Comments on: Why do atheists care about religion?

By: imrational

imrational — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:48:25 +0000

OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp,
The pledge did not originally have “Under God”… so why was it important to insert it?

btw, I care that it’s there because I have had numerous Christians point to that and say that it is proof that this is a Christian nation. In other words, it is used as false proof to push/insert religion into the public sphere.

By: thenamesdoughnut

thenamesdoughnut — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:16:10 +0000

uhm no offense or anything ( i like the “religion is the opiate to the masses” quote. but if you use a quote by karl marx then you might be made out as a communist. which among other things, christians hate.

By: OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp

OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:57:26 +0000

Thanks for the advice, but why would christians not like communists? i dont go to church much so i wouldnt know but i thought they were all for a society where everyone is economically equall. By the way im a republican and conservitive, most of the time. just so u dont think im some asshole communist.

By: OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp

OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:28:16 +0000

I see your point. I like your video. I dont care what religion people take, or if they dont take one at all. I just hate when people complain about unimportant things, i see your point now.

By: sinmantyx

sinmantyx — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:20:48 +0000

My theory is that “under God” was included in the pledge basically as part of the propaganda against Communism.

The only way to galvanize the populous against Communism (in general) was to intertwine it with “godlessness” – and to intertwine the “American way” with “godliness” to make actions against Communism by the state to appear as a holy war and not a war about economic systems.

By: OpRedDawn

OpRedDawn — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:50:46 +0000

although that is probably correct, it’s not YOUR theory

By: sinmantyx

sinmantyx — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:31:05 +0000

How dare I?

I have read very little if anything on the subject, and I’m just working on vague chronological correlation and snippets of attitudes I tend to hear in anti-Communist rhetoric.

So, excuse me if I’m not sure which dead or half-dead white guy who wrote a book I’ve never read thought of it first – become obviously I’m just a sounding board for that person.

By: Phsymorph

Phsymorph — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:20:31 +0000

“My theory is that “under God” was included in the pledge basically as part of the propaganda against Communism.”

While this may be partially true, it is not entirely accurate.

From wikipedia:
“The motto first appeared on a United States coin in 1864 during strong Christian sentiment emerging during the Civil War, but In God We Trust did not become the official U.S. national motto until after the passage of an Act of Congress in 1956.”

By: landsdown44

landsdown44 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:54:39 +0000

The only proof that the U.S. would be a Christian nation would be if the Christian Faith had official recognition as in the Constitution. However, the Constitution makes no such claim. Who the heck cares if someone wants to believe this is a Christian nation. We are a secular nation. As a Christian, I am very glad we are.

The “under God” phrase has no legal thrust. Get over it.

By: sinmantyx

sinmantyx — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:37:57 +0000

I was talking about the addition to the pledge – and basically the whole push by the Knights of Columbus to place religion into government during the 50’s.