English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

I want to know how originally did this phrase get put on the money, who's idea was it, for what reason, and what steps were physically and/or legally taken to do it.

Second, if the text of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: "CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISMENT OF RELIGION, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" then why is there any mention of deity on our money to begin with and why is this phrase still on our currency? Isn't it basically against the law?

2007-06-04 04:59:54 · 10 answers · asked by BlueManticore 6 in Politics & Government Law & Ethics

10 answers

The motto "In God We Trust" was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the American Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout Christians throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize God on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania,

"In God We Trust" is the current national motto of the United States. It was declared as such by an act of Congress in 1956. Though some believe that this Act displaced an already existing national motto, E Pluribus Unum meaning "out of many, (is) one" , the Congressional Record version of the legislation stated: "At the present time the United States has no national motto. The committee deems it most appropriate that 'In God we trust' be so designated as our national motto."

You may be right in your analysis. I have the feeling that the issue is legally much more complex than that.

2007-06-07 16:00:18 · answer #1 · answered by johnfarber2000 6 · 2 0

The phrases do worm a few folks however replicate the truth that the United States of America is a Christian nation, so despite the separation of Church and State, a Secular Congress voted so as to add those phrases. Note that Jews and Muslims additionally help this confirmation - it's the identical God. If the Church had demanded that "Jesus Saves!" be revealed on each invoice you then could have the holiday within the "wall of separation" that you just worry. The atheist group is also developing however continues to be a minority on the planet: Christianity: two.a million billion Islam: a million.five billion Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: a million.a million billion Hinduism: 900 million Chinese conventional faith: 394 million Buddhism: 376 million primal-indigenous: three hundred million African Traditional & Diasporic: one hundred million Sikhism: 23 million Juche: 19 million Spiritism: 15 million Judaism: 14 million Why must we enable the a million.a million Billion Atheists (and some of these are non-devout or agnostics, no longer practising Atheists) to offend the opposite 6 Billion people who do suppose in God? I in my view believe there must be no devout messages on cash, (render unto Caesar) they usually must additionally do away with the occult symbols such because the Eye within the Pyramid whilst.

2016-09-05 21:32:41 · answer #2 · answered by bradberry 3 · 0 0

No, it does not violate the First Amendment because the term God, by itself, does not specify which interpretation of the term. Many of the early Americans were deists, but not church-goers. They said they did not want to establish a state religion because they were coming mostly from England, which has such a religion. They resented the idea that taxes supported the C of E.

But remember, there were almost no atheists in those days, and virtually every American was either a Christian of some sort or a Jew. (What the black slaves had brought with them from Africa was unknown and largely ignored.) So while they said they would establish no religion, they were mostly monotheists. To them, that was not a religion: religion was a structure, a hierarchy, a creed, etc.

2007-06-07 02:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by auntb93 7 · 2 0

The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania

2007-06-04 05:03:29 · answer #4 · answered by QueenLori 5 · 2 0

As far as establishing a religion - belief that there is a God is NOT a religion any more than belief that there are lots of trees makes one a forestry agent. Religion is the set of rituals or rites practiced over and over again (every day I get up, turn on the gas under the coffee pot, use the bathroom, drink my coffee on the porch - I do this religiously). The constitution refers to actions, not beliefs. One cannot be forced to go to this church or that temple. The constitution DOES require everyone to think alike in certain areas (all men are created equal). Today's American is so concerned with individual rights that they fail to see what is for the common good. Even atheist Ben Franklin said that this country cannot continue without the help of God.

Capsulizing - believing in God does not constitute a religion. Learn to think for yourself instead of aping other's sentiments.

2007-06-10 06:38:32 · answer #5 · answered by onparadisebeach 5 · 1 0

If you will read the words to our National Anthem, all verses, you will find that "In God We Trust" is our national motto, and as such it is logical that it would be on our money. The idea behind the first amendment was that the government would not make a "state religion" as the countries of Europe had done; England- Anglican; Italy, France, Spain - Catholicism, and so on. Our founding fathers never expected God to be excluded from our country. If they had, why would they have printed Bibles and given them to the Indians? Why would they have a chaplain for Congress? Why would they have Moses' and Mohammed's images carved into the frieze above the capital doorway? Why would they have urged public schools in the reading of the Bible, and even made a statement that doing so was contributing to a well maintained society?

2007-06-04 05:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2 2

Do you agree with that statement on the US currency ?

2007-06-04 08:58:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

the all seeing eye

2007-06-10 11:05:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

**** you its not aganced the law its a right

2007-06-08 02:24:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

don't you have more important things to worry about?

2007-06-11 11:13:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

fedest.com, questions and answers