Should the words "under God" be included or removed from the US Pledge of Allegiance?
ANGEL
2012/07/01 04:06:23
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27 votes
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51% | ||
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21 votes
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40% | ||
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5 votes
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9% | ||
The Pledge of Allegiance was first written in 1892 for a magazine
contest, and it read: "I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic
for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all." The Pledge became part of the US Flag Code in 1942, and in
1954 President Eisenhower and Congress added the phrase "under God” into
the Pledge.
Proponents of including "under God” in the Pledge argue that the US
is a Christian nation, at least 80% of Americans support the phrase, the
language reflects America’s civic culture and is not a religious
statement, and federal law, state constitutions, currency, and the
presidential oath already contain references to God.
Opponents contend that church and state should be kept strictly
separate as the Founding Fathers intended. They argue that the
Constitution protects minority rights against majority will, and that
the words "under God" in the Pledge are a religious phrase and thus
violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
I'd be interested in the opinions of those from all religious backgrounds - Christians, Scientology, Jewish, Pagans, etc. I'm certain Atheists would like to see the phrase removed.
Do you believe the words "under God" should be included or removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
contest, and it read: "I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic
for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all." The Pledge became part of the US Flag Code in 1942, and in
1954 President Eisenhower and Congress added the phrase "under God” into
the Pledge.
Proponents of including "under God” in the Pledge argue that the US
is a Christian nation, at least 80% of Americans support the phrase, the
language reflects America’s civic culture and is not a religious
statement, and federal law, state constitutions, currency, and the
presidential oath already contain references to God.
Opponents contend that church and state should be kept strictly
separate as the Founding Fathers intended. They argue that the
Constitution protects minority rights against majority will, and that
the words "under God" in the Pledge are a religious phrase and thus
violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
I'd be interested in the opinions of those from all religious backgrounds - Christians, Scientology, Jewish, Pagans, etc. I'm certain Atheists would like to see the phrase removed.
Do you believe the words "under God" should be included or removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
-- The First Amendment
In order to guarantee an atmosphere of absolute religious liberty, this country's founders also mandated the strict SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Largely because of this prohibition against government regulation or endorsement of religion, diverse faiths have flourished and thrived in America since the founding of the republic. Indeed, James Madison, the father of the United States Constitution, once observed that "the [religious] devotion of the people has been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the state."