🚀 go-pugleaf

Should a zealously patriotic atheist have the right to participate in
a voluntary program created by government without being forced to make
statements contrary to their religious belief?

Imagine a patriotic radical atheist.  He wants to participate in the
Pledge of Allegiance ceremony and give the officially sanctioned US
Pledge of Allegiance as suggested by congress, as led by his school
teacher, along with his fellow classmates.  He wants to participate in
all officially sanctioned aspects of his school community.  However,
his strongly held religious belief is that there is no God or creator
in any manner or sense at all, and he finds, along with apparently
about 12% of poll takers, that the phrase "under God" to be an
affirmation that there is a creator of the universe in the religious
sense.  

I believe he has the right to expect that an official US government
program designed to promote patriotism not exclude him by requiring
him to make a statement of religious belief contrary to his own in
order to participate.

Shouldn't the pledge be neutral with respect to the existence of God
so that regardless of religious conviction a citizen can give the
official pledge?

If you say that the government has this right to force a statement of
religious belief in order for this person to participate in this
program, then where does that right end?  Can the government create a
tax break for those who will sign a deduction form that also happens
to proclaim some another religious sentiment?  That would be voluntary
program, too, but still unfair.

In one case the person loses money, but in the other he loses the
ability to proclaim his allegiance to the flag and republic in a
inclusive manner with his fellow citizens without having to compromise
his religious integrity.