Christians; why do we argue over the "under God"s and "in God we trust"s?

Question

I mean, what do we care if God isn't written on our currency or in the pledge we say for our country? Aren't we strong enough in our faith to love God without these trifles?

Shouldn't we be respectful to those who believe differently, and just omit God from government?
Personally I think religion and government should never mix, even though I'm a strong Catholic. I actually think, symbolically, it's disturbing to put God's name on money, which sort of represents greed.

I'm not saying this to be disrespectful, just curious.
Anyone else agree? Or disagree? Why?

Answer 1

personally without Gods direction in the govt and politics i think the nation is doomed ... but it really doesnt bother me about the currency or quotes either way ..

Answer 2

Good question.
For those who don't know the U.S. currency did not have the "in god we trust on it till the civil war and then only on a few coins. It was not placed on all until 1954. The same with under god in the pledge when the pledge was written in 1890. It was added in 1954 along with changing our national motto from E PLURABUS UNUM which means out of many one, to show we were not godless commies. Our founding fathers chose to have our government be secular to avoid the European system that led to the reformation wars and persecution of religion, plus the fact they believed the christian religion was dieing out and would be replaced by reason and enlightened thinking.

Random, you have no idea what you are talking about. Please research when those phrases were added to out currency and that national motto was adopted and under god added or even when the pledge was written.

Answer 3

While I think your point is excellent, and something I had never considered exactly like that, I can understand why people still get upset about removing God's name from some of those avenues. I love what you said about the money, and it is truly the root of all evil, but it is also for some the ONLY time they ever see his name, therefore the only time they ever think of God. As far as the pledge, it is God's nation, and we need to include him to thank him and bless the country. I personally am sorry to the MINORITY of people who believe differently, but MAJORITY rules!!!

Answer 4

As a non-Christian, I'm glad to hear someone that agrees that we don't need God's name everywhere. I've had a terrible ordeal most of my life, in grade-school, having people giving me terrible looks because I wouldn't recite the Pledge of Allegiance, because of the term "Under God." If prayer is banned in public schools, why do we say the Pledge every single day.

Answer 5

Thank you so much for being respectful of the other Americans who don't share the same faith as you. I agree that bickering over the mottoes on currency does not accomplish much. As an agnostic, I don't really care what they put on the currency. Put God, Zeus, Vishnu, or Allah. It makes no difference to me. My beliefs, or lack thereof, are not influenced by what slogans my government puts on coins. However, when it comes to more serious issues, like forcing students to pray in public schools, I strongly support the separation of church and state.

Answer 6

I can only answer this as a past Christian, but when I see answers like Txlady, Random5291, and ready4sea, I remember why I left. How does one justify such a glaring ignorance of the history of the founding of our country? Granted, I felt a bit more obliged to study it further than others, but the most basic concepts as to why there is a specific amendment demanding separation of church and state should be a specific requirement of having U.S. citizenship. Someone, please send these fools back to the Spanish Inquisition where they belong.

Answer 7

I know some priests who'd be real proud of you - ones that I as an agnostic had real interesting talks about respecting (other) people's beliefs with.

Here's what we agreed on:
The pledge directly forces non-Christians to pay lip service (and the money does in a sense), and effetively to "make wrongful use of the name of the Lord God".

Forcing non-Christians to violate one of the ten commandments? No Christian should stoop so low!

An on the other side, any non-Christian who tries to respect the Christian faith is obliged to vehemently oppose the idea once they have familiarized themselves with the essential religious tenets.

Some position to put them in, isn't it?

Answer 8

i disagree, separation of church and state would be very bad in my opinion, our founding father founded this nation on Christianity which is why its in our pledge of allegiance and on our currency and i believe it is why our nation has been so blessed. It is also the reason why there are so many different beliefs allowed in this nation any other nation founded on a different belief would be much more forceful in its approach, and would prosecute those who do not share their beliefs unlike the U.S which was founded on Christianity. We don't need God's name in the pledge and on our money for faith purposes, its to show that this land has God's love spread on it for all his people, i think it is just a way to show God's love which we do need and we should never get rid of

Answer 9

I agree with you totally.
I think some people just want to argue.
They really don't care at all.

I don't look at $$$.
Money is money.


I am a Christian as well. Thanks, for bringing this up. I know that most atheists hate us and would love to just kill us all.
It makes you kinda sad. Some of us are really nice people.


It would cost tons of $$$ to get it all removed, though. Can you imagine how much it would cost to start all over?

Taxes would go way up if they all of a sudden changed it all.

Answer 10

Um, wow! And you're a christian! I love you! And yes, I agree with you. So would have the founding fathers, IMHO. Did you know Benjamin Franklin argued for a half an hour when they wanted to open the 2nd Continental Congress with a prayer? (Ben won too!)