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If we have to have seperation of church and state why does our money have "in god we trust" on it?

2007-01-10 07:23:06 · 12 answers · asked by deathfromace 5 in Politics & Government Other - Politics & Government

Okay a add on part to this question. All over the news and other things you see parents get mad that people talk about god in school. How is this any different? People that dont have a god complain about it being in school on the time why can they not for it being on our money?

2007-01-10 07:57:48 · update #1

...woah dont get my wrong. I do not believe in god. I have always just wondered why people make so much of a arguement about it being everywhere but on money. But most of the answers sorta answer my question.

2007-01-10 09:31:30 · update #2

12 answers

Because a vast majority in the US believe in God.

But that does not promote one religion over another.

Our Church does NOT run our Country.

Peace!

2007-01-10 07:50:45 · answer #1 · answered by C 7 · 1 2

Answer to first question: Ask yourself this:
If this is a Christian nation, why is the word "God" mentioned nowhere in the Constitution?

Answer to second question:
You're right. So for the sake of consistency, I think we should remove "In God We Trust" from our money right now, as well as the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. (The words "under God" weren't added until 1953, incidentally.) Actually, it's not as if people haven't complained about these additions being a violation of the separation of church and state before. It's just that nobody dared to complain back in the 1950's because they didn't want to get blacklisted.

That said, you may hear more people angry about the teaching of religion, or organized prayer in schools than you hear people complaining about the words "In God We Trust" on our money primarily because what's written on our money doesn't have nearly as detrimental an effect on people's freedoms or choices as trying to brainwash all the nation's children into accepting a state-sponsored god.

For more about why our forefathers would have wanted to keep issues of church and faith separate, people should do a little research on the history, literature, and philosophy of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment philosophers had seen first-hand the violence and loss of freedoms that results when government and religion are united, and they were eager to remove all traces of anything even resembling a state-sponsored religion from the new democracies that were born as a consequence of the revolutions of that period. This is why there is no mention of God at all in the U.S. Constitution. Even though some of our forefathers were themselves Christian (while others were deists), they agreed that religion should be a purely personal matter, not a government one.

2007-01-10 07:36:45 · answer #2 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 2 1

Separation of Church and State was designed so that everyone would have complete freedom of thought. In other words, it was designed so as to not oppress any one group of people simply for what they think. It was also designed to keep one particular religion or denomination from gaining control in government and oppressing the other viewpoints.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, neither one, opposed the concept of the country being founded on Christian principles, and of the country being a Christian nation. In fact, the main concerns of the day were the differences between Christian denominations rather than between religions.

Having said that, the "In God We Trust" does not advocate a denomination OR a specific religion, and therefore still would not violate the concept of separation of church and state even in the strictest sense.

2007-01-10 07:38:16 · answer #3 · answered by btpage0630 5 · 2 0

"In God We Trust" was put on all paper currency by an Act of Congress in 1955; the phrase was declared the national motto by an Act of Congress in 1956 and first appeared on paper currency in 1957.

The mid-to-late 1950s were a time of overt racism, religious discrimination, and political oppression in the United States. McCarthyism was at its feverous peak. The "red scare" had Congress and President Eisenhower acting in paranoid fits of illegal and unconstitutional activity. The FBI, under the militant J. Edgar Hoover, engaged in illegal spying campaigns against Americans.

During this period, the federal government acted more like an authoritarian dictatorship than a constitutional democracy. The government violated civil rights with impunity.

Adding "In God We Trust" to the US currency was an act of religious and political propaganda, allegedly to counter the threat of "godless communism."

2007-01-10 07:37:57 · answer #4 · answered by Kwan Kong 5 · 1 0

honestly you've all of it incorrect. scholars can examine the Bible and the Koran in the experience that they so choose. those books can fall below epic literature. childrens can Pray in college basically so long because the college does no longer rigidity it. In different words, so long because the scholars keep their faith deepest and the college does no longer advise any particular faith, the little ones can do inspite of they pick. If the college or its officials led prayer, then that could be against the law. If the little ones basically have golf equipment, then there is no longer a lot every person can do on account that those golf equipment are labeled as come of your human being loose-will. youthful-life is unquestionably no longer a contravention. conferences are held after college. The flagpole prayer isn't because the flagpole is on public property paid for by way of the tax-payers contained in the area. the in consumer-friendly words way it might nicely be unlawful is that if a college respectable become most appropriate prayer. If the little ones of their own loose will carry jointly around the pole, then they have each accurate to objective this. If Wiccans wanted to carry jointly around the pole and carry out somewhat type of celebrations, then they have each accurate. so long because it isn't recommended by way of the college. I honestly have by no ability heard of "Prayer-Squad."

2016-12-28 15:29:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

"In God We Trust" does not endorse one religion over another, it would be the same as swearing on the Bible or other Holy Book when you take office. Many patiotic songs have religious meanings and patriotism itself is almost a religion. The Constitution says that Congress shall make no law repecting the establishment of religion. In other words, Congress cannot name one religion the state religion nor outlaw any religion nor make any law which dictates to individual faiths how they should practice their beliefs. It never says that church and state need to be seperate, as this is impossible.

2007-01-10 08:08:09 · answer #6 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0 1

The Tomas Jefferson Letter is always misquoted and this is were they get there justification for separation of Church and State. I have studied that letter much in the past. He was not saying that we need separation, but that the government must not make laws to force people to attend a state Church. That is why we have freedom to worship were ever we want. We are slowly losing all the rights that this country was founded upon. Here is His exact quote that they are debating. "A WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE." They need to read the entire letter but they refuse to. The First Amendment states: "CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION."

2007-01-10 07:41:35 · answer #7 · answered by lylshaner 2 · 1 1

Because "God" is not the equivalent of religion, nor is it the establishment of any religion by government.

The Founders' concern was the state actively supporting one religion or another a la Church of England. Their intent was never to abolish any speck of religious reference or reference to God.

2007-01-10 07:42:35 · answer #8 · answered by C = JD 5 · 0 1

Because we don't have seperation of church and state. That was an idea proposed by Thomas Jefferson in a letter he wrote to a Baptist organization. The phrase "seperation of church and state" is not found in the Constitution anywhere.

2007-01-10 07:30:31 · answer #9 · answered by cornbread 4 · 2 3

One's trust in God does not specify a religon. It only specifies God.

2007-01-10 07:34:54 · answer #10 · answered by James M 5 · 2 0

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