In God we trust or do we?

Question

The phrase in God we trust has been on our currency since 1800’s when a surge of religiosity after the Civil War. It seems in times of fear and insecurity give rise to a kind of exaggerated nationalism, hhmmmm sounds familiar. In the 1900’s when Theodore Roosevelt wanted it deleted because he felt it’s use was dangerously close to sacrilege, fast forward to the 1970’s when the 9th circuit court ruled it had nothing to do with the establishment of religion thus remaining our currencies motto. Governments and schools are still hesitant to display the motto because…well you know why. Ironically our founding fathers; the ones who established the separation of church and state, preferred the motto e plubribus unum (out of many one) as they were deists. Ironically the debate that is currently raging is not between atheists (we choose to sit this one out) but among religious sects who read a different meaning – and contention- with the words., it is divisive because of the increased diversity in religious movements it seems that this simple statement is quite complex and controversial. So what do you think?

I am not making an argument among atheists because I believe it the word God should not appear on anything like money, schools, ect. I just thought it was interesting that religious groups are fighting about it. Hhhhmmm I wonder if we sit a lot of these out if they will just destroy themselves…

Answer 1

I asked a question about this last week, not many open minded responses.

I say if the country was founded on religious freedom, which as the history books say it was, then we should acknowledge there is more then one god or spirit that the county may or may not believe in.

Or, better idea, don’t have any mention if it any where, makes it less confrontational.

Answer 2

In God We Trust is a statement upon which this country was founded. American was founded as a haven for the religiously persecuted Christians fleeing the tyranny and bigotry of England and Europe. It stands to affirm our belief in the one and only true God---the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is not a talisman or a magical phrase. It is one our money because money---like it or not---is the standard by which a nation stands or falls. Since money circulates throughout the world it becomes a billboard advertising a nations beliefs. All nations take great care in the designing of their currency. In recent years our currency has undergone dramatic changes in its appearances, not only to thwart counterfeiters, but to put on a knew face to the world. This new face may seem rather shallow, but that is the way the world operates. The big to-do about the motto is a work of the devil aimed at dechristianizing America. The devil will fail, of course. Jesus loves us and has a purpose for America in the grand scheme of his plan.

Answer 3

The phrase "In God We Trust" doesn't belong on any government item, including money. The phrase is more or less a petition to an almighty deity to bless us because we're religious. "We" are not religious, however. "We" are a nation of diverse peoples, of beliefs in different versions of that "almighty deity", and sometimes no belief in a deity at all. If we are a good country because we believe in brotherhood, because we believe in equal rights for all, the pursuit of happiness for everyone, because we take care of our sick and elderly and poor, then let's be proud of that, proud of our morality and goodness -- not of our ability to put the word "God" on our currency. Nations that try to court "God's" favor are nations who have warred with each other throughout a long, bloody and very godless history.

Answer 4

Being the wickedly witty waggette that I am, I always ask, "Which "God"?" when "God" is mentioned in the pledge or on our money. I have a nice long list of them that I consider for the jobs.

I figure that Djhuti is a pretty good god to trust in, being the god of wisdom and all, and that perhaps Ma'at might be a good candidate to be the god that we're 'under' in the pledge since she rules balance and judgement. Goodness knows we need a big dose of balance right now...

Of course, the menu changes frequently, as the situation changes. Specialist gods are much better at solving problems than one generalist god. This reasoning keeps my blood pressure from spiking, and also keeps me from throttling the ones who want to turn this country into a Christian theocracy.

:-)

Answer 5

Five days after it began, the new conflict in the Middle East has intensified as Hezbollah and Israel struck deeper into each other's territory and claimed more innocent lives.
At least 30 civilians were killed during the latest wave of violence, including a group fleeing Lebanon.
More deaths came as Israeli conducted its first stikes on the centre of Beirut, turning Hezbollah's headquarters into rubble
For scared and frustrated locals, Lebanon's highways have been turned into a tangle of destruction and few petrol stations still operate. Few routes of escape exist.
A convoy of families trying to cross Lebanon's southern border came under attack from an Israeli helicopter near Marwaheen.

Eighteen people, nine of them children, were burnt alive.


this is what religion does

Answer 6

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
> >
> > With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
> > severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
> > with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a
> > good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Answer 7

Excellent question; you have done a lot of thinking on this one. I believe that it is not divisive to say "In God we trust" because it does not demand that I believe in any particular one called "God."
As a Jew or Muslim, Buddhist or Christian, Agnostic or New Age Person, I can simply see my idea of "God" as being represented.
It is probably the fairest way to accommodate almost every belief that I have seen.

Answer 8

I think it would be better if the motto said:
"In at least one if not more of the various Gods we trust"
Always makes sense to keep your options open and cover a few extra bases.

Answer 9

I think I'll be on the bench sitting this one out with the Atheists. I don't really care weather it's on the money or not. I just don't want someone else's opinion of God forced upon me.

Answer 10

In god we trust... Wait, isn't this the same god that murdered millions and millions of people? The one that murdered innocent first born babies because he was upset at their parents? No way, I don't trust that murderer!