"Under God" Wasn't Always There
One item that’s always fascinated me in American history is how the phrase “under God” got added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. I had always assumed it was part of the development of the Cold War, but I recently came across a blog post on the New York Times website that provides a much better explanation of its origins. I never knew that the phrase came about due to a campaign by corporate industrialists to restore the image of capitalism after the Great Depression. Apparently, corporations enlisted Christian ministers in a campaign that connected Christianity to free enterprise. After I read it, I could even see parallels to certain teachings prevalent in American society today, such as the Prosperity gospel. If you’re interested in American history like I am, it’s pretty thought-provoking.