Wouldn't the Pledge qualify as idolatry?

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Galvatron
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Wouldn't the Pledge qualify as idolatry?

Post by Galvatron »

"I pledge allegiance to the flag..."

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Post by Mr Bean »

Lol but not quite
Alllegance is like Allance no biiggy
But I like the name :)

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Post by Galvatron »

Mr Bean wrote:Lol but not quite
Alllegance is like Allance no biiggy
But I like the name :)
I'd define allegiance as being closer to devotion and loyalty. Hence, allegiance to an inanimate object like a flag sounds to me like a clear-cut violation of the Ten Commandments. Perhaps Judeo-Christian leadership should strike down the Pledge as blasphemous and forbid their God-fearing followers from saying it.

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Post by Mr Bean »

Heh nice angle if not quite the deffintion

Just because you give Allegance to someone though it does mean Devotion and Loyatily its not the Chrsitaian kind. Like you pledge Allegance to a King. Not saying he's god just that he's da boss

Which is not a problem with Christianaty

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Post by Darik Sdair »

hmmm, actually IIRC the word "allegiance" has its roots in the term "leige" - as in "leige lord." This is the same line of terminology that the church uses to describe, well, "the Lord." So, theoretically it could be idolatry to pledge your allegiance to the US flag.

Hmmm, don't the Jehova's witnesses already have this in their doctrine? Of course, they take a rather extreme/paranoid/scary view on scripture as is.
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Post by Darth Cirrocu »

First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

What does this mean? We should respect, love, and trust God above all things.

In other words, pledging allegiance to the flag is not a sin unless devotion to your country comes before God. In this case, it becomes idolatry when a person puts all their faith in the government (i.e., man) to make their lives complete and happy. A true Christian with a solid faith will love and trust God above everything else. Pledging loyalty to a country or government is no problem as long as it doesn't come before God in that person's heart.
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Post by David »

In other words, pledging allegiance to the flag is not a sin unless devotion to your country comes before God

Amen! ummmm I mean yes!
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Post by Durandal »

In other words, pledging allegiance to the flag is not a sin unless devotion to your country comes before God. In this case, it becomes idolatry when a person puts all their faith in the government (i.e., man) to make their lives complete and happy. A true Christian with a solid faith will love and trust God above everything else. Pledging loyalty to a country or government is no problem as long as it doesn't come before God in that person's heart.
In that case, no true Christian is fit to serve public office, as the duty of a servant to people of all faiths and beliefs comes before one's own religious convictions, as John F. Kennedy so graciously put it.
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Post by Darth Yoshi »

Well, that's why they put in "under God," to appease the devout. :D
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Post by Durandal »

No, they put it in there for the express purpose of discriminating against atheists and labeling all atheists as communists.
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Post by Galvatron »

Durandal wrote:No, they put it in there for the express purpose of discriminating against atheists and labeling all atheists as communists.
Yeah, isn't it ironic how the addition of "under God" ultimately served to undermine and nullify the "indivisible" part that follows it? Modifying the Pledge to narrow its relevance exclusively for Judeo-Christians created one hell of a pretty damned divisive issue...

:x
Last edited by Galvatron on 2002-07-14 04:33pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Skelron »

Durandal wrote:No, they put it in there for the express purpose of discriminating against atheists and labeling all atheists as communists.
isn't the pledge older than communism? (I think it's more ment as surety of your honesty, much as when you swear to tell the truth in court)
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Post by Mr Bean »

Communism was pre 1900s, Under God was added 1954

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Post by Smiling Bandit »

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's
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Post by Ladysekhmet »

Actually, Jehova's Witnesses won't say the pledge, run for ofice or even vote because they feel it violates the ten commandments. Course, christian groups are real good about picking the parts of the bible that they like best to follow to the letter and ignoring the rest.
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Post by Durandal »

Yeah, Jehova's Witnesses may be annoying, but they are one of the more honest denominations out there.
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