Press Release
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, January 21, 2004: HPI found this announcement interesting in that it brings to light the atheistic nature of Buddhism, which is usually not clear to non-Buddhists.
The announcement, from a law firm for the Buddhists, reads in part, “As you may know, the United States Supreme Court is considering the issue whether the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (the context is teacher-led recitation of the Pledge in public schools). The case is scheduled to be heard in March, and a decision will be rendered by the Court some time thereafter. The relevant portion of the First Amendment states: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’
“The law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has agreed to submit an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court on behalf of Buddhist temples and organizations. The Cadwalader firm is handling this matter on a pro bono basis (i.e., without charging a fee), and would welcome any Buddhist temple, church, congregation or organization to join the Brief as additional Amici.
“The main point that is being asserted on behalf of those Buddhist temples and organizations who join the brief is that Buddhist schoolchildren who wish to say the Pledge and express their patriotism and loyalty to the United States, should not have to say that this is a nation ‘under God.’ The original version of the Pledge, drafted in 1892, did not include the words ‘under God.’ Those words were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 at the urging of various Christian groups who wanted to tie patriotism with the notion that this is a ‘Christian country.’ The Amicus Brief argues that the Pledge of Allegiance presents a vision of a monotheistic Judeo-Christian country, and ignores the fact that there a large number of Buddhist Americans who do not adhere to monotheistic beliefs.
HPI is unaware of any Hindu objection to the words “under God” in the pledge to date–especially given our Hindu belief of the existence of God everywhere and in all things, it is hard to imagine how the country could not be “under God.”