Do you think that the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance should be taken out or kept? Why or why not?
2007-01-17 10:16:48 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
taken out. it is not a part of the original pledge.
2007-01-17 10:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by kissmy 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
"Under God" was not originally in the Pledge. It was added back in the 1940's. It does imply non-inclusion for all non-Judao-Christian believers. It also makes the pledge something many people of other faiths will not say, since it implies pledging belief in the Judao-Christian faith, as well, which it what was intended by adding it. The Ledge of Allegience should include the values of our nation, which was founded on the principles of religious freedom. The Pledge of Allegiance has been made non-secular by adding "under God" and if we want it to be used by citizens other than Christians or Jews, we should remove it. The pledge was intended to be for the State, not the Church. Evangelists put it in there and ruined the pledge as a unifying element for Americans. They have spoiled it. It should be restored to what it once was - a pledge to our country in all of its strength and derived from its diversity.
2016-05-24 01:21:48 · answer #2 · answered by Trudy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The phrase should absolutely not be kept; it should be removed, so that the pledge may be restored to its original form. The words "under God" were not added until 1954, and have no place in the pledge of allegiance of a non-religious nation that provides a separation of church and state.
There have been claims that "most of the founding fathers were Christians". I beg to differ. While some of them, possibly even the majority of them, were Christians, some were only Theists with no particular religion, and others were Deists and even Agnostics. I recommend "Moral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers" by Brooke Allen if you need to be educated on our founding fathers' religious beliefs (and lack thereof).
Even supposing the founding fathers were extremely religious Christians, they did not integrate their religion into politics, and in fact frowned upon government endorsement of religion, as should be painfully obvious to anyone who has bothered reading the First Amendment.
There is no mention of Jesus, or even of God, in the U.S. Constitution, and claims that this nation is a "Christian" nation is misleading at best, and false at worst.
Here are some quotes from our founding fathers that back up my position:
"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." - Thomas Jefferson
"Religions are all alike - founded upon fables and mythologies." - Thomas Jefferson
"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government." - Thomas Jefferson
"In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people." - James Madison
" The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity." - John Adams
"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." - Benjamin Franklin
"...the number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State - James Madison
"Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together" - James Madison
"Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separated." - Ulysses S. Grant
(Edited for elaboration and grammar correction.)
2007-01-17 10:21:27 · answer #3 · answered by Jeremy 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I, personally would rather take it out. There is SUPPOSED to be a law of separation of State and Church. It was only added about 50 years ago, and wasn't an original part of the Pledge. But then again, I think it should be an optional part, allowing people to say it if they please, and not forced to include or exclude it.
2007-01-17 10:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by ImmortalGenocide 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It should be taken out. What about people of other religions or those without one? I'm amazed it's still there. We shouldn't all have to conform to the same religion. Why not make it a pledge that anyone can say? Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists. We don't all have to be the same.
2007-01-17 10:24:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
While it is certainly a polarizing phrase, and it was only added to the pledge in 1954 so as to imply that we had God on our side and the communitsts didn't, it would be foolish to imply that our country wasn't founded on Judeo-Christian values. They make up our laws, every piece of money has "In God We Trust" written on it (as do the Senate and House chambers), and we take our oaths in court and for public office (most of the time) on a Bible. So, while I don't by any means think it should be required for people to say it, in my personal opinion, we should keep it. It recognizes our past and affirms the beliefs this country was founded on. Just my opinion though, I can certainly understand the opinion of those on the other side.
2007-01-17 10:23:24 · answer #6 · answered by John C 2 · 3⤊ 4⤋
I think it should be taken out. America is supposed to have freedom of religion, and saying "under God" only refers to those who believe in him. It is very biased and I don't understand why they won't take it out already. There shouldn't even be a debate.
2007-01-17 10:24:39 · answer #7 · answered by Gina Chess 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm not religous, but I don't see the big deal. The pledge is pretty stupid anyway.
2007-01-17 10:20:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes it should be taken out. Atheists should be able to declare allegiance to our country. It was only recently added by President Eisenhower, who was pandering when he did it, in my opinion.
2007-01-17 10:24:25 · answer #9 · answered by Kacky 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
No - Religion is what this country was founded on. If you don't like that part of the pledge, then just don't say it.
2007-01-17 10:20:46 · answer #10 · answered by love2shop 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋