Would it bother a you as Christian...?

Question

...if the U.S. decided to suddenly switch to Greek deities and put "In Zeus we trust" on money and in the pledge? Would it bother you if instead of the Jesus fish, the U.S. endorsed putting pics of Hermes' winged feet on cars?

The point is-- this is why it bothers some non-Christians that the US endorses Christianity. Wouldn't it be nicer if the U.S. endorsed no religon, was simply government instead of (religious) government? Wouldn't that be better for all of us?

I realize that the U.S. was founded on Christianity, but now it's not all Christian. We aren't Puritans anymore. Religion should not have to do with the law process...this is not a monarchy. We shouldn’t even have “blue laws” anymore.

What do you guys think? I want to hear from all Christians and non-Christians, people of every faith (or not of any faith). What is your stance on this?

***Please be decently friendly. And no telling me we'd be without morals if not for Christianity...we all know that's a load. Christianity is far younger than morals

Yaktur-- not a bad idea. Probably "In oil we trust" since that seems to be running the economy right no. Or "In McDonalds we trust"

Fun D-- have you ever tried moving to another country? It's difficult and expensive-- I'm a normal person trying to live and I don't have that type of money. Easier said than done.

TONY-- that's exactly my point! If you wouldn't like living by Zeus' law, imagine how I feel living "under God". It's all religions or none...making you live "under Zeus" is as bad as making me live under your God.

deezee-- thank you for your wonderful insight! But, unlike your fellow fundies-- I don't care who you worship as long as it doesn't affect me. But by having "under God" written all over America, that affects me. Thinkers do not undermine a country...sheep do.

Pamela-- the one and ONLY reason that the Mayans are extinct is because a bunch of Christians killed them off and burned their libraries. Ah, yes, friendly fundies! If not for the Christians, all those "heathen" people would have been far advanced and we'd probably know a lot more about the human body. Thousands of years ago they had perfected surgery. So thanks to your Christian forefathers!

The GMC-- thank you. I agree...we can be good without having "under God" on everything.

Answer 1

Here is an important truth. When the government gets friendly with Christianity, both are corrupted. When the government is unfriendly to Christianity, Christianity flourishes. History has shown that very clearly. I am a Christian that realizes we need Christianity "officially" out of the government. Now unofficially, I would want Christian politicians who diligently serve God. They wouldn't need to proclaim their faith in order to get elected, they would simply be honest, hardworking, and dedicated. It is also not true that we need to be a "Christian nation" in order to serve God. King Cyrus was not a follower of God, but God still used him and blessed him because he did what was right. To me, I don't care if this nation said, "In God we trust." As long as they allowed the freedom that we currently have, I couldn't complain. We would still be blessed more than many nations. I know this is a foreign concept to many other Christians. But let me leave you with this quote.
The gospel was never intended to cure society's ills. It was intended to cure men from the ills of society.

Answer 2

I find it interesting that people are so concerned with our money saying in God we trust. Is it offensive? I could understand if this were something new and unfamiliar, but its not. I think if I had grown up a Christian and the money had praise Allah printed on it my whole life, I would understand it was just as much a part of our history as it is about religion. I'm confused, do non-Christians react to Christian religious symbols with pain, a holy krypyonite? Get over it.

P.S. If you are going to ask a question, then just read the answers. You place parameters on how people should answer, but you still feel it necessary to re-butt anything you don't want to hear. I am so sorry you feel you are being oppressed, but I think you may survive if this is the biggest issue you have. While the US is not perfect, at least you live in a country where you have the leisure to debate something so inane. Why don't you e-mail a family in Darfur and see what they think about having Zeus as opposed to God on their money. Oh you can't they don't have personal home computers available to them in the refugee camp and they're to busy trying to survive.

Answer 3

If the citizens of this country vote out the old and bring in the new I would not have a problem with it. I would still follow my individual belief system and not what the government endorses. So far though the majority wants in God we trust on the money and at court houses. As far as the fish on cars I have never really liked that but it surely isn't the government doing that it is the idividual consumer.

my opinion on another part. It is easy and less expensive to move to Canada from U.S. if that is where you live now.

Answer 4

Christians should worship the ground atheists walk on. Especially the atheists that don't sit back and let christian nonsense pass by without pointing it out. They can consider it the way Paul did with a thorn in his side. Otherwise they would get so full of them self, like a few in particular that come to mind real quick, that their own kind wouldn't be able to stand them. As it is, only atheists are bothered by them and all too many just want to give them a warm and fuzzy hug which only strokes their ego more into the over bloated mess it already is. The longer I'm here the more I'm coming to realize that "some" christians cannot see past the nose on their own face. As long as the choir backs them up the direct confrontation from atheists gets written off and the ego gets more bloated. Some are so afraid of being wrong or having their own sickness thrown back in their face that they resort to silencing speech and abusive language. Not to sound hateful, but if I were a christian I would be completely ashamed to have some of the people claiming to be an authority on the subject representing my religion. When a person can proudly proclaim to others that they have a Doctorate degree in psychology and are getting ready to write a book, that they earn a living in the profession of psychology and realize they can't be unethical towards their patients or they'll be fired and out of a job, but yet make an excuse that knowingly abusing others on Yahoo Answers is fine because they are only being the "real" person that they are, it just disgusts me and makes me feel a deep loathing for anyone like this person. There is no justifiable reason to willingly spout off that one is an authority in psychology and christianity and then turn around and abuse other human beings. NONE! In case no one can grasp who I'm referring to it's Dr. Bob. You should be called to task for your inhumane behavior and owe the offended parties a heartfelt and honest apology. Until I receive it you can bet your bottom dollar this sort of posting will NEVER end! I have the courage and patience to face every ounce of criticism and insults you could ever possibly dish out in your life. Can you say the same Dr. Bob? Or will you just revert back to the childish person that goes on a report monkey rampage to silence speech? Dr. Bob's cherished fans can forward this back to him. He can be located on Formspring or on Facebook. The ball's in your court Dr. Bob. Do you think your man enough to risk your reputation among Yahoo Answers, Formspring and Facebook. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'll be your thorn until you wake up and realize how ignorant you've actually been and continue to be until others refuse to tolerate your insensitivity and arrogant behavior.

Answer 5

I totally understand your point. As a Christian, I am against prayer in school, only because what type of prayer would be said? What God would the students be forced to pray to?

But, this country WAS founded so that people had freedom OF religion. Not freedom FROM religion. I realize that no one should be forced to believe in any type of religion. Even the bible has scriptures that show God will separate the "wheat" (believers) from the "chaff" (non-believers.)

I agree that you do not have to be a Christian to have strong morals. I also think a lot have people who claim to be Christian have NO morals. Look at all the televangelists who have given Christianity a bad name. I know atheists that give more to our communitity that churches do.

But, as a democracy, there are, bottom line, many more Christians in the US than there are non-Christians. In a March 2002 poll, 82% of Americans claimed to be a Christian. There are a lot of us out there, and we like the "In God we trust" and "One Nation, Under God" phrases. And we like living in a country where we can celebrate our religious beliefs.

Answer 6

Actually most of the key founding fathers had a very poor view of Christianity. Read the opinions of Franklin or Jefferson for example.


The American legal system was set up based on English common law which had developed in Britain since King John was forced into signing the Magna Carta in 1215, with little or no guidance from the Church.

My guess is you are not going to get any serious answers here.

Answer 7

There is no society that was ever founded on any form of Christianity or religion, Governments seen religion as a way to control it's people, so government and religion became bed partners, and so greed for power and wealth came into play, and the religious saw this as a bonus that government supported the religious movement, something religion and government will never change, and the rest is history.

Answer 8

Interesting questions:

1. "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency only came about during the Civil War in 1864. Salmon P. Chase was Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury & he wanted to put the phrase on U.S. currency. Lincoln told him to put it only on 5-cent coins. Chase ignored Lincoln and put "In God We Trust" on all currency. (Lincoln & Chase were never on really good terms.)

With the Civil War, Lincoln did not make much of the issue, and by the end of the following year he was dead. So it stayed.

2) Church attendance in the U.S. is higher now than it has ever been. As of 1776 it was about 17% until 2005 when it was about 65%. So the idea that we were all good Christians until the liberal left-wing, commie pinkos of the sixties kicked us out is bunk.

I am a practising Christian. One day I'll get it right.

Answer 9

Your premise is not correct, many Religious Right activists have attempted to rewrite history by asserting that the United States government derived from Christian foundations, that United States Founding Fathers originally aimed for a Christian nation. This idea simply does not hold to the historical evidence.

Of course many Americans did practice Christianity, but so also did many believe in deistic philosophy. Indeed, most of our influential Founding Fathers, although they respected the rights of other religionists, held to deism and Freemasonry tenets rather than to Christianity.
For more evidence
http://www.godvsthebible.com/foundingfathers.htm

Answer 10

of course christians wouldn't like it.
they have it THEIR way right now.
i am an atheist, and i support America no matter what.
but having to say anything with 'god' in it, when saying i love america, it just doesnt feel right.
'in God we trust'
'God bless America.'
'One nation, under God'

i totally agree with you. We are not a christian country any more. it deffinitely helped shape our country, but thats the past. we are living in the present. not the past. and what is the number one GREATEST thing about our constitution?
It can be ammended. It can be changed.
We can have reform. and since we are no longer a christian country, why not take that off money?
and i know there is NO WAY that will ever happen though. it just won't.
People shouldn't be offended because of this question. And i hope they arent, but i know many will be.

Guys. We are no longer a "Christian Nation"

and that cannot be argued.