One Nation Under God: New Grounds for Accepting the Constitutionality of Government References to God

(Paperback)

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A firestorm of controversy developed when Michael Newdow challenged the constitutionality of the phrase under God in the Pledge of Allegiance. In order to understand the legal issues and the public reaction, One Nation Under God explores the history of the governments references to God in our national motto, on coins, and in other governmental announcements, along with a history of the Pledge of Allegiance. The book discusses the setting of American civil religion and other aspects of American culture and then delves into the background of the Constitution and the Supreme Courts Establishment Clause rulings needed to understand the courts rulings on such governmental uses of God. State and federal cases on In God We Trust and under God in the Pledge of Allegiance and other references to God are also explored. Finally, a new rationale for accepting these pronouncements as constitutional is presented.

Author Bio

Richard H. Jones holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in the history and philosophy of religion and an A.B. from Brown University in religions studies. He also earned a J.D. from the University of California in Berkeley. He lives in New York City.