The simple fact is that the phrase, “one nation under God” contained in America’s current pledge of allegiance was not written by the author of the pledge but rather was inserted into the pledge in 1954, during the McCarthy era. Most people believe the pledge is much older than it really is often thinking it goes back to revolutionary times but actually the pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy. He wrote it to be used in public schools to highlight the unity of children across the nation. Bellamy was a Baptist minister who was removed from the pulpit for preaching against the evils of capitalism. Bellamy was in fact a member of the Christian Socialist movement, which did not exist long. Bellamy believed in the separation of church and State and never included the word God anywhere within the pledge. When he was finished it read, “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” No God was written no God was intended and no God should be there and there wasn't one until 1954. In 1954 the phrase “under God” was added due to the political workings of conservative religious groups most strongly the Catholic Church. The phrase quickly gained support from many religious denominations. It was accepted and approved in large part because it was seen as an important way to separate and distinguish ourselves from the “evil and godless” Soviet Union even if it meant moving away from the intent of the constitution by putting God where he did not belong, in the State. The church has always been good at rewriting history but hopefully we've come to a time where we can restore the original words of the pledge of allegiance and thereby restore what was originally intended by it, just a simple symbol of American unity, which all Americans can confirm and solidarity with one another not with any God or gods.
We should restore the pledge
Are you a fan of George Carlin or Billy Graham?
ReplyDeleteBellamy was in fact a member of the Christian Socialist movement but the movement did last a long time and there are still people in the world who call themselves "Christian Socialists" and tout the same deadly ideas. Bellamy did not believe in the separation of church and State and that is consistent with his "Christian Socialism" and it is incomplete to say that he "did not include the word God anywhere within the pledge" in that the Pledge was part of a much larger program created with Bellamy that included the word God and various other religious references, and consistent again with his Christian Socialism. Instead of talking only about removing God from the pledge, it would be better to say that the pledge should be removed, period. Your readers might also find it interesting that the Pledge of Allegiance was the origin of the Nazi salute. Government schools (socialist schools) will never show students the early pledge hand-gesture nor tell them that it was the origin of the stiff-armed salute adopted later by the National Socialist German Workers Party. They will never explain that Francis Bellamy and his cousin (and cohort Edward Bellamy) were national socialists and they influenced the NSGWP and its dogma, symbols and rituals. If they told the truth the pledge would cease to exist (and flag-waving would too). See the work of the symbologist Dr. Rex Curry (author of “Pledge of Allegiance Secrets”).
ReplyDeleteTinny, thanks for the information. I had read about the one armed salute that looked similar to the Nazi salute, though obviously it started before the Nazis, which is why the salute was changed to the hand over heart posture. That change took place shortly after Pearl Harbor.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read Bellamy did believe in separation of church and State both as a socialist and as a Baptist but either way I don't think it changes much concerning the issue of what to do with the pledge today.
Thanks again. Great information
To the anonymous writer. I don't know much about George Carlin, I've never heard any of his material. And no I'm not a big fan of Billy Graham.
ReplyDeleteI have one short concise answer to why we need it in the pledge. Noble Lie.
ReplyDelete