Thursday, 19 November 2009
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'In God We Trust' is Source of Controversy Again
The US national motto, “In God We Trust,” is just about everywhere. It is on every piece of US coinage and currency, in many government buildings, and even on license plates in Ohio, Florida, and the Carolinas. Yet it is the engraving of the motto on the entrance to the Capitol Visitor's Center that is drawing the most recent controversy. According to a recent article by the AFP, “The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed suit in July to scrub 'In God We Trust' – designated the modern US national motto in a 1956 law – and the US Pledge of Allegiance from the wall of the Capitol Visitors Center.” The group cites, among other things, the Establishment Clause, which states that government cannot endorse a religion, as the basis for their claim.
Though the phrase has been the US national motto for only 60 years, its use dates back more than 150. It was first seen on the design for the two-cent coin in 1837, and in 1873 it was approved for use – thought not made mandatory – on all coins. In 1955, the slogan was made a mandatory feature on all currency. Shortly thereafter, the phrase was adopted as the national motto.
The motto has seen its fair share of controversy since its establishment. In the 1970 case Aronow v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that the inclusion of the phrase on coinage and currency was not in violation of the Establishment Clause because, according to the ruling, it “has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion.” (Aronow, 432 F.2d at 243)
In response to the recent lawsuit, The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed an amicus brief on behalf of more than 40 Congressmen and women, asking to dismiss the suit. According to the ACLJ web
site, they disagree with the plaintiffs, explaining that the “expressions echo the sentiments found in the Declaration of Independence” and that “the First Amendment does not compel the redaction of all references to God just to suit atheistic preferences.” If the FFRF wins the suit, the ACLJ fears other references to the motto and God found in government buildings – like the one found in the chambers of the House of Representatives – will also be in jeopardy.
Do you believe that the national motto endorses a religion? Should all references to God in government buildings be removed, or does the nation's history allow for some?
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Comments (29)
When the motto is changed to "In Jesus We Trust" or to some non-generic deity I don't see it as much of an issue. I do think that things have certainly went downhill since America has turned further and further away from Christianity and Christian values though.
I don't think anything on historical stuff should be changed. It's history, we shouldn't alter it to make things politically correct.
I don't think America's God is Jesus anyway, the dollar sign seems to be more worshiped.
The ACLJ is interesting, and I think as long as Christians are going to have any influence in government they are a necessary organization. However, I think many times they overreact and sometimes even go to far. However, the ACLU clearly overreacts and seems to oppose Christianity with every opportunity they have.
Also, Firefox spellchecker doesn't recognize ACLJ, but, it does recognize ACLU. We know who they side with... Where's my Christian web browser? (Note to those who would overreact for either side here, I am not serious with this part, and I don't want a "Christian browser", don't go out and make one. Thanks.)
Let's be honest, why do we have to have it say that? Is it really that important?
"If money is the root of all evil, why do we put God's name on it?"
There is absolutely no reason to have such an obvious reference to (the Christian) religion on our currency and on our federal buildings. The U.S. is not a Christian nation and it should not present itself as such if it wishes to be inclusive. Also, the motto came out of the Cold War so not only is it an obvious bias towards Christians, it's an ugly historical reminder of the frenzy we went through at the time.
Since the America was founded on the basic principle that our unalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are endowed by the Creator, "In God We Trust" is an appropriate motto.
Having that motto on money is appropriate too, since God is the source of prosperity.
People who get so offended by saying "In God we Trust" need to get their panties out of a bunch. For one thing, "God" can be pretty general. It can refer to Allah or Ordin or Zues for all you care. And anyway, I'm always cracked up who think that the use of God in the pledge or on money is soooo offending, then they use Jesus's name as a swear word. Do people not have anything better to worry about? Don't say "God" when you're reciting the Pledge of allegience. That simple. Though it's not like it will kill you.
Do I think it endorses a religion? Yes I do. I mean, really? How is "In God We Trust" *not* endorsing a religion? It could, of course, be any religion that worships a single deity, but then we're leaving the atheists and agnostics hanging, and well, that's just not fair.
Do I think it matters? No, not really. As long as my tax dollars aren't going towards powering up sixty foot tall crosses on some mountain, I don't care who talks about God, god or gods. As far as it's historic significance, that's fine. It was a historic part of our American heritage, and regardless of what people do or do not believe in now, America did once use to glaze everything with a Christian gloss. I don't think that monuments should currently be built celebrating the Christian religion.
doesn't matter if it endorses a specific religion.......... what is someone who does not acknowledge ANY god supposed to feel about it? sorry, but i don't trust in any deity. i'd love to be able to use money that didn't claim to speak for me. i'll stick with my credit cards :)
@Toshi-girl - You are ridiculous. Having it be the national motto infers that those who are atheist aren't part of the nation. How would you feel if we all started saying, "In the FSM we trust" simply because atheists were the majority. America is about the freedom of religion including the freedom from religion.
American, and many Europe countries, their societies were build base on Christianity.
There are better things to do, than this controversy. When people don't care about unemployed, drugs abuse, etc etc instead.
It's an unconstitutional infringement of your rights and even religious people should be offended by it, as I, an atheist, would be if there were atheist statements on any money/government building or in the pledge.
You're invading the very rights that allow you to practice religion when you mix church and state. It is secularism itself that allows you to be actively religious, and it is all of our duty to preserve such rights.
Also, as someone mentioned, it was abruptly shoved into our money/pledge during the red scare in order to contrast us against those blasted communist societies at the time, and for those who are educated about history, it is an ugly and embarrassing reminder every time you look at your money.
Our unalienable rights are not endowed by some unknown creator.
"the First Amendment does not compel the redaction of all references to God just to suit atheistic preferences"
This is not to "just suit" atheistic preferences. This is to maintain a neutral identity. Government is to remain neutral when addressing religion. Neutral is not just atheist, it is also people of different religion. If "In God We Trust" were to be removed from everything, I honestly believe that people of different religions would come to respect one another.
The reason there is not respect for other religions is because Catholics, Christians or any other religion under this branch feel they are more privileged because there God is referenced on the coin.
That is total bullshit >> "has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion"
It may not have anything to do with the establishment of religion, but it does perpetuate it and that's not fair.
All of you reading this are probably thinking that I am some sort of damn atheist. I just wish people would understand that some government official should get off their high horse and say let's take the thing off because for those who do believe in god or trust in god don't need it, and those who don't won't be offended by it anymore. This would be a win win situation.
I also wished they argued logically.
@Belaxx - let's take the thing off because for those who do believe in god or trust in god don't need it, and those who don't won't be offended by it anymore.
The logic is that America was founded by people who understood that our basic human rights all came from God. They wrote that understanding into the Declaration of Independence.
The rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness all come from God. So it is natural and logical to say "In God We Trust" and make it our national motto.
Consequently, it is illogical to deny the principles of our Founding and the men who stated those principles in America's founding document. America just doesn't work without God and a Godly people.
Honestly, I don't care. I don't say the pledge. I pledge my allegiance to God and God alone. They can do what they want to the pledge.
Same with money. It's a material object for obtaining material objects. Those things pass away. They don't matter.
@toyouxwithlove@xanga - It's a material object for obtaining material objects. Those things pass away. They don't matter.
Do you say grace over your meals? We all should, even though food is a material object. If material was not important, God would not have made us out of material.
@fallingraindrop@xanga - But that's a bit different. Food goes in our body. We say grace to bless it, so that it may do only good to us. Food is a different type of material object, because without it we would definitely die.
@foxes_have_holes@xanga - Love of money is the root of all evil. Putting "in God we trust" on money, is a reminder that we should trust God instead of money. Essentially, love God, not this coin.
@foxes_have_holes@xanga - "If money is the root of all evil, why do we put God's name on it?"
It says the "LOVE of money is the root of all evil" ...not money itself. The word love translated from the Greek actually means lust, or a burning desire for something that belongs to someone else (covetousness). Money is simply a commodity. We use it to buy food, clothes, and things of pleasure... but we also use it to take care of orphans, widows, the poor and needy... etc. We couldn't do this without money, and using it for such purposes definitely is not evil.
As long as you don't worship or demonize it, as long as you're in control of it, everything's cool! =)
@interstellarmachine@xanga - lol When I was typing my comment yours wasn't there yet! Didn't mean to copy you! =p
@CoCogirl_6@xanga - Great minds think alike
@Toshi-girl - I totally agree with you. "And to the republic for which it stands...one nation...indivisible with liberty and justice for all" is how you can avoid saying under god after the "one nation" part. The pledge will still have its beauty for the people who say under god. I am a believer in god and really don't mind saying the "under god" part. I know that there are atheists and some other religons that people have that would mind though. Thats fine, don't say it. Nobody says you have to say under god. Its up to the person saying the pledge.
I recently read on a WTOL status on facebook (WTOL is a news station in Toledo, Ohio) that an Ohio student that attend Hubbard High School doesn't have to say the pledge at all in their school.
Here is the link:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=11537539
I don't entirely understand why it's so offensive a phrase. Some people like God. Some people are Americans. Some people juggle geese.
I personally don't care that much if it stays up, and I'm an agnostic. That said, I can see why people would want it taken down. Not only does the phrase not apply to agnostics and atheists, it also doesn't apply to people who believe in polytheistic religions, otherwise it would say "In Gods we trust" or something like that. Yes, that is a semantic argument, but I think an important one, since people in monotheistic religions would cause a huge uproar if it instead said the phrase I mentioned earlier. So to people saying that it's not a big deal, I challenge you with these questions: How would you feel if the Capitol building said "In Gods we trust"? Would you still be saying that it's not a big deal?
If you think about it, they are making a statement for the whole country that we don't all agree with. They are saying for us, "In God we trust." I'm sorry, but I do not put my trust in God, so this does not apply to me. I assume the "we" in the statement is supposed to apply to the whole country, which is why I'm saying this. I very much doubt the "we" only means the people who ordered the printing of the phrase on the money. I get pretty annoyed when people from other countries assume all U.S. citizens are pro-war and ignorant, so why should my reaction be any different when we are telling countries that we all put our trust into God?
@CoCogirl_6@xanga - in the same way, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God's what is God's. Whose name do you see on this money? Then give it to him. All of it.
Because you can't serve 2 masters, both God and Money.
Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor.
Whatever you do to the least of these you do unto me.
@interstellarmachine@xanga - yes, I am sure that the government would have us love God over them and their money.
@toyouxwithlove@xanga - Food is a different type of material object, because without it we would definitely die.
How do you obtain your food? With money. How do obtain your clothing and shelter? With money.
Money makes the world go around. Without it we would still live in caves. You'd be in a real bad way without money. You'd be miserable.
So putting "In God We Trust" on our money is a fantastic way of acknowledging the material gifts in our lives and blessing the money that we use for so much in our lives.