CreateDebate


Debate Info

13
20
Yes No
Debate Score:33
Arguments:16
Total Votes:51
Ended:06/30/08
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 Yes (9)
 
 No (7)

Debate Creator

shunted(139) pic



This debate has ended. You can no longer add arguments or vote in this debate.

Is saying the pledge of allegiance a form of idolatry?

No other gods but me.

Yes

Side Score: 13
VS.

No

Side Score: 20
Winning Side!

Sure. Nationalism is a big part of the American culture. Not saying it's wrong. In fact, pragmatically it is probably very good. So long as it isn't mandatory.

Side: Yes
-1 points

I pledge allegiance to Queen Fragg, and her mighty state of hysteria.

Side: Yes
-2 points
kirstie1126(480) Disputed
2 points

The definition of allegiance is:

- the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government

- devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

The Bible does not tell us to never show devotion or loyalty to anything else or nothing other than God. There can be an order or priorities to one's allegiance. For example: first to God, second to the USA, third to some thing else. For another person it might be different order of priorities in which to show their allegiance.

Supporting Evidence: allegiance. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. (www.merriam-webster.com)
Side: No
4 points

Saying the pledge of allegiance calls to mind our national identity and our country's history. It is a way of remembering where we are from and what we stand for. The pledge of allegiance unites us as we recite it as children and hopefully, as adults, each time we look at our flag we are reminded of the many battles fought to keep us free! It does not imply that we idolize our country or our flag but it certainly makes clear that we are one nation under God.

Side: No
sparsely(498) Disputed
1 point

Do you know when the "under God" part was added? You talk about all that like it's a good thing. Dogmatic recitation "unites" any group. Even 12-Step groups do it. Repetition strengthens and confirms; that doesn't make it reasonable, defensible, beneficial, or truthful.

Side: Yes
shunted(139) Disputed
0 points

It does remind us of our identity? Which identity is that? There are Muslims, atheists, agnostics, Jews, Hindus, etc. in the the U.S. The pledge doesn't say anything about this. It doesn't say anything about identity. The native people of the U.S. certainly did not understand and believe in us being one nation.

How do you know that in God's eyes we have a common purpose? When did He tell you this?

Side: Yes
shunted(139) Disputed
-1 points

The pledge might remind people of our identity, though I find this hard to believe since it doesn't make any references to our identity, but the question is whether or not this is idolatry. I really don't think God appreciates people pledging allegiance to things other than Him. At least according to my understanding of the Bible. Also, clearly we are not one nation under God as many of the citizens of the United States are not religious. We are not under a theocracy and our laws are not in accordance, necessarily, with the Bible. I believe that saying we are one nation under God is a lie but this is a separate issue.

Side: Yes
liquidjin(20) Disputed
1 point

It most certainly is there to remind us of our identity. You pledge allegiance to the United States of America because at one time people valued state over country. In order to exist as one nation it was necessary that every member of the union understood and believed in us being one nation. That in "God's eyes" we were one unified country with a common purpose and not a collection of states that happened to be neighbors.

Side: No
-1 points

No, it's saying the pledge of allegiance

Side: No
liquidjin(20) Disputed
1 point

Way to support your argument.

If the pledge of allegiance was just saying the pledge of allegiance then they wouldn't have bothered writing anything after the title. The words that comprise the pledge mean something. It is not meant to encourage blind devotion to the nation it is meant to unite citizens and remind us that we are countrymen. The teaching of it to be said at such a young age is questionable but understandable since the same institutions eventually teach its origins.

Here is an example of why the pledge exists, and it has nothing to do with idolatry. More often than not if you are outside of New York and ask a New York City resident where they are from they will respond with "I'm from Brooklyn", "I live in Manhattan", "Harlem", etc... Why? Because these places have grown bigger than their state in name and allegiance. From their upbringing or their lifestyles many NYC residents have learned that their neighborhoods are more important than the city and the state. The pledge is just one tool that has helped us as citizens prevent this separatist behavior from going beyond that level.

Side: Yes
2 points

Singing the Star Spangled Banner creates a more emotional bond to my fellow country men than the pledge of allegiance. But that fact doesn't take away from the pledge of allegiance.

Side: No