1950s and Christian America

By Charlie Mon, 11/16/2009 - 8:59am
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Charlie
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So, I recently found out that two elements of our "Christian nation" are of relatively recent origin. The pledge of allegiance was composed in 1892, but the words "under God" were added in 1954. Further, the motto "In God We Trust" started appearing on coins and such after the Civil War, but didn't become the U.S. official motto until 1956. So, my question is, what was going on in the 1950's that resulted in these Christianizing acts of state?

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Mon, 11/16/2009 - 2:04pm
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Daniel
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I have never studied that,

I have never studied that, but my first guess would be Billy Graham crusades.

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Mon, 11/16/2009 - 6:20pm
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Rob Fall
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As I understand the

As I understand the situation, the Cold War against "Godless Communism."

Charlie wrote:

So, I recently found out that two elements of our "Christian nation" are of relatively recent origin. The pledge of allegiance was composed in 1892, but the words "under God" were added in 1954. Further, the motto "In God We Trust" started appearing on coins and such after the Civil War, but didn't become the U.S. official motto until 1956. So, my question is, what was going on in the 1950's that resulted in these Christianizing acts of state?

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Mon, 11/16/2009 - 9:15pm
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Jim Peet
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Another 50's legacy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ten_Commandments_%281956_film%29#Decalo...

Quote:

One legacy of the movie are scores of public displays or monuments of the Ten Commandments that DeMille paid to be erected around the country as a publicity stunt. Known as decalogues, the displays were set up by the group Fraternal Order of Eagles, sometimes in or near government buildings.

More: http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=1260

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Tue, 11/17/2009 - 6:57am
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Mike Mann
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Well, if you must know...

It's because I was born in 1951. Smile

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Tue, 11/17/2009 - 9:52am
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Daniel
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Mike Mann wrote: It's because
Mike Mann wrote:

It's because I was born in 1951. Smile

How could we have missed that! Of course it was because you born then. It makes so much sense now.

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Tue, 11/17/2009 - 5:26pm
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ChristyM
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The phrase "under God" was

The phrase "under God" was actually backed by the Knights of Columbus. The second stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner" includes the phrase "And this be our motto, in God is our trust!" When I was elementary school during the late 1960s, it was usually pointed out that all Americans could agree with these, regardless of our religion (I would say the vast majority of Americans were monotheists), and were not regarded as specifically Christian statements then.

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