In the state of Indiana, you can get a license plate that says "In god we trust"?

Question

but not one that mentions Allah or Ra or Zeus.
Is this an example of government endorsement of a specific religion?

Answer 1

I know what your talking about I see those damn things everywhere. People aren't understanding... the plates on the bottom instead of a state motto say "in god we trust". I find that odd since I thought there was supposed to be separation of church and state. About half the darn cars around here have that on their plates what happened to a simple Jesus fish.

Answer 2

I suppose you could say that, but then again 1) you're not required to get the plate, and 2) there'd be no point in manufacturing plates with other deities since there aren't that many non-Abrahamic-monotheism theists who drive in Indiana. Besides, I'm sure you could get a personalized license plate so that your plate number is "ZEUS1" or something.

My only fear is getting on the road with enough of these twits who would leave all trust in the hands of a deity rather than in some DRIVING skills.

EDIT: OK, apparently some people don't get what you're saying. We're talking about getting "In God We Trust" stamped along the TOP or BOTTOM of the license plate along with the state name, not as the actual plate number.

Answer 3

You do realize the Founding Fathers put IGWT on the license plates right? It's always been that way!

(Sooner or later the 1040-EZ form is going to be a theistic propaganda billboard too ... and drivers licenses, car titles, birth certificates, everything will bear the mark of the beastly evangelizers)

*****

Here in South Carolina you can get the default plate, OR one that says IGWT, for the same fee. All other "vanity" plates cost extra.

This includes one that says "In Reason We Trust". Furthermore, the state requires you to show proof of membership in the group that requested the plate (Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry).

Not exactly equal treatment of the two messages is it? Would you say the inequality = endorsement of one over the other?

When asked how this is possible, a DMV-crat says the two competing message plates are created under two separate parts of the SC code of laws blah blah. Oh how convenient!

*****

Doesn't a republic have its origins in ancient Greece? How can you NOT have In Zeus We Trust on every government document then?!?! The USA is a Grecian nation, founded on Grecian ideals. Everyone knows all the Founding Fathers buggered each other after their New Olympic games.

Answer 4

Perhaps, rather, the endorsement of a specific deity, although I imagine the argument is that the noun "god" need not necessarily refer to the Abrahamic deity YHWH. (I disagree, as the capitalization of the word clearly denotes its use as a proper noun, therefore distinguishing it as the god which uses God for a name in our culture, i.e. YHWH.)

I'm from IN, and there was a mild stink about this plate not too long ago, something about it being a "specialty" plate that people didn't have to pay extra for--thereby violating the establishment clause. I don't know. Many Hoosiers are insufferably conservative, I think...nothing came of it.

Answer 5

No, because Allah means God in Arabic. As far as Ra or Zeus is concerned, you will have to order a vanity plate.

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. It is the Supreme Court and the ACLU that seems to have a problem in recognizing God.

Answer 6

The fact that our national motto is an example of this, putting our national motto on a license plate though, gets to escape this via technicality.

Also, some would claim "God" is an ambiguous term, which can be used to refer to any monotheistic creator... "Allah" is, after all, the word God, but minus the convenience of translation.

Answer 7

The actual license plate can say "In God we trust" ?

I thought there was a much smaller limit to how many characters could be on a license plate.

Answer 8

Yes. It is Christianity that founded this nation, and freedom of religion, as intended by our Constitutional framers, was only ever intended to apply to Christianity. If you want to be hindu, buddist, muslim, atheist, or anything else, you need to go get on a boat and sail across the water and find your own new world.
Also, please note the remainder of the first ammendment regarding religion, that government shall make no law PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF.
This is NOT in line with recent Supreme Court decisions. We need to post the Ten Commandments on the classroom walls, in the Cafeteria, on the Gym walls, paint them on the parking lot with lane line paint, and pray anywhere and everywhere at all times for all occasions IN JESUS NAME. The larger the groups the better, and the amplifiers need to be the same as used at rock concerts.
We need to teach children to read using the Bible, and have frequent tests on Biblical knowledge. Put John 3:16 in 6" block letters in the boys and girls locker rooms, and only allow ordained ministers as teachers.
Public profession of faith in God should be a prerequsite for political officeholders and employees of any kind on all state and federal levels of government.
Application of the above may restore morality to our nation, or at least get us off to a good start.

Answer 9

I agree with JOhn The Baptist. This country was founded on Christian principles, even tho they dont teach them any longer. IT is still true. This is america. Others are welcome here, and they need to come legally, as past generations of aliens have done, go by our rules. This isnt mexico, this is not Iraq, or Iran, or africa, or even greenland> This is america. I feel all should be welcome here, but come legally and follow our countrys rules if you want different rules, then ppl should not come here, we have it like we want it, or we used to, till so many came here and tried to change things.
When do americans wake up and realize things? Lets dont lose what America has always stood for. We are not a country of other religions, but they come here and try to change us I wold never think of moving to mexico, iran or anywhere else and trying to change their country to fit my needs. If I like america, then I stay in america and do it the way we have always done it.
But it is not the other religions that are usualy silenced. You can speak of muslims in schools, and hinduism and all of that. but you get a little yr old girl talking about JEsus and she is removed from school.
So dont make us think that this country is partial only to american christians, we cater to every religion and country that ppl come from here, even to the expense of our own ppl.
Would that sound fair to you? Our country wasnt built on muslim principles, or any other religion but sheer Christianity. WE are to have freedom of religion. but not freedom from religion. We are free to worship who we believe in . and noone can take that right from us, no matter what country you are from. If you feel america isnt partial to your religious reliefs, why have you come to america/ We dont hate you, we love you and we pray from you, but you must stop and think, this is america, built on Christian principles, and the christians will not give this up without a fight. WE stand for the freedoms we have been given, and that wont ever change from a real Chrsitian. United we stand for God, The HOly Bible, The Holy Spirit and America.

Answer 10

Missouri once let someone get "JESUS" as their personalized plates, but rejected "SATAN". They got sued, and the Supreme Court forced the state to issue the "SATAN" plates because they viewed it as establishment of religion.