tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114921233653665038.post4643932379762258640..comments2014-07-12T17:52:30.732-07:00Comments on Santa Cruz Atheists: Hillary Clinton on the Pledge of Allegiance: Clinton's Anti-Atheist BigotryHoward Burmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12230213440933977519noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9114921233653665038.post-63811768777410836582008-03-07T15:56:00.000-08:002008-03-07T15:56:00.000-08:00Nice article.I think we should broaden our definit...Nice article.<BR/><BR/>I think we should broaden our definition of 'religion' to include all cult-like behaviors, such as 'nationalism' and 'patriotism'.<BR/><BR/>The 'under God' part doesn't bother me nearly as much as the more central aspect of the 'Pledge of Allegiance' - unquestioning faith in the nation state itself is at least as evil as religion.<BR/><BR/>This 'pledge' is a ritual with the same purpose as many religious rituals - to establish and maintain an authoritarian hierarchy.<BR/><BR/>They make my children say it in school. It doesn't make me happy but it isn't a big issue. We all have to learn how to lie in order to survive in this world and pretended allegiance is a good place to start - I'd wouldn't mind saying I believed in God either, if it help me avoid harm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com