NJ Public School sued over "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance

A Humanist group is suing a New Jersey public school for following a NJ state law which requires students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The group believes that the words "Under God" should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance because it discriminates against "atheist children". The Attorney for the group suing the NJ school stated “Such a daily exercise portrays atheist and humanist children as second-class citizens, and certainly contributes to anti-atheist prejudices”

An Attorney for NJ Public schools released the following statement: “We are disappointed that this national organization has targeted Matawan-Aberdeen for merely obeying the law as it stands”

Once again, our liberties,freedoms and traditions are under attack. The notion that the words "Under God" are in anyway discriminatory is not only a complete farce, but is also an organized effort by the very few to undermine the principles which America was founded. And in NJ, it is in fact the state law.

Very few Americans have an objection to the words 'Under God" in the Pledge, yet a frivolous lawsuit by a small "humanist" group based out of Washington, D.C is attempting to change and re-write the values of the majority of Americans. This type of atheist group is a "religion" in itself, as is Atheism itself.

The Atheists agenda is clear... Remove Almighty God from every reference, and from every document, and soon thereafter, you remove Him from altogether from Americans. In a world where Good vs. evil continues to battle, it's not difficult to recognize those who stand for what is right and just, and those who stand with diabolical forces.

What's next? Can we expect the Atheists to claim Americans can no longer celebrate the tradition of Thanksgiving, because "giving thanks to a God that doesn't exist" is an insult to them?

Story link found here: www.foxnews.com...

a reply to: rickynews

Yay! Anti-christianity, the new fad!

Even if it curtails freedom of speech and freedom of religion, some people just can't bear seeing other people having other opinions, and will do anything to shut these other people up.

I am atheist, yet I have christian friends. Why? Because I'm not prejudice - I am not arrogant enough to say that I know better than my christian friends. And, besides, one of my friends is both a physicist and a christian preacher. He's a genius. So was Pascal, the discoverer of atmospheric pressure.

The universe is one big mystery, and prejudice has never been a way to solve mysteries.

I think one needs to ask what is the point of an oath of allegiance in the first place? It smacks of brainwashing.

a reply to: saneguy

I was just going to post the same thing.

This is how we used to salute our flag during the "pledge of allegiance":



Its called the Bellamy salute.

As a matter of fact, the Nazis adopted it from us.

May also be worth noting that "under God" wasnt added until 1954.

a reply to: saneguy

It usually serve as an official statement.

No one can read your mind, so just thinking it isn't enough to make it official. That's why they ask you to recite an oath - that way everyone knows you agree to the T&C, so to speak.

a reply to: rickynews

Freedom OF religion. Not Freedom FROM religion.

a reply to: rickynews

Soon they will be singing this:

I led the pidgeons to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic the witches' dance; one nation underdog, indivisible, with liver tea and just us, poor Al.

a reply to: saneguy

Exactly. It's creepy as # to stand a bunch of children up and have them recite an allegiance pledge.

Is this 2014 or 9th century feudalistic Europe?

a reply to: gladtobehere

Yes, instead of having umpteen countries in the world all swearing allegiance to themselves we need to have everyone swearing allegiance to the human race! What more important, humans or countries?

It's silly to sue the school district for the words contained in it. The school didn't make up the Pledge.

If anything, they should be either working with the school district to excuse their kids from saying it, or to abolish it altogether from the daily curriculum (my preference). If kids want to pledge "under God", they should do it in church, in their homes or somewhere that is NOT a government institution.

The phrase "under God" IS discriminatory (to atheist kids and other religions where God isn't their central figure) and not only that, it's a state institution (public school) "respecting an establishment of religion", which we all know about from the First Amendment.

To the athiests who want to ban "Under God", you are a bunch of narrow-minded idiots who will be burning books if we allowed it.

To the people who disagree with the Pledge . . . .

Then don't effing SAY IT!
Don't agree with it?

DON'T SAY IT!

People really need to get over themselves! Go get a trophy or something for sounding erudite for not liking the pledge!

(place eye rolling emoticon here)

originally posted by: jjkenobi
a reply to: rickynews

Freedom OF religion. Not Freedom FROM religion.

Religion is and should be a private matter between you and your deity. Nobody is closing any churches or limiting private worship in any way at all. There's enough indoctrination as it is in public schools, I see no reason to force anyone to adhere to any religious sensitivities or proclivities in a publicly funded institution. Furthermore, In the Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet (1994), Justice David Souter, writing for the majority, concluded that "government should not prefer one religion to another, or religion to irreligion." This should apply to instances such as this where the "one nation under god" portion is a direct reference and implication of only the Christian notion of god. This is evidenced by the first people to Add the phrase "under god". the first was Louis Boeman, a chaplin and attorney from Illinois but it was the Knights of Columbus in 1951 who popularized it to the extent that it was finally amended in 1954. I'm curious how many people would be up in arms over the pledge if they knew it was written by an affirmed socialist.

What are they suing for? It can't be money LoL

They want their kids exempt from saying the pledge?

I am all for it.

Stop using our money too. It says "In God we Trust" right on it.

If God hurts them so much go live in a cave/woods and stop using our currency and then the pledge is a moot point.

Problem solved.

a reply to: 200Plus

I just use my debit card in lieu of fiat currency. That way I can ignore the patriarchal sloganeering and still live in a house.

Technically, if the government should not be involved with religion, then why are children forced to say such brainwashed statement(the god part of course)?

When i look at them say it, it looks like these children are in a training camp for jesus.

"god made me go to war" lol.

The god part was later added if i remember a discussion from before.

a reply to: peter vlar

LoL Well played

And your banking institution has nothing referencing God either?

Atheists and humanists didn't build the nation. Have they built anything of substance or is their biggest goal in life to tear things down to justify their own lack of belief?

I am not a religious person. If anything I am of the "watch-maker" school of thought. I just cannot stand frivolous legal suits.

a reply to: luciddream

Does it mention a Christian God?

It could be one Nation under Marduk - if that's what YOU want it to be.
It could be one Nation under "the self" - if that's what you want it to be.
It could be one Nation under the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the Sky - if that's what you want it to be.

Even the Christian Bible says there are many gods. Why do people attack the Christian religion when any God is mentioned?

Could it be more anti-Christian sentiment rather than anti-god?

I sometimes have to wonder.

a reply to: 200Plus

I agree that Suing the school is fruitless when its a state law. I disagree that humanists built this country. Read Jefferson's written works, particularly the Jefferson bible.
And no, I use a credit union. No god or country clause involved!

originally posted by: 200Plus
a reply to: luciddream

Does it mention a Christian God?

It could be one Nation under Marduk - if that's what YOU want it to be.
It could be one Nation under "the self" - if that's what you want it to be.
It could be one Nation under the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the Sky - if that's what you want it to be.

Even the Christian Bible says there are many gods. Why do people attack the Christian religion when any God is mentioned?

Could it be more anti-Christian sentiment rather than anti-god?

I sometimes have to wonder.

Perhaps the more astute question should be "why do Christians view anything remotely anti deist to be strictly anti Christian ?" It's kind of an important aspect of the freedom to worship. That anyone no matter who or what they pray to should be allowed to do so. I personally think religion, whether I agree with it or not, is and should be a very personal experience and shouldn't be cheapened by forcing it on people of varying beliefs in a publicly funded forum. That's why churches are tax exempt.

originally posted by: peter vlar
a reply to: 200Plus

I agree that Suing the school is fruitless when its a state law. I disagree that humanists built this country. Read Jefferson's written works, particularly the Jefferson bible.

"Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one."
~Thomas Jefferson

That Jefferson?

+the anti-Christian post was in reference to Lucid's comment about brainwashing the youth for jesus (based on the word God in the pledge to the Republic).