Atheists is "In God we trust" really that big of a deal on money?

Question

I mean, I don't believe in God but I personally don't think that its really all that big of a deal to have "In god we trust" on money. I mean I don't sit around staring at my dollar bills, I just spend em. I mean when you die, what you spent your money on isn't really gonna matter anymore is it? I guess from my perspective there is always gonna be things in life that some people don't believe in..I mean When I go to the mall and See a guy dressed like santa I don't want him kicked out of the mall because I don't believe in him. I just don't care that much, Does anyone else agree?

Answer 1

I couldn't have said it better. Some things aren't worth the fuss they cause, and in my opinion this is one of those things.

Answer 2

I do believe in God, but the thing is that when we went off the gold standard, thats when they put that on the money. We can't trust the gold standard anymore, so God help us that this money is still worth something.
God on the money is really very generic. It points to no one religion at all. The only people who get upset with it are athiests. And, it seems like any slightest thought, mention, visual, audio - anything pointing to a higher power freaks them out. They hate it.
Alot of the stuff they ***** and complain about, I wouldn't even have noticed or cared about, except that a big deal is made of it.
It seems to glare at them. They should start to wonder why that is, exactly.
Look, this is the real deal: They can take away anything and everything that points to God.
As long as Gods people reside in this free nation, God will be here, and there isn't really anything they can do about that.

Answer 3

I would consider myself an atheist also and I agree with what you said for the most part. This nation was founded by people of strong faith so you have to expect the remnants of that to remain in something so widely seen and used, in this case it's money. Personally I don't see the point in having "In God We Trust" on our dollar bills. We're supposed to be the melting pot nation with people of various backgrounds, cultures, and religious beliefs. That's a very small gripe though and I don't find it worth anyone's time or money to change the bills now. It's on the back and honestly I don't think many people remember it's there half the time.

Answer 4

If there were no mass organized efforts to make the United States "a Christian nation", no, it wouldn't be a big deal. But in context, we need to fight this everywhere.

Remember that the "American Taliban" types (Roy Moore, the Dominionists, etc.) cite "In God We Trust" on money and "Under God" in the pledge as evidence that this is already a Christian nation. Obviously that's ridiculous, but the fact that it's ridiculous doesn't blunt its effectiveness with the kinds of people who believe all sorts of ridiculous things.

Imagine what would happen if we were to be able to remove these religious symbols from currency and the pledge and the like. People would be forced to ask why we'd done so. Of course the Taliban types would insist it was because we were trying to eliminate freedom of religion, but I think that most Americans can see that's not the case at all. It'd raise the question, and if we have enough real Americans that there's a chance for us at all, it'd make it crystal clear that putting religious symbols on official matters is simply anti-American. I think that'd be an excellent outcome.

Answer 5

For the most part, I agree with you. It doesn't belong there. I'd prefer if it were removed. But, it is non-denominational, and thus offends me less then if it supported belief in a specific God, rather then just support of a generic, monotheist, western God.

I am much more concerned with financing Churchs under the faith based initiatives program. I also much more concerned with public dollars being used in religious education under the voucher program. That one also had the intent of screwing the teachers unions.

Should it be there? No. Is it worth the cost of the fight it would take to get it removed? Probably not. We have bigger fish to fry.

Answer 6

I spend, spend spend it. => i come across it definitely hilarious that folk, religious human beings, attempt to apply that as a potential of proving their god. yet all the symbols on it are Egyptian. Eye of Horus, everyone? lol And this concept that that's purely the Christian God, however the Bible states - the affection of money is the basis of all evil. definitely fricken incredible! that's greater efficient than staring at Robin Williams! Heathen

Answer 7

It isn't that phrases like "In God We Trust" and "One nation under God" are so pernicious in and of themselves, it's the message that it sends to people. It gives god-believers a false sense of superiority because the government seems to be affixing its seal of approval to their faith. It's like saying "This is a nation of god-believers. Anyone else is an outsider." President Bush, Sr.'s comment about atheists back in 1987 is a good example.

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." ~ Pres. George H. W. Bush

Answer 8

I don't think that Atheists are on a conquest to rid money of God references. In reality, church leaders and apologists preach about Atheists and non believers as if they know what they are planning. "It is all a big conspiracy by non-believers, they are trying to tear down everything we know and love"

In reality it doesn't really matter to Atheists or Agnostics at all. Church leaders and political junkies create issues in order to gain followers, increase political power and raise money. Just think about it, if Christians found out that Atheists really weren't trying to change their beliefs, and the Christian lifestyle. Why would Christians be motivated to send money to campaigns, why would they be motivated to vote for "Christian" candidates.

I would prefer that money said in BOB we trust, but I'm not going to burn down a church over it. Christians on the other hand will go out of their way to ostracize and assign derogatory names to those that believe differently than them.

Answer 9

Also doesn't really care. It could say 'In Zeus We Trust' and would mean just as much. It is merely symbolism and if it allows the sheep nation to feel all warm and comfy in their beds at night, then let them have it.

Answer 10

I don't care that it is on there. If theists put their trust in god, then they don't need that money, so why not give it to us atheists?
Atheist Americans don't trust in god, and the money if for all Americans. So it should not be there, but I am not going to fight about it.

Answer 11

They shouldn't change it. The U.S. doesn't use the gold standard do they. So they money is basically worthless right? I guess that since money has to be backed by something you may as well back it with a non-existant deity.

Or put Pegasus on it. In Pegasus we trust.