How do Athiest feel about using our dollar?

Question

I respect all religions and beliefs, and could never pass judgement on anyone in our world. So please, when I ask this question, it is truly out of my own curiosity and is not meant to be offensive in any way.

Strange as it may seem; Our government puts "In God We Trust" on every coin and dollar. How do Athiest feel about this?

Do they make comments about this when they pay for things, or do they take a black marker and mark out these words?

Thanks for all your answers concerning the "dollar". But my question has only created more questions for myself. I do understand however, that the words that are printed on the dollar, are insignificant as to what its true purpose is. Thanks again.

Answer 1

I wish the words were not on the money. It is a violation of separation or church and state.
I will take all of it that I can get and spend it without a thought.

Answer 2

First, let's clarify something:

Atheist is a word derived from the Greek "Theos," meaning god.
If you notice the spelling, the first three letters are T-H-E. This form is preserved in English. A "theist" is one who believes in a god. The prefix "a" in Greek means "without," so an atheist is a person who does not believe in God. The spelling of "theist" does not change with the addition of the prefix.

Now, as to "In God We Trust," on the dollar:

To an atheist, who does not believe in God, the words have no particular meaning. One might ask whether you object to the use of Latin words on the dollar, because we speak English in the United States.

How often do we examine the dollar before we hand it over to pay for our newspaper or coffee?

Another question that arises is whether commenting on the dollar to the merchant who is about to receive it is likely to change the world.

Answer 3

I'm guessing you're unaware that "In God We Trust" has only been on our money for the last century. I believe it was 1907 or 1908 that they started adding it to all the money. I'm sure many atheists are aware of this and look at it as just another sign that Christians have been pushing for us to be a theocracy for a long time.

You might also want to ask how Christians feel about the All Seeing Eye of the Masons appearing on our paper money. Do they black it out with a marker, or leave it? Do they comment on it when paying for things? I'd be curious to know that.

)O(

Answer 4

"In God We Trust" is just four little words. To those who do not believe in them, they are just that: words. They mean nothing. Money, even money with religious words on it, will buy goods and services. It is nothing more, nothing less. To make comments about it or to mark over the words is to accept some sort of grudging agreement with them.

I suppose one could interpret that those words on our money means that anyone who does not believe in the Christian god is not truly an American and thus feel offended or righteously justified, depending on what stance they take on religion. Those words on US currency used to bother me; I felt it was like having little religious icons that I was forced to use or starve. Then I changed my perspective a little. The majority of the US is Christian. So the money reflects that. That's all it is -- a cultural reflection. So I don't share that part of the culture. That doesn't make me less of a citizen; my voter ID proves that!

Answer 5

No, I'm perfectly OK with it. The words are traditional and are a reminder of the values that our founding fathers had. This is history and should be remembered. Regardless of my personal beliefs (or lack thereof), we as a nation need to be tolerant of peoples beliefs, race, sexual preference, etc. I feel the same about other religious symbolism or references in public or government buildings that have historical or traditional significance.

We need to preserve our national heritage and the principles that it stands for, after all that's why we can be atheists, christian, jewish etc and express our opinions freely here and elsewhere.

By the way, read a answer that referred to the "Masonic" all seeing eye. The eye *not* from masons, it has been well documented that none of the designers were masons or had any masonic influence.

Answer 6

While I would prefer it not to be there, I don't resort to using only checks and/or debit/credit cards to make purchases. Personally, I like the motto Ben Franklin came up with -- "Mind Yor Business." If you'd like to know a bit more about the history of "In God We trust," check out this link. You'll see that, while it has been on and off our currency for some time, it only became official about 50 years ago. http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml

Answer 7

there is not something to be stricken about. it really is not too previous due. regardless of the indisputable fact that, to grow to be a christian, you ought to,, a million. ought to not tolerate or appreciate diverse faith or diverse faith. 2. ought to have self assurance that Christianity is the in hardship-free words authentic faith and that Jesus is the in hardship-free words way. 3. ought to have self assurance that each thing the bible reported is from God. 4. ought to reduce your self to what you may and ought to't positioned on to church. 5. ought to not marry divorced female. 6. both concern God or flow to hell and burn. in case you tolerate people of diverse faith and diverse religions like buddhism, islam, or wicca or witchcraft, then you absolutely can not be a christian. And once you've many judgements beside both concern God or goto hell then you absolutely can not be a christian both. there is something better effective about your self than to be a christian. it truly is why i'm not a christian. i'm a witch and pleased with it. And Christian's view of hell isn't authentic.

Answer 8

Until I got out here and saw this question numerous times, I never gave it a thought.

Now I think about it when the question is asked, and forget it shortly afterwards.

If people keep asking, I might be tempted to get my panties in a twist about it.....but hopefully my better nature will prevail.

PS: Where does one purchase a better nature???

Answer 9

Lets turn this around. How would religious people (or Christians) feel about our government putting the phrase on all us currency saying, "There Is No God" ?

Answer 10

Those words weren't added to U. S. money until the 1950's. It was political, and we know that it could be taken off the money just as easily as it was put on.

Answer 11

The only thing that would bother me, written on my money is the word "Non-negotiable".

However, I really don't like the "Under god" in the pledge of allegiance - it forces a choice of supporting your country by saying the pledge but including a part you know you don't believe, or not supporting your country by saying the pledge.

It was added in the late forties or early fifties, simply to give the finger to the communists. Their gone, but we still have it in the pledge.