undergod.procon.orgShould the Words "under God" Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance? - Under God - ProCon.org

Skip to content More Issues About Us FAQs Teachers’ Corner Join Under God Should the Words “under God” Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance? Last updated on: 3/8/2019 | Author: ProCon.org The Pledge of Allegiance was first written in 1892 for a magazine contest, and it read: “I Pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The Pledge became part of the US Flag Code in 1942, and in 1954 President Eisenhower and Congress added the phrase “under God” into the Pledge. Proponents of including “under God” in the Pledge argue that the United States is a Christian nation, at least 80% of Americans support the phrase, the language reflects America’s civic culture and is not a religious statement, and federal law, state constitutions, and US currency already contain references to God. Opponents contend that church and state should be kept strictly separate as the Founding Fathers intended. They argue that the Constitution protects minority rights against majority will, and that the words “under God” in the Pledge are a religious phrase and thus violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. PROS & CONS BY CATEGORY CORE QUESTION Should the Words “under God” Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance? The Founding Fathers Who Are the US Founding Fathers? Is it Valid to Look to the Intent of the Founding Fathers in Determining Whether the Words “under God” Should Remain in the Pledge of Allegiance? Did the Founding Fathers State that Religion Should Be in Government? Did the Founding Fathers Support a Separation of Church and State? Religion and the Founding of the US How Did Religion Influence the American Colonies? Was the US Founded “under God”? Does the Declaration of Independence Set a Precedent for Religion in Government? Religion and the State Is the United States a Christian Nation? Is the United States a Monotheistic (One God) State? Which Other Governments Have Separation of Church and State Issues? Pledge of Allegiance – Companion Address What is the “Companion Address” That Accompanied the Publication of the First Pledge of Allegiance? Majority Rule v. Minority Rights Should the Words “under God” Remain in the Pledge if a Majority of Americans Want to Keep It? Pledge of Allegiance and the First Amendment How Does the First Amendment Relate to the Pledge of Allegiance? Does the Phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance Violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause? What Are Some of the Theories and Supreme Court Tests Used to Analyze the Religious Clauses of the Constitution’s First Amendment? Pledge of Allegiance and US Law Which US Code Regulates the Pledge of Allegiance and What Does It Say? From a Legal Perspective, Do the Words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance Improperly Endorse Religion? Does Public School Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance Constitute Undue Coercion? Should the Pledge of Allegiance Be Removed from the Jurisdiction of Federal Courts? Pledge of Allegiance and Religion Do the Words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance Improperly Endorse Religion? Is the Pledge of Allegiance a Religious Exercise? References to God in US Currency When and Why Was “In God We Trust” Placed on US Currency? Should “In God We Trust” Be Removed from US Currency? References to God in Court and Presidential Oaths Why Can One Pledge to Tell the Truth “under God” (or Affirm) in Court? Should the US President Say “So Help Me God” with a Hand on the Bible When Taking Office? References to God in US Code What are the References to God in the US Code? People who view this page may also like: Should Churches Remain Tax-Exempt? Religion in the Original 13 Colonies Founding Fathers on Religion in Government Our Latest Updates (archived after 30 days) Archived Notices (archived after 30 days) Under God – Pros & Cons Top Pro & Con Quotes Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments Historical Timeline Did You Know? Religion in the Original 13 Colonies Founding Fathers on Religion in Government Religions and Denominations in the US References to “God” in US Code References to “God” in State Constitutions Supreme Court Decisions Newdow v. US Congress, Pledge Case #1 (2000-2004) Newdow v. Carey, Pledge Case #2 (2005-2010) Opinion Polls/Surveys The 10 Commandments (four versions) Who is the author? How to cite this page. Source Biographies Site Map Additional Resources HOME About Cite This Page Reprinting Policy Privacy Policy Disclaimer READER FAVORITES State Laws Debate Topics Critical Thinking Quotes Teaching Controversial Issues History Of... TRANSLATE into 100+ Languages and Dialects LET’S GET SOCIAL! Tweets by procon_org BECOME A MEMBER ProCon.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity supported by your donations. Contact us 233 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200 Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-451-9596 info@procon.org © 2020 ProCon.org All rights reserved X Home Page Under God – Menu Under God – Pros & Cons Top Pro & Con Quotes Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments Historical Timeline Did You Know? Religion in the Original 13 Colonies Founding Fathers on Religion in Government Religions and Denominations in the US References to “God” in US Code References to “God” in State Constitutions Supreme Court Decisions Newdow v. US Congress, Pledge Case #1 (2000-2004) Newdow v. Carey, Pledge Case #2 (2005-2010) Opinion Polls/Surveys The 10 Commandments (four versions) Source Biographies Cite This Page Site Map Additional Resources All Issues / Topics Most Popular Medical Marijuana – Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option? Gun Control – Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted? Animal Testing – Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing? Death Penalty – Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed? Recreational Marijuana – Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? School Uniforms – Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? Mandatory National Service – Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service? Social Media – Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society? Zoos – Should Zoos Exist? Illegal Immigration – What Are the Solutions to Illegal Immigration in America? Topics A-Z Topics by Category Search About Us FAQs Teachers’ Corner Join – Become a Member Cite This Page × ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): APA Chicago MLA Turabian APA (6th ed.): ProCon.org. (2019, March 8). Under God. Retrieved from https://undergod.procon.org/ [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries.] Chicago (17th ed.): ProCon.org, "Under God," ProCon.org . last modified March 8, 2019. https://undergod.procon.org/. MLA (8th ed.): ProCon.org, "Under God." ProCon.org . 8 Mar. 2019, undergod.procon.org/ [Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.] Turabian (8th ed.): ProCon.org. "Under God." ProCon.org. Last modified on March 8, 2019. Accessed May 5, 2020. https://undergod.procon.org/...