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Debate Info

15
7
Yes No
Debate Score:22
Arguments:26
Total Votes:22
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 Yes (12)
 
 No (7)

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AtheistBSA(72) pic



Should the United States Rewrite the Pledge of Alliances to NOT Have the word Under God?

Yes

Side Score: 15
VS.

No

Side Score: 7

Of course. You're the most ethnically and religiously diversified country in the world, there is no reason your constitution should be christian, especially since you have religious liberty.

I'm still waiting for the separation of church and state in Denmark, sadly.

Side: Yes
1 point

When I went to grammar school there was NO "under God". We got through two world wars and a lot of years without it, and WITH a LOT of patriotism! Now that we have it, Patriotism seems to be waning on the "Under God side". A level of anti-American Government was NEVER this high! It's disgusting! It hasn't helped! You can say it the way you wish, it's your right. I skip over that part .... that's MY right.

Side: Yes
dropbomb87(9) Disputed
1 point

I personally don't mind if its removed or not removed, but if its removed I wonder if it will matter at all or the precedent will still be there to place your hand on the bible in order to symbolize telling the truth.. I also do wonder about the "Under God" part, considering that it seems to have been there for as long as we can remember and its pretty engrained in us.

Side: No
1 point

I dont think it really matters at all. Remember that phrase was NOT in the original pledge, but was added later. And several years ago, they stopped requiring people to place there hand on the bible in court. If you lie the punishment is still the same.

Side: Yes

The US added it during the Cold War, so we can take it out just as easily, and we should because church-state separation.

Side: Yes
1 point

I'm all for separation of church and state but at some point it's just petty or vindictive to banish references to God. We existed fine before God was added to the pledge, we've existed fine after, and we've had decades now with it like this and I don't see the harm in leaving it. Most Americans, frankly, don't take the Pledge to heart much anyway. It's kind of like the Lord's Prayer, meaning most Americans recite it rote and neither listen to it nor change their lives by it.

Same with references to God on money. it's not hurting anything.

But would I put new references to God on public buildings or public commodities, no, because I do believe in separation of church and state. But I'm not going to be a d!ck about it.

Side: No
1 point

I often found it interesting why did it take up to the 21st century before removing all references pertaining to Christianity? I'm also wondering in the next American catastrophe are we to then once again stand around looking up at the sky looking down at the ground, a moment of silence which I find does absolutely nothing.

Christianity is in the Constitution

by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

We have been told that, by “establishment of religion,” the Framers meant for the government to maintain complete religious neutrality and that pluralism ought to prevail, i.e., that all religions (whether Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism), though equally tolerated, must not be given any acknowledgement in the public sector. But such an outlandish claim is absolutely false. All one has to do is to go directly to the delegate discussions pertaining to the wording of the First Amendment in order to ascertain the context and original intent of the final wording (Annals of Congress, 1789, pp. 440ff.). The facts of the matter are that by their use of the term “religion,” the Framers had in mind the several Protestant denominations. Their concern was to prevent any single Christian denomination from being elevated above the others and made the State religion—a circumstance that the Founders had endured under British rule when the Anglican Church was the state religion of the thirteen colonies.

Supporting Evidence: Christianity in the Constitution (www.apologeticspress.org)
Side: No
Cartman(18192) Disputed
2 points

I often found it interesting why did it take up to the 21st century before removing all references pertaining to Christianity?

Why did it take until the 20th century to add all references pertaining to Christianity?

Christianity is in the Constitution

It isn't.

Side: Yes
wisegrip(132) Clarified
1 point

Apparently the link to that website in my post disagrees with you.

I use google and search Christianity is in the Constitution and it brings up the correct website as Apologetics Press

Side: Yes
wisegrip(132) Clarified
1 point

Maybe this one will work. if you so choose you can search by

Supporting Evidence: Apologetics Press Link (apologeticspress.org)
Side: Yes
Bohemian(3860) Disputed
2 points

I often found it interesting why did it take up to the 21st century before removing all references pertaining to Christianity?

The original pledge didn't contain the phrase "under God". That wasn't added until 1954.

Side: Yes
wisegrip(132) Clarified
1 point

That's still 50+ years of allowing The Pledge of Allegiance and swearing on the Christian bible when testifying in court, acceptance of the Ten Commandments. I'd like to add that after removing the Ten Commandments from our court house I've seen more civil unrest not less.

Side: Yes
1 point

Too much hassle. I have no problem with it. If you don't like it don't say it. The separation of church and state means that the church will have no influence on the decisions of the state. Doesn't mean the state doesn't acknowledge a church.

Side: No
AlofRI(3294) Clarified
1 point

But it DOES mean that the state will acknowledge every "church", Synagogue, Mosque, etc. While NOT letting them interfere with decisions. STILL, these "houses of worship" keep trying to pass laws/bills that follow THEIR agenda. That's why we need a SCOTUS that doesn't lean toward ONE religion.

Side: Yes
dropbomb87(9) Clarified
1 point

Your profile reflects your reputation, it will build itself as you create new debates, write arguments and form new relationships.

Make it even more personal by adding your own picture and updating your basics.

Side: Yes

They should get rid of that stupid shit all together.

Side: No
1 point

It seems the further back in American history we go the less we seen of an American Atheist country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyCountry,'TisofThee

Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in 1831

Smith gave Mason the lyrics he had written and the song was first performed in public on July 4, 1831,[4] at a children's Independence Day celebration at Park Street Church in Boston. First publication of "America" was in 1832.[

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

God Bless America

Words and music by Irving Berlin

© Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin

© Copyright Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin

© Copyright Assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund

International Copyright Secured

“God bless America” has become the expected way for U.S. presidents to end official speeches. But that wasn’t always the case, explain David Domke and Kevin Coe, authors of the book The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America.

The first president to say it was Richard Nixon, who dropped the phrase during an attempt at damage control for the burgeoning Watergate scandal on April 30, 1973. “Tonight, I ask for your prayers to help me in everything I do throughout the days of my presidency,” he said. “God bless America and God bless each and every one of you.”

Supporting Evidence: America My Country Song (en.wikipedia.org)
Side: No
1 point

NO.

So God help us.

........................

Side: No