asked for the words under god to be taken out the pledge allegiance. I honestly don't mind b/c that is not everyone's belief and that is not the original words to it anyways...I did some research and those words were added b/c of christian organazations pushing the government to include them. The pledge of Allegiance is supposed to b for every1 to say...not just theists. What is your all's opinions?
2006-09-02 09:00:43 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's freedom of religion, - not freedom FROM religion.
We can't sink to a new low, of accommodating the lowest common denominator.
2006-09-02 09:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by MK6 7 · 3⤊ 6⤋
I think the words "Under God" should be removed from the pledge if it is going to continue to be said in public schools, since public schools are not supposed to favor or lead students in the direction of any one religion over another and as you said, those words were not part of the original Pledge to begin with. BUT, I do not think it is that big of a deal, SO LONG AS students are not wrongly forced to say the pledge or are shunned by their school and fellow students if they do not. It is quite simple for the students to omit those two words or even just not to say the pledge at all themselves, so long as they do not have to fear being punished in any way by the school if they do assert that right. Forcing students to recite a pledge they do not believe in completely defeats the purpose of the Pledge to begin with. It's the same as forcing, for example, a Pagan in court to take an oath to tell the truth by placing their hand on the Bible. If they don't believe in what is written in that book, what weight does the oath have?
2006-09-02 09:32:35 · answer #2 · answered by BlueManticore 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and I believe everyone has rights.....atheists have the right to refuse to recite the pledge or recite it without the words "under God" , but as Christians we have the right to recite it with that phrase in it. Whose rights are more important? Neither. They are equal. So it is a catch-22. If those words are taken out, it is offensive to me, if they are left in, it is offensive to atheists. I think it should be left as is, and those that don't agree, can just leave those words out when they recite it. But, that is just MYopinion...it is worth about as much as the print on this page.....unless I get lucky and get a thumbs up or best answer, then it is worth about 10 points! ;-)
2006-09-02 11:02:01 · answer #3 · answered by Nelita C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad you brought this up... I'm an Atheist and I don't recite the pledge of Allegiance. The last time I did I was in grade school.
To be honest with you, if you were to go to a school with a lawyer and say something like, "I don't want my child to say this" or "the children shouldn't have to say it" then the school would have to let them not say it. That's only if you have kids...
But I just never recite the Pledge or anything of the sort that connects with religion.
2006-09-02 09:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Frankly, I won't say the Pledge. I am proud of my Country despite the negativity expressed by the religious extremist, but I refuse to acknowledge a diety as having some form of influence when I do not believe in that diety.
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands- one nation indivisible-with liberty and justice for all."
2006-09-02 09:11:42 · answer #5 · answered by IndyT- For Da Ben Dan 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As an American, I feel it is my duty to keep religion and government separate from each other; as such, the inclusion of "under God" is a blasphemy to my nation. Had such words been included at the genesis of the United States, my sentiment would probably be different, for "under God" would have historic value. However, that is not the case. "Under God" was added during the Red Scare of the 1950s to try to show we were somehow better than the Soviet Union because we were a Christian nation, whereas the USSR was atheist by law.
The Red Scare is over. It's time to dump Christianity out of our government and restore secular civil laws. Totalitarianism starts out slowly, creeping into the lives of citizens. We are moving closer towards a Christian dominionist state; in order to push the tide back, we need to reject "under God" from the Pledge and all US government articles.
I also believe that Christians are not supposed to practice their faith in public. Well, "under God" is borderline pushing it. It's backdoor establishment.
2006-09-02 09:07:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Well being individuals and since nobody can hear you really when you feel the need to recite the pledge then you can put any phrase in for under God you wish. I know some who actually say under Goddess.
2006-09-02 09:16:09 · answer #7 · answered by genaddt 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Under God" should never have been put into the pledge, and "In God We Trust" should never have been put onto money. If I were in charge, I'd fire every grandstanding congressman who stood on the steps of the Capitol building and said the pledge to affirm his or her support for "Under God."
I am a Christian. I don't want my taxpayer dollars wasted by grandstanding w&nktards in Congress.
2006-09-02 09:09:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am an Athiest and I am quite aware that America is a Judeo / Christian nation and am happy and proud to be an American with
"In God we Trust" on the money and "One nation under God" in the Pledge of allegiance and the 10 commandments in state buildings.
The main reason the 10 commandments isn't allowed in courtrooms is that it cramps the lawyers , prosecutors & judges style.......I don't know who put that bug up the ACLU's butt however it is giving all us sane athiests a bad name...
2006-09-02 09:05:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
'Under God' should be optional and in parenthesis in all text. If you believe in God you have every right to state the nation was built under God, as everything was built under God in that belief. Atheists have every right to pause after 'one nation.'
Now "In God We Trust" is a bit more sly since the Federal Reserve is saying that the United States, We, trust in God. That is false since being an American is not inclusive to believing in God.
However, God can have whatever meaning you want it to. You can believe that for you God means everything in the world working as a system that follows physical laws that result in everything that happens around you. God can be the flying spaghetti monster. God can be the result of karma and the balancing of energies. God can be 'you' if you really believe it. Anyhow, if you don't believe in God don't take such offense to God believers, if there really was a God as they describe it you would feel as strongly as they do.
2006-09-02 15:28:42 · answer #10 · answered by XR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given that we're not SUPPOSED to be a theocracy, the word "God" has no place in the pledge of allegiance, nor in anything relating to government, "just as education has no place in organized religion", to quote Superintendent Chalmers on "The Simpsons".
Seriously...it really IS unfair to atheists to insist that they pledge anything with the word "God" in it! And WHOSE "God" are you talking about?
Also, kids get punished and teased for NOT saying it...so they should take it out...as it should never have been put in!
2006-09-02 09:07:07 · answer #11 · answered by Gwynneth Of Olwen 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋