What is the value of having the phrase "under God" in the United States pledge of allegiance or "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency? Though it was written by a minister in 1892, the original version of the pledge of allegiance made no reference to a god. The phrase "under God" was added in 1954 during the height of the cold war against godless communism. The phrase's existence in the current version of the pledge seems incorrect, presumptuous, or superfluous.

If there is no god, claiming to be a nation "under God" is wrong. If there is a God in the "overseer of the universe" sense, then all nations (indeed all things) were and are "under God." Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan under the Taliban, etc. all were or are nations "under God" given that concept of God. The phrase "under God" would add as much value as saying "existing" ("...one nation, existing, indivisible, ...").

If there is a discerning God who chooses sides, then the Americans claiming to be in God's camp while other nations are not is dangerously presumptuous. Historically, nations and governments who have perpetrated the worst offenses against other nations and their own citizens have claimed to have God as their ally. Claims to being a special "God blessed country" creates a sense of national superiority grounded in supernatural, non-rational beliefs. Could nations negotiate about whose side God is on? With God on your side, why negotiate at all?

The pledge of allegiance is more precise, coherent, and respectful without the phrase "under God."

The U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789 without a single "God" reference. The first legislative directives as to what appears on U.S. currency did not mention "God" (the directive included the word "Liberty", currency denomination and year, the eagle, and "United States of America"). The Civil War era National Reform Association (the first "NRA"), a Christian conservative group, formally petitioned Congress to change the Preamble of the Constitution to read (in part):

We, the people of the United States, humbly acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all authority and power in civil government, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler among the nations, His revealed will as the supreme law of the land, in order to constitute a Christian government, and in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity...

Whatever trust in God exists we act as if there is none. When we take risks as individuals or as a nation, we act in ways to minimize negative consequences. When we set goals we hope to achieve, we work towards achieving them. We don't just hope or even pray things work out for us, we exert ourselves to try to make things turn out well. We behave as if we are not getting dependable outside help. In what sense is this "trust?" If I tell you "I will trust you to do X for me" then I do X for myself, would you feel trusted? More likely you'll feel that I don't trust you. As a nation we don't trust that God will stop terrorist attacks, we fight that war ourselves.

A more descriptive and honorable phrase for our currency would be, "We Strive To Do Right".

I would consider it a sign of national maturity if we regressed to our earlier state of having a pledge and money without references to God.

© 2002 frantzml@juno.com