By Staff
“To the Republic in which it stands. One nation under God.”
The “Pledge of Allegiance” was modified on June 14, 1954, having ‘under God’ placed into it, changing its exclusivity whenever it’s recited by the American people. Immediately after the change there were numerous lawsuits that followed. In the 1960’s, a prominent atheist named Joseph L. Lewis had filed lawsuits against the state of New York due to the violation of the rights of students and teachers whenever it is stated in schools. As the decades pass by, there have been similar cases, stating and wondering if America is slowly turning into a “Christian-only” country.
The 1950’s was the time of the Red Scare. As the “Pledge of Allegiance” was changed, the idea of doing so came from Former US President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower’s reasoning in wanting to add ‘under God’ was to assert the moral superiority of U.S. capitalism to essentially scare the Soviets’ communism, which was considered “godless.” The same thing applied to the USA’s currency when it added “In God We Trust” in both its dollar bills and coins.
Within the government, religion has slowly been making its influence into policies, laws, and eventually turning the government into its own religious factions. Despite the separation of religion and state, many republicans and politicians alike dislike the idea, instead wanting both to be together as one. Eminent Republican politicians have made their policies strictly themed on having a ‘Christian Society’.
Republican nominee for Governor in Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano, has stated and publicly argued that ‘America is a Christian nation’ and that the ‘separation for church and state is a “myth”’. Georgia’s Republican Representative, Majorie Taylor Green, stated that “We need to be the party of nationalism and I’m a Christian, and I say it proudly, we should be Christian Nationalists.”
Not only is the government being affected by religion itself, but public schools in the country are being pushed to teach kids strictly about Chrisitanity, which is dismissing the ‘freedom of religion.’ A new law in Louisiana requires all public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Many citizens opposed and questioned the new law and challenged it to the court, but the proponents argued back that the measure was not ‘solely religious’ and instead had historical significance because the Ten Commandments are a “foundational document of our state and national government”.
“Even among those who may believe in some version of the Ten Commandments, the particular text that they adhere to can differ by religious denomination or tradition. The government should not be taking sides in this theological debate,” the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said.
The idea of having religion and state together has been an idea that has been long existent in American History. As there have usually been small appearances in government, there has been an increase of the ideology’s appearance in mainstream media: such as in presidential campaigns, in new politician’s policies, and most popular, Project 2025.
Although, in the Constitution, it is strictly stated in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” where James Madison also shared his oppose of the United States having a ‘national’ religion. Taking into account the ‘freedom of religion,’ times now are not taking the First Amendment in mind.
The government today is turning into factions, groups of people who are pushing their self interests in the risk of the public good, and are changing America slowly but drastically. Religion is making its way into government, being the main influence and affecting today’s politicians’ policies and laws, changing America from having a national religion to one religion.
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