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Ohiogal

(31,669 posts)
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:35 PM Jul 2018

Does "The Star Spangled Banner" belong in church?

"Patriotic church services this time of year were so common in the early republic that the Episcopal Church’s national convention in 1786 resolved that “the Fourth of July shall be observed by this church forever, as a day of Thanksgiving to almighty God for the inestimable blessings of Religious and Civil Liberty vouchsafed to the USA,” according to a book about the denomination.

Over the centuries, what it meant to celebrate July 4 in church has changed and been debated. In recent years, the debate has been especially heated, with Christians disagreeing strongly on whether conflating God and country is a right or a heresy."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/07/01/star-spangled-banner-in-church-sunday-christians-debating-god-and-country-anew/?utm_term=.198ac08bd69c

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Does "The Star Spangled Banner" belong in church? (Original Post) Ohiogal Jul 2018 OP
It's been in every hymnbook I've ever seen since I was a kid. Coventina Jul 2018 #1
Same here. Ohiogal Jul 2018 #3
Haha! Me too! The hymnbook got me through many a dull sermon. Coventina Jul 2018 #8
Return to the caesar what are the caesar's, and to Lord what are Lord's struggle4progress Jul 2018 #2
It works better as a hymn than a national anthem csziggy Jul 2018 #4
I agree with you 100%. Ohiogal Jul 2018 #6
I could understand "Battle Hymn of the Republic", but not SSB. no_hypocrisy Jul 2018 #5
Not in a Catholic church DBoon Jul 2018 #7
We did 'America the Beautiful' in my RCC this morning. CurtEastPoint Jul 2018 #11
During a world war in which church members are killed dembotoz Jul 2018 #9
Not in the religious traditions of my family. hunter Jul 2018 #10
I guess it would depend on what sort of church you have in mind jberryhill Jul 2018 #12
I don't think SSB is sung at Catholic mass LeftInTX Jul 2018 #13
Not in the Methodist Hymnal unc70 Jul 2018 #14
I don't think anyone or anything belongs in church. Garrett78 Jul 2018 #15
A lyric about a war thucythucy Jul 2018 #16
NO! Hayduke Bomgarte Jul 2018 #17

Coventina

(26,874 posts)
1. It's been in every hymnbook I've ever seen since I was a kid.
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:37 PM
Jul 2018

Although, I can't remember ever actually singing it in church.

So....

Ohiogal

(31,669 posts)
3. Same here.
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:42 PM
Jul 2018

Sitting in church as a kid and being incredibly bored, I'd page through the hymn book sometimes and see it there, but I don't ever recall singing it in church. I do recall them singing "America the Beautiful" when the 4th of July was upcoming.

Coventina

(26,874 posts)
8. Haha! Me too! The hymnbook got me through many a dull sermon.
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:47 PM
Jul 2018

(actually, almost every sermon!)

I was always fascinated by all the different indices and reading hymns that we never sang, etc.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
4. It works better as a hymn than a national anthem
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:43 PM
Jul 2018

If it were only a hymn I would never have to stand for it (not that I ever attend events where I would have to anyway) or listen to it.

My favorite choice for a national anthem is This Land Is Your Land:



Lyrics
This land is your land, this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me

I roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me , a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In the wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me

This land is your land and this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me

Songwriters: Woody Guthrie
This Land Is Your Land lyrics © T.R.O. Inc.

dembotoz

(16,739 posts)
9. During a world war in which church members are killed
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 12:47 PM
Jul 2018

It's use would be fine with me.
My church celebrated 100 years right after world war 2.
I recently found a copy of the church booklet from the event..32 pages, nice print job... one of the pages has the heading in service to our country.. honor roll.quite a few names... my family members included.
If ur kids are in harm's way.. sing whatever you fucking want

hunter

(38,264 posts)
10. Not in the religious traditions of my family.
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 01:08 PM
Jul 2018

When I was a kid we didn't even stand for the flag salute in school.

LeftInTX

(24,560 posts)
13. I don't think SSB is sung at Catholic mass
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 01:48 PM
Jul 2018

It is in the Hymnbook ~ probably reserved for other types of services.....

unc70

(6,095 posts)
14. Not in the Methodist Hymnal
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 02:01 PM
Jul 2018

Here is a discussion of "patriotic" songs included in some hymnals. It is from a United Methodist perspective, but details which songs are included in hymnals of other denominations.

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/why-arent-there-more-patriotic-songs-in-our-hymnal

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
15. I don't think anyone or anything belongs in church.
Sun Jul 1, 2018, 02:04 PM
Jul 2018

But, then, I don't subscribe to supernatural mumbo jumbo.

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