A different Christian take on the Pledge of Allegiance

[kellinator]

As I was saying to geigersk...

One of the Ten Commandments forbids taking the Lord's name in vain. (Coincidentally, everyone who knows me knows I swear like a drunken sailor, but this is the one speech restriction I really try to make. If you ever hear me screw up and do it, you'll know I've lost it big-time.) Shouldn't Christians not want "under God" in the Pledge to be said by those who don't believe in God? Shouldn't we want to honor God's name and make it special, rather than trying to make lots of people who don't feel that way say it because we think it keeps America a "Christian" nation (which it wasn't and wasn't intended to be? Remember, many of the founding fathers were deists)? Should we even want God's name in the Pledge, which most people just repeat without thinking about what it means?

"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and render unto God the things that are God's."

Comments

[tropiquena.livejournal.com]

Good points! :)

[sideshowjohn.livejournal.com]

Very good! If I was a religious man I'd be going to HELL anyway.

THANK YOU!!!

[isis691.livejournal.com]

I like you SO much right now. I really do. See - Christian & Pagan can very easily co-exist, if each will make concessions for the other. WE CAN GET ALONG!!!

Re: THANK YOU!!!

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Just doing my best to act like I think Christ would have. Thank you!

ABSOLUTELY!

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

I am a Deist (not a christian) and I don't agree with "under God" being in the pledge because I don't believe we are "one nation, under God".

My America includes those of different faiths and those with no "faith" at all.

MY America is "one nation, indivisible" which means more to me than any hollow reiteration of faith.

[sarahlicious13.livejournal.com]

You are my new hero.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[thatbelle.livejournal.com]

I still don't want it changed just b/c I'm all about tradition and preserving historical stuff...hee hee...but that's a VERY good point, Kelly!

Re:

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Babe, it's not that historical. It was only added in the '50s.

Re:

[thatbelle.livejournal.com]

Hee hee...I know...I just like it...hee hee.

[sarahlicious13.livejournal.com]

Well, preserving historical stuff would be reciting the pledge the way Francis Bellamy wrote it in 1892.

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"

The "under God" part was added in 1954 in order to separate ourselves from those who believed in Communism.

Re:

[thatbelle.livejournal.com]

Wow, did not know that...but I can honestly say that I've also not been paying this much attention....just liked what Kell said about it. :O)

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't like it because I don't like intimation that the USA=#1 GOD'S FAVORITE COUNTRY EVAR!!!!.

It's kind of like the two football teams that BOTH pray to god to let them win. What the fuck? Is god REALLY gonna pick one? will s/he flip a coin? c'mon.

If there is a god, somehow I don't think he plays favorites quite like that...

[ariedana.livejournal.com]

I made that same point to Metaphorge the other night. I'm kinda suprised more people haven't picked up on it. It especially fits with Church of Christ theology, because we weren't even supposed to say the Lord's Paryer because it was rote speech and repeating it took the meaning out of it.

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

...you weren't raised Church of Christ, were you?!

'Cause if so, we're church twins. scary!

-hx, still goes every sunday. not that I actually listen, but it makes my parents happy, and they're nice people.