Why can’t we atheists just let it go. Certainly we agree religion has influenced America, so what’s the big deal about the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance. How could it hurt. I definitely support the separation of church and state argument that has been extensively debated, but I have a more basic reason for wanting God out of the pledge. I love my country.
The United States of America is real, it exists, unlike God which is not real. If one is an atheist God is like the Tooth Fairy. If you love your country and you hear this:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under the Tooth Fairy, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Would you want to make this pledge?
It’s not that I don’t respect the right to believe whatever you want, I just don’t want what you believe to reflect unfavorably on the country that I love and respect.
You make me want to substitute “Tooth Fairy” every time I say the pledge now.
Seriously though, my take is that perhaps pursuing this is choosing our battles poorly. First, atheists should better educated the public and become a more formidable political force, then push legislation, etc.
Thanks for the comment but, I’m not really trying to battle here. Just trying to express in a humorous way how I truly feel about my country and the pledge.
The constitution of your country says somewhere in there a little thing about the state not putting forth any religion, to not be seen as sponsoring or endorsing any particular religious belief….
The pledge of allegiance, the US motto, the money… All seems to be ignoring the constitution. I’d get angry if I lived in America too.
The same reason why having an “emergency provision” in a constitution is a bad idea- it may not be used as a justification now, but it could be exploited in the future.
Our founding fathers feared religious zealots. and history proves them correct. Some had a strong religious faith in God; but well understood the frailities of human beings.