Comments on: Am I the only Christian who wants “under God” taken out of the pledge?

By: Marti

Marti — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:58:53 +0000

The original pledge (which, by the way, was written by a Baptist minister Francis Bellamy who was a Socialist) did NOT even contain “under God”. That phrase was added during the Red Scare of the 1950s.

As a Believer, I do not like it there either.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:36:39 +0000

I agree on this issue. The state and religion should be very separate. The pledge is religious and ignores the beliefs of many groups that don’t believe in any gods including atheists, agnostics, Buddhists and Taoists, to name but a few.

I also agree with Irihapeti, invoking “God” as sponsor of your nation or cause has lead to tragic historical results, recall “Gott Mit Uns”. It always makes your side feel that they are right and that crushing, subjugating or, yes torturing, anyone else is divinely inspired and anointed.

By: Irihapeti

Irihapeti — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:20:08 +0000

I dislike the idea of having that phrase in the pledge, but for a different reason.

I should say first of all that I’m not an American and have never lived there, though I like to consider myself a Christian.

I once had to read all the Presidential inaugural addresses (with the exception of the most recent one) for an assignment. One of the things that struck me was a recurring impression that America and its progress was somehow reflecting the divine will. I felt distinctly uncomfortable at this.

So, if having “under God” in the pledge reinforces the idea that American policy and action represents God’s will for the world, then I’m all in favour of having it removed.

By: ubuntucat

ubuntucat — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:10:15 +0000

Anyone else want to join matthew and me in objecting to this? Or shall we continue to reinforce the stereotype that Christians have no compassion and seek only to forceably convert others to our faith (or, if not actually convert, just make them say stuff they don’t mean)?

By: matthew

matthew — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:20:03 +0000

No, you aren’t the only one. I’m with you.

By: CountShrimpula

CountShrimpula — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:11:27 +0000

I’m sure you’re not the only Christian that wants that, of course, but you’re one of few. And one of even fewer than that that can actually get worked up about it at all. I do appreciate that, though. The scaremongers always like to make it out as though the atheists are somehow oppressing them, as if our meager little 1-2% of the population could do that. And of course their definition of “oppressed” is “not being allowed to oppress other people”. And the fact of the matter is, without good, levelheaded Christians to stick up for real freedom of religion, not just freedom to be whatever type of Christian you want, we’d be pretty bad off.

Anyway, the big proponents of “under God” like to say it shouldn’t be a big deal for everyone to say it, but I’m pretty sure they’d think differently if it was “under Allah” or “under our Earth Mother” or something.