What God do you think our country is speaking of with the words "IN GOD WE TRUST?"?

Question

I think our forefathers were onto something....maybe this is something we can all come together on...as Americans, we should believe in God for this reason, if not any other, shouldn't we??

This is to HellaFunGuy35: I think you should stop using google for your answers, and maybe start having some real life experiences. I have an Indianhead penny from the 1800's and it has "In God We Trust" printed on it.

What do you think of this verse in context to the question: "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich." Revelation 3: 18

Hi Journey, thanks for your 2 cents....wish you could see mine from the 1800's....

Answer 1

The founding fathers chose "E Pluribus Unum" as the motto of the nation meaning "From Many, One". Anyways, the words "In God We Trust" weren't used on money until Abraham Lincoln and then it was on again, off again. Then in the 1950s "In God We Trust" was added as yet another motto for the USA (that means we have two...that's why there are two on our money...one on the front and the other on the reverse). Before the 1950s the phrase "In God We Trust" wasn't an official motto, but it was used on money, etc.

Now to answer your question about what God do I think our country is speaking of with the words "In God We Trust". Honestly I think they are refering to the God of the civil religious expression in this nation. Thus it doesn't apply to any specific deity or God, but rather the use of the vague word "God" is meant to allow any person of any religion to immediately understand it as their deity. Same as saying "God bless America" (what religious deity doesn't offer blessings?!). So the terminology in civil religious language is always kept vague enough to allow all people of any religious tradition to insert their own understanding of the words that are used and thus avoiding offending any section of the American population. Thus myself, as a Hindu, can understand the word God as a Hindu while a Christian can understand the word God as a Christian and neither of us is offended by the word God. We may understand the word differently, but we both draw our own understanding upon the word and interpret from our own religious traditions. If, however, those who chose to put "In God We Trust" or "one nation under God" or "God bless America" had chosen to be very specific about the deity then this would obviously not have worked at all for civil religion.

So for myself when I read "In God We Trust" or I say the pledge "one nation under God" or I hear someone say or I say "God bless America", to me God is the One, Brahman, as understood from my religious tradition. At the same time I very aware that others understand the word God differently since I have many friends from many various religious traditions (Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Native American, Jain, Sikh, etc).

Great question.

Peace be with you.

Answer 2

The phrase "in God we trust" does not refer to the God of a particular religion. Rather, it is an appeal to a Higher Power. That higher power might vary from person to person. For this person, it could mean the Christian God. For another, the Islamic God. For another, the Jewish God. Nature could also suffice as a 'higher power'.

The genius of it is that most people are humble to one form of a 'god" or "higher power", and thus, they submit to it's authority. How much more likely are they apt to submit to an earthly authority that also claims submission, or at the very least acknowledgment, of a higher power?

Yes, our forefathers were onto something big.

Answer 3

It's speaking of the Christian God. The majority of our forefathers were not Christian, including the most important ones of all. It's certainly not what our founding fathers wanted. It would not even be a good reason to all believe in God. We should not all believe in the same God or God at all, as there is no pure reason for all of us to do so.

Answer 4

Our early forefathers didn't add the phrase "In God we trust". It was added in 1956, during the height of the commie redbaiting scare.

Not because of any real belief that the country was founded on theistic principles, but basically just as a scare tactic. Kind of like restaurants changed french fries to "freedom fries" in response to the government's baiting of France's objection to the Iraq invasion.

I'd be more inclined to think that we Americans should come together on making sure people are better educated so that they know basic facts like this.

Religious belief is a divisive curse on our country, not a uniting force.

Answer 5

1. Allah (SWT) 'God' is only 'One', has no partner or son, and neither gives birth, nor is He born. He is eternally besought by all and has no beginning or end, and none is equal to Him (Holy Quran example)
2. He is the Merciful and the Compassionate, the Guardian and the True Guide, the Just and the Supreme Lord, the Creator and the Watchful, the First and the Last, the Knowing and the Wise, the Hearing, and the Aware, the Witness and the Glorious, the Able and ' the Powerful. (Holy Quran example).
3. He is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace. (Holy Quran example). The question of Allah's (SWT) 'God' existence has preoccupied men's minds for many centuries. Those who believe in Allah (SWT) 'God' seem to agree that the limited finite human intelligence cannot prove the existence of the infinite boundless of Allah (SWT) 'God'. It can only illustrate or demonstrate his existence to the satisfaction of the curious human mind.
Those who deny Allah's (SWT) 'God' claim to rely on science, philosophy, or special theories of knowledge. Their arguments are sometimes inapplicable, sometimes irrelevant, always complex, and often incomprehensible. However, the developed mind will find its way to Allah (SWT) 'God'. Failure to find the way does not mean that there is no way. Denial of reality does not make it unreal.

Answer 6

Yes, there were a few coins printed with "In God We Trust" etched on the side from the 1800's, but hellafun is right - the government didn't make it standard issue on coins until 1957, for political motives. I don't think your God would have wanted to be a part of that. Even Theodore Roosevelt thought it was sacrilege, and he was a Christian: "My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege ... it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."

The first United States coin to bear the words "In God We Trust" is the 1864 two-cent piece. It first appeared on U.S. currency on the back of Florida National Bank Notes in 1863. Then it disappeared from use almost completely until the Jefferson nickel came out in '38. Jefferson, himself a deist who didn't believe in Christianity but in the moral teachings of Jesus, then a Unitarian, then, for the most part, an atheist, would have rolled over in his grave. He was all for the the separation of church and state. The following was in his epitaph:

"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

The majority of coins didn't carry this phrase until the 84th Congress made it the national motto in 1957, in response to Communism. Again, for political motives. I certainly hope your God would find such maneuvering sacrilegious and thus the coinage motto frivoulous and self-serving. What God would only want to be acknowledged for purposes of propaganda?

P.S. Hold on to that coin. It may be worth quite a bit of money one day. :)

Answer 7

This is changed now!

It's now:

"IN PAPER/PLASTIC/VIRTUAL MONEY WE TRUST!

No godly administration of the monetary system,which is ruining a lot of countries,who don't understand the complex system-secret accounts-offshore banking-international loans impossible to pay...etc...
It's a big ripoff!

God is no more in the minds of political leaders,just demons!

Answer 8

loved, great question! each and every notice that proceeds out of the mouth of our Father can in elementary terms be Holy. Our Lord Jesus the Christ truthfully did rather talk, for which we weren't used to, however the message can in elementary terms be, and is sturdy! this is puzzling to realize who we are chatting with with ears and eyes of flesh ;-) thank you for this question. Love - D

Answer 9

Believe in god for what reason? because money says so? No, as Americans we should respect the freedom of others to live and believe as they wish.

And you are wrong....do your own homework...'in god we trust' was ADDED to money not that long ago and you should be thanking ppl for doing your research for you....instead of being rude.

Answer 10

The sky god of the jews.