Is it LEGAL to have "Under God" in the pledge or "In God We Trust" on our coins? Don't tell me to shut up.

Question

the "Under God" when I said the pledge. If it were something like "Under Zeus," all of the Christians and Muslims would have an outrage. I NEVER say "Under God" when I recite the pledge, but it is unconstitutional. In fact, the U.S. explicitly acknowledged that it is not a nation founded on religion when it signed the Treaty of Tripoli in its early years.

Mr. Einstein, if they did say these things, why aren't these statements in the law? A president might say that we should blow up all Muslims, but that doesn't mean that that is the law of the United States. READ MIGHT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. Let alone learning history, learn to think before you speak. You got owned.

Well, to the guy talking about a "fuss," what would you say if the United States government suddenly required all of us to attend church on Sundays so that we could distinguish ourselves from communists and Muslims? If the government made that law, would we just sit back and acquiesce?

MIGHT should be MY.

If God refers to a "higher power," why does the government clearly use the Christian name for a god: God. Why not Allah, the Supreme Being, Yahweh, etc.? The Supreme Being would make the most sense. Couldn't we replace "In God We Trust" with something like "Freedom For All"? By making references to God legal, the government indirectly endorses religion.

The MAJORITY? I know how stupid that would be. If the government had a majority vote from all of its citizens on banning Muslims from becoming citizens a hundred years ago, we know what the result would be. Even though this is a democracy, sometimes the citizens are too stupid or irrational to make good decisions for the country. America was supposed to be a secular nation. Although religion still plays an important part in politics, I know that it will slowly but surely fade away from politics. That is how history has worked. Even though religion has had an immense control over politics at times, history has shown that the U.S. has become more secular over time. I have "faith" that it will be truly secular one day.

Answer 1

Yes, it is illegal to have "Under God" in the pledge ,so the courts have ruled already.

Check out what Judith Hayes has to say.
The history of our American Pledge of Allegiance:

1892:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
1924:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
1954:
A campaign led by the Roman Catholic Knights of Columbus caused Congress to add " under God " to the Pledge.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

2002:
On June 26 a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that the Pledge was unconstitutional because it amounted to an endorsement of religion.

The Pledge never had the word God in it until 1954 in the middle of the Cold War as we were trying to show what wonderful True Believers we were. Same thing with the currency. The "God " thing on those happened in 1955 for the same reasons. If you want to talk about tradition, then let's stick with either ,

(a) the 103-year-old tradition (1789-1892) of having no Pledge at all;
(b) the 165-year-old tradition of having and not having a Pledge, but no mention of "God".

© 2002 Judith Hayes

Have a pleasant day.

Answer 2

Yes, it's still legal to have 'Under God" in the pledge or "In God We Trust" on our coins. The Constitution was founded by Christian men, so you can't take that away from America. Also, at that time, there weren't any Muslims in number enough to complain about it. This nation's forefathers even gave folks the right to be bad spirited publically in that constitution. that's why the enemy has so much control on America's people. Let's try not to shame our ancestors who had wanted to have a new nation. Please be greatful that you were born in America or have the right's of an American. STOP HATING.

Answer 3

It's impossible for it to be legal or illegal. Congress can't make laws respecting an establishment of religion.

It IS illegal to force you to say the pledge to begin with, whether or not you're including Under God or Zeus or whatever.

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
— Justice Robert Jackson in West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)

The barnette case reached the supreme court. If someone is forcing you to recite the pledge, they are wrong to begin with. The Under God issue is moot. You don't have to say it at all, so say whatever you want.

Answer 4

Actually, most people who founded this came here for religious freedom, not to find freedom from religion. Most of our most important founding documents have some reference to God, the Creator, the Almighty, or some such term.

Quote from an Athiest web site concering the Treaty of Tripoli:

But no one claims that the treaty was the basis for our government being non-Christian--it is the godless Constitution, which calls on no higher power than "We the People," that is the necessary and sufficient legal basis. What the treaty does is to powerfully reaffirm what the Constitution and First Amendment intended.



In the mid-1950's, the term "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Below, I link to a page dedicated to Atheism, because I figure that's the important side to show. (Religious people like the term to be there!) It was a congressional resolution that the President signed, according to that page. So, the question is, did that congressional resolution go against the U.S. Constitution?

The Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ...

I would say that having "Under God" in the Pledge or having "In God We Trust" on our money does not establish a religion. Establishment of a religion is a pretty drastic thing.

So I don't think you can make a case that it is illegal. You do have a right not to say the "Under God" part, because in this country we don't make people do things like that. You could even stand quiet and say nothing, and you won't be dragged out of class or where ever you happen to be. Plenty of kids do that in our schools.

Considering our history, I think it's ok to have it on there. Because, in spite of your claims, this nation was founded as a Christian nation. Look up the documents that founded this nation. Then read biographies of the founding fathers. Read their diaries and personal letters. Visit the churches where they used to attend church and even had their own private pews that are still there.

If anyone out there doesn't want their money that has the word "God" on it, feel free to send it to me!

Answer 5

Because God created this world and he will destroy it again. And people should remember that. Our founding fathers wrote it in the Constitution. But people have the right to say what ever they want if it offends them, but it has been that way for years why make a fuss about it now. It makes me mad that some people can't leave things alone, and they attack the things that this country was founded on. Wake up people and smell the coffee, you wouldn't want people trying to tell you how to, and when to do things. RIGHT

Answer 6

Well, legal or not one has to remember the time and the president's past history. We were not long out of WW2 and Korea was a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Ike was a very popular president and he backed it. The "bomb" was a threat everyone was afraid would get loose upon the world. What appears unacceptable now was quite acceptable then. I do understand how you feel, and I do agree that if it were Zeus in the pledge, fundamental christianity would be bleeding from every orifice but I believe we are pretty much stuck with it.

aen

Answer 7

I believe a President made the statement concerning the Treaty of Tripoli which was our war against Islam in the beginning.

Yes is it legal to have "One Nation Under God" and "In God We Trust" because even our Constitution is signed "In the year of our Lord."

Humanism and occult religions are pushing God out of America. Evolution is the horror that America will one day recognize as the tool of darkness to destroy a nation.

You have the anti-christ spirit of evil. The Ten Commandments and the laws of Leviticus in God's Word constructed a great portion of our legal system.

Just recently I read an article where someone turned the 10 Commandments around and when you do you will see that you are serving the devil and not God.

Only 2 religions - God or man. Zeus belongs to man as well as Allah, John Smith, etc.

Answer 8

It is illegal but, then, that's our government for ya! The "under God" in the pledge was only added in the 1950's as an anti-commmunism sentiment. And for all the quotes mentioned, I can find just as many made by our founding fathers that are against establishing a national religion. Did you know that in the early years of colonization it was ILLEGAL not to attend church functions??? Look it up.

Answer 9

I don't see it as appropriate, but I guess it just has never bothered me that much. BTW, Einstein, you ain't no Einstein when it comes to quotes. They're all total BS. Madison never said anything of the sort. He emphasized the need to keep religion and government apart because of its abuse of power in Europe

Answer 10

Albert! You old quote miner, you.

Let's not forget Jefferson's other words:

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state" Letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, Jan.1.1802.

Also, let us not forget, "pal", that Madison, et al, did NOT include any mention of any "god" in his Constitution.

"Remember, there are more of us (Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all other belief systems who believe in a God/Goddess) than there are of you atheists. "

So much for "liberty and justice FOR ALL". Your understanding of our society seems to be rather limited.

K.O. needs to read the Constitution.