I Always Wanted to Write a Post Ending With the Word "Thereof"

Today is the day for the power of belief, for it transcends the power of angels and demons.

In San Antonio, Texas, for his ReAwaken America tour yesterday, former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn called for Christianity to become the singular religion of the United States 

"If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God," said Flynn, who talked about his Christian faith in an effort to refute QAnon claims that he worships Satan.

Flynn is obviously using the Pledge of Allegiance as the basis for his remarks.  Many people forget that the pledge was written in August 1892 by socialist minister Francis Bellamy in the hope that it would be used by citizens of any country.  Originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892, it read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At that time it read, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1954, in response to a perceived threat of atheistic Communism, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter reportedly objected to this alteration. 

The pledge has nothing to do with the Constitution and wasn't written until some 55 years after the last Founding Father had died.  The words "under God" weren't added until 120 years after the last Founding Father died.

What the Constitution does say is that Congress shall "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  Thomas Jefferson once noted, "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

So Flynnstone is not only showing ignorance of the Constitution and of the Pledge of Allegiance, but of the intent and goals of the Founders of this nation.  Besides, there's no evidence of the existence of any god, angels, or demons, and nothing we need to legislate worship thereof.