism: Originated in Korea in 1916. It is a modernized Buddhism which focuses on the connection of mind and body in day to day life. “The truth is one…The paths are many, We are one family.” They offer two activities which include meditation and making a Wonmani doll which represented 6 senses with 6 knots. The body of the doll will move up and down reminding you of the mind body connection. Longer legs means you are having a happy day, shorter legs means you have having a bad day and reflect and try to have a better day tomorrow.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity: The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition, and worship. They draw on elements of Greek, Middle-Eastern, Russian and Slav culture. For activities, Scouts can paint an icon: St. George, the Holy Cross, or the Virgin Mary. Scouts can also create a wooden icon to stick on something important to them.

Sikhism: Preaches humanity and compassion. They believe anytime is a good time to connect with God and is open to anyone who faithfully believes in one immortal creator, the ten Sikh Gurus, the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib, the utterances and teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus, the importance of initiation by taking “Khandey De Phaul” and becoming a Khalsa as bestowed by the tenth Guru, and one who does not owe commitment to any other religion as a Sikh. For activities, you can learn to tie and wear a turban, help embroider one of their symbols, and create a name badge written in Gurmukhi (Punjabi).

Protestant: Branch of Christianity, second largest form, began in Germany in 1570. They believe all that is necessary for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ and acceptance of his crucifixion as payment for our sins. For activities, you can finger paint handprints on their wall, make para cord crosses, and write bible versus and hang them on the wall.

Hindu: The basic nature of human beings is not confined to the Body or the mind. Beyond both of these is the spirit or spark of God within the soul. They have no actual picture of God, the only pictures are those people have created based on how they envision God. They make offerings to God, even those who are evil. They do not want the evil God to come near them and cause destruction. OM is a symbol of the Absolute, Bramha is the Creator, Vishnu is the Sustainer, and Shiva is the Destroyer.

Roman Catholic: Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Bible is inspired and revealed word of God. Baptism is the rite of becoming a Christian, the Ten Commandments provide a moral compass, and the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). For activities, Scouts can learn to play songs on the bells and make a rosary or a cross.

Judaism: What is hateful to you do not do to others, that is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary. A belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets. Activities include making bookmarks, wooden dreidels, and interacting with/asking about a collection of Jewish objects.

Buddhism: Path of practices and spiritual development leading to insight into the truth nature of reality. Buddhist practices like meditation are means of changing yourself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. Activities include making beaded bracelets, meditation sessions, and making lotus flowers.

Muslim: Muslims consider the Quran, their holy book, to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet and messenger Muhammad. Islam is a path to attain complete peace through voluntary submission to the Divine Will. Activities include: star weaving, henna, a quiz to win an iPad, and a prayer tree.

North American Duty to God: Learn about the religious timeline, or when religions started and their varying symbols. Learn about the various religious awards Scouts who live in Mexico, Canada, and the US can earn. Earn beads as you progress through the numerous activities they have to offer, some of which includes writing messages in the wind, and hanging messages on the prayer tree.

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