Keep God in the Pledge!   Take God out of the Pledge!  You’ve certainly heard the arguments about the Pledge of Allegiance.  And you certainly have an opinion.

But did you know that the man who wrote the Pledge actually chose NOT to put “God” into it?    And did you know he was a Christian minister?

Here’s what most people DON’T know about our Pledge of Allegiance. And it may change your opinion!

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy,  a Baptist Minister. Bellamy wrote the Pledge for a Columbus Day celebration for public schools.

Reverend Bellamy wanted to write a secular Pledge – a Pledge of civic pride that citizens of any and all religious faiths could offer to their Country.  When some people did ask him to mention God somewhere in his Pledge,  he explained to them that he chose not to do so  because his purpose was to create a  Pledge that would bring people together,  even people from very different faiths.   Bellamy wanted to ensure that all citizens could comfortably join together to state their allegiance to our flag and our country.

Bellamy’s original 1892  Pledge of Allegiance said:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The Pledge of Allegiance became an almost instant nationwide hit!  But there have been some changes made.

In the 1920s the Pledge was modified twice, first changing “my flag”  to  “the flag,” and then by adding the words “of America” after “the United States.”

Next there was a change in the method people used to salute the flag during the Pledge.  Reverend Bellamy had created and led the original Flag Salute, which called for each person to lift up and straighten their right arm, with the palm facing up.  For 50 years, that is how all Americans saluted the Flag during the Pledge!

But by 1942,  Congress became concerned about that Flag salute! 

Many members of Congress worried that using the straight right arm, with the palm facing up,  was far too similar to Hitler’s NAZI salute!   So Congress eliminated the straight arm up form of salute, and instead substituted the present ritual we all know well, where we place our right hand over our heart,  as we recite the Pledge.

And what about he words in question, Under God ? These two words were added in 1954, during the height of our nationwide fear of the Soviet threat of Godless communism.

A three year national campaign was led by the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal order for Roman Catholic men.    Congressman Louis Rabout, a very devout Roman Catholic,  directed the effort in Congress.  (Just how devout was the Rabout family? One of Rabout’s sons became a priest, and two of his daughters became nuns!)

The United States Congress officially added “Under God” to the Pledge on Flag Day, June 14, 1954.  While  a band played Onward Christian Soldiers, President Eisenhower signed the new law,  and stated:

“… from this day forward, children will proclaim the dedication of our Nation to the Almighty”.

Senator Homer Ferguson, a co- sponsor of this 1954 law, was more specific about the reason for adding   ”Under God” to the Pledge. He said: 

“. . .God, our Creator, is in control of the destiny of America.  America cannot be defended by guns alone.   Expenditures for defense will be of value only if God believes we are right.”

Some people now question that 1954 action by Congress.   Did Congress violate the First Amendment of the Constitution – which says, in part, that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion?  It’s a very good question, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Perhaps just knowing that “Under God” was never intended to be part of the Pledge – and how, why and when those words found their way into the Pledge – is enough for some to reconsider their opinion about God in our Pledge of Allegiance.