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Autumn Leaves
Religion might be important to your family and your life but religion is very important to the American way of life. Freedom of religion for you and for your family. Your beliefs should remain as a pillar for your family and built upon as a tradition that extends back to your ancestors. Committing completely to your beliefs will teach important moral beliefs to your family to do this you must not compromise these beliefs. The country was swept with the question of changing the "Pledge of Allegiance" but no matter your religion some traditions and beliefs should not be compromised.
The main principal issue of the essay "Excerpts from Federal Court Ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance" is whether it is unconstitutional to recite the pledge of allegiance in public schools. However, this essay focuses on the sub-issues such as; the use of "under God" being an endorsement of religion, and the use of "under God" to avoid discrimination.
The sub-issue, the use of "under God" being an endorsement of religion is stating that the use of "under God" is a position endorsing "the existence and identity of God" (Goodwin). It suggests that there should be a neutral position in the government so that others will not feel that they are outsiders. The sub-issue, the use of "under God" is to avoid discrimination and is not designed to exclude religious expression out in the public.
I agree that the use of "under God" is meant to avoid discrimination and provide the public with the ability to express their religious views. "Under God" is not a phrase that our government is using to dictate the religions of our country. "Under God" is the simple acknowledgment that God is a part of the success of our nation and an acknowledgment that there is religious freedom in America. Who is God? Buddha; Allah; or Jesus Christ. Which name is defined as a god? The answer is simple Buddha, Allah, Zeus, Jesus Christ, and others are all defined as a god.
The man next door worships Buddha, therefore the use of "under God" to him will be defined as his god Buddha, not Allah, and not Jesus Christ. The woman on the fifth floor knows her gods name, and she speaks to him daily. To her "under God" will define Allah. To the woman in Washington State "under God" will define Jesus Christ the God who came to set people free.
The phrase "under God" is not a government endorsement of religion. True, the phrase endorses that there is the existence of a God in our nation; however, the phrase "under God" does not specify the identity. The identity is different depending on who is using the phrase. If the person worships Jesus Christ then "under God" will be defined as "under Jesus Christ", etc…
The use of the phrase "under God" can be identified as henotheistic which according to Dictionary.com is defined as "belief in one God without denying the existence of others" (Henotheism). Justice Robert Jackson (1943) stated, "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act her faith therein" (West Virginia Board of Education V. Barnette, 1943). The phrase "under God" does not endorse the orthodox in religion; it simply offers a public ability to express ones religious views.
Reference(s):
Henotheism. Dictionary.com Retrieved June 2, 2005 from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=henotheistic
Jackson, R. Justice (1943). West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette. Retrieved June 2, 2005 from http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/speech/studentexpression/topic.aspx?topic= pledge
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