Final answer:
The phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is generally considered permissible under the Establishment Clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inclusion of the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance has been contentious and has led to debates about whether it violates the Establishment Clause.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing or promoting any religion. However, the courts have generally allowed for a certain tolerance of what is known as ceremonial deism, which is an acknowledgment of God or a creator without any substantive religious content.
In the case of the Pledge of Allegiance, the inclusion of the phrase “under God” is seen as more an acknowledgement of the widespread religious belief in the country than a promotion of a particular religion.
It originated during the early years of the Cold War as a means of contrasting the United States' belief in God with the atheistic Soviet Union. Therefore, the inclusion of the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is generally considered to be permissible under the Establishment Clause.