Consider that we put "under God" in the Pledge at the height of the Cold War in '54, just to differentiate ourselves from the godless Communists.
Realize that "Godless Communists" was an emotional hot-button. Because the Communists outlawed the practice of religion and suppressed it violently, it was seen as modern-day persecution of religion... and NOTHING stirs the faithful to action better than their faith getting trampled on. Why, if they ever won, and took over the U.S., they'd abolish religion.
Since the fall of Soviet communism, politicians have painted several other issues as "opposed to Christianity" or "threatening decent morality everywhere". The teaching of evolution and the simple tolerance for queer sexualities are two of the modern favorites. But back in the day, the threat of Communism eclipsed them both.
Be real though.. all religion is, at it core effect on world level, is systems of conduct. No different then any other systems of conduct like the commuism in with "religion" was illegal or oppressed ie a secularist dream.
Fact is to say religion is the MOST divisive is to be ignorate and anti-religion. Ignorate since many conflicts have been base not in faiths but in race or tribe or nation. Germany attack France and they were both Christian nations. Iraq attacked Iran and they are both Muslim nations. The list is endless. To try to lay all the troubles of the world on the people who has faith is a very hateful and narrow minded thing to do.
Sure religion is divisive. But no more then anything else is. If you can only get one type of milk and you have three people asking for different kinds of milk then the milk becomes divisive. If you are trying to build houseing for the poor and the only place you can build it is in a nature preserve then nature is divisive or the poor are. If oil supplys run low then the oil becomes divisive. I could go on all day.
(no subject)
Realize that "Godless Communists" was an emotional hot-button. Because the Communists outlawed the practice of religion and suppressed it violently, it was seen as modern-day persecution of religion... and NOTHING stirs the faithful to action better than their faith getting trampled on. Why, if they ever won, and took over the U.S., they'd abolish religion.
Since the fall of Soviet communism, politicians have painted several other issues as "opposed to Christianity" or "threatening decent morality everywhere". The teaching of evolution and the simple tolerance for queer sexualities are two of the modern favorites. But back in the day, the threat of Communism eclipsed them both.
(no subject)
Fact is to say religion is the MOST divisive is to be ignorate and anti-religion. Ignorate since many conflicts have been base not in faiths but in race or tribe or nation. Germany attack France and they were both Christian nations. Iraq attacked Iran and they are both Muslim nations. The list is endless. To try to lay all the troubles of the world on the people who has faith is a very hateful and narrow minded thing to do.
Sure religion is divisive. But no more then anything else is. If you can only get one type of milk and you have three people asking for different kinds of milk then the milk becomes divisive. If you are trying to build houseing for the poor and the only place you can build it is in a nature preserve then nature is divisive or the poor are. If oil supplys run low then the oil becomes divisive. I could go on all day.