Journal Frater 219's Journal: Rituals of Allegiance 1
In the time of the Maccabean revolt in ancient Judea, for instance, the Greek king Antiochus demanded of his subjects that they sacrifice to him as a god. The Jews were persecuted for their refusal: though they would willingly obey the king's civil laws and pay his taxes, they would not commit idolatry.
It is said that many could not understand why religious Jews would refuse something so simple as making a small sacrifice in the name of the king. It was only expected once per year, and would signify that they were ordinary, normal, law-abiding subjects just like their Greek neighbors. They could go on worshipping their own god on the other 364 days of the year. Why resist -- why be a freak? Come on, it's only one little chicken on the altar. It's not like we're asking you to go to the emperor's orgies every week, too.
In the Roman Empire in the early years of the common era, the same persecution came to Christians, who would not make sacrifices nor acknowledge Zeus nor the emperor as divine. As commanded by Jesus, they would "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but render only to God that which is God's." Again came the persecution, with whips and with lions.
When rituals of loyalty came to the American school classroom, it was the Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to comply. (Contrary to what you heard on Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly, it wasn't the atheists or the Communists.) The Witnesses' faith teaches not to pledge allegiance to any power but the divine, so their schoolchildren would not pledge allegiance to the flag. It's only one minute out of the day -- why put up such a fight? Just say the words like you were a normal American. No lions this time, but many kids did get beaten up and a few thrown out of school for their beliefs -- even after the Supreme Court ruled that the schools couldn't require a loyalty pledge that went against some students' beliefs.
What is the function of rituals of allegiance? Perhaps it is that they show unity in subjection -- everyone pledging is equally submitted to the same authority, equally a subject and worshipper of the god-king. They constitute acceptance of the symbol of authority as part of the daily social order. However, they also draw the line between the willing, truly accepting subject, and those whose hearts and minds are fixed on some other star. They define by exclusion those groups who maintain reservations in their loyalty -- those who will render unto Caesar their tax, but will not render unto god-king nor flag their consciences.
It might be something to think about, the next time you click "I Accept".
Wow (Score:2)