Do any American Christians appreciate the problem with our national motto?

Question

I am an atheist. I do not believe that there is a (big G) God or a (little g) god or a goddess or a flying spaghetti monster for that matter. Yet I live in a country that has adopted "In God WE trust" as MY national motto.

The first amendment to the Constitution - the primary specific right granted in the bill of rights - promises me that my Congress shall pass no law establishing a national religion, yet they violated this promise to make the idea that all Americans trust in one and the same God the central thematic idea of our shared rallying cry.

The truth is, however, I do not trust in God. Neither do the Hindus who live here or the neo-pagans, or the Buddhists or Seiks or Shintus or native Americans who practice the old religions. So can you acknowledge that the national motto should never have been made "In God We trust?"

Just wondering.

I was born into a secularist nation which promised a wall of seperation between church and state. The motto presumes this as a monotheistic nation. That means it alienates all non-theistic or polytheistic religions. The question isn't why am I wrong. Even if I am (which I'm not) the question asks if you see the problem. Only answers addressing that question can even be considered.

Freedom for all, if the motto was "In God most of us trust," there would be no problem. And it is not true that we all believe in some god. If that was true, though, the motto should say "in a god we trust." It doesn't, so it clearly implies one monotheistic godhead.

For those who wonder what would be a better and more encompassing motto, what is wrong with E pluribus unum, whic hwas the unofficial motto before Congress legislated In God We trust in the 1950s?

The Brother, the Constitution is in NO WAY based on the bible - King James or otherwise. It allows for usary and capital punishment as well as establishing graven images. Think about it.

For the record, changing the motto to "there is no God" would also be a violation of the first amendment and I would not support such a change even though I believe the statement to be wholy consistent with the truth. Yet most theists seem to have little problem insisting that the opposite statement should be my motto.

Answer 1

Contrary to the beliefs of many and the wishes of atheists the Constitution says that Congress shall pass no law ESTABLISHING a national religion. This does not mean that the government must or should distance itself from all religions or religious aspects. That is the real misrepresentation and violation of the Constitution. Religion (and particularly Christianity) is prevalent in all forms of government and has been since the inception of the country. Congress has an invocation prior to each session. Money states the motto "In God We Trust". Office holders and those testifying in courts swear their oaths on a Bible. These activities do NOT establish a national religion. They don't say that everyone has to belong to a certain religion. They don't make other religions or beliefs illegal. Therefore the
Constitution is not violated.

Atheists don't want the Constitution upheld that there is no national religion. They want there to be no religion nationally. There is a big difference.

Answer 2

I trust in God. If you don't like it, you can either A: Not read it or B: Send me all your money in cash.

You're clearly twisting the intent of the first Amendment. The point was to avoid the pitfalls of having a symbiotic relationship between church and state, such as what was prevalent in England in colonial times. It did not mean erasure of all faiths from the public view.

From what I understand there is no law on the books stating our printed currency is required to have those words on them. It's just a tradition, one worth saving. And I take umbrage with the entire idea that it should "never" have been made the national motto.

I'll give you a tissue for your tears because our traditions clearly offend you. If that doesn't satisfy you, try a country that suppresses religious belief, like China.

Furthermore, are you implying that Jews, Catholics, Mormons and Muslims don't trust in God? I dare say you'd be wrong there.

Answer 3

"... As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion ..."
--Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11, signed by President John Adams.

This country was founded on reason, not religion. The founders SPECIFICALLY said it was not founded on Christianity on many occasions. It is shocking to me that people are so ignorant of American History that they don't know this.

I have a big problem with it, since I don't practice and Abrahamic religion. I have t-shirts that say "In Goddess We Trust" and "Goddess Bless America" that I wear a lot. When people ask about them I say "How would you like it if I were in the majority and all your national sayings mentioned the Goddess? That's why we need to leave religion out of government - to be fair to everyone."

Answer 4

Everyone believes in a god. If you don't believe in God, then you believe in something (yourself, money, enlightenment), whatever it is you live for.

Furthermore, if you try to have a motto that 100% of the population agrees with, you will never have a motto. There is no such thing as 100% agreement, especially with 300 million citizens. So, as with everything else in a Democracy, majority rules. The majority believe in God, so it's our motto. If you disagree, that's fine. Nobody is forcing you to believe it.

The first amendment only prohibits the establishment of a state religion (i.e. the Church of England), that's all.

Answer 5

1. Whether you believe it or not makes no difference. God either exists or he doesn't. I believe he does, as did our Founding Fathers. They believed all of our rights were endowed by our Creator.

2. Could you tell me what law was passed that established a national religion? Was it a Senate bill, or a House bill? Which Congress was it?

Answer 6

Great question
Now for a great answer

There is problem with how you phrased your question.

If you did not exist there would be no problem with the motto. Correct?
If that is the case their is nothing intrinsically wrong with the motto. The problem is with you and not the motto.
I respect your choice not to believe in God. I wish how ever you would respect the choice of vast majority as well.
There are allot of countries that do not have God in their historic documents I suggest a move their.
Unless of course you think America is better. Then you must answer why America is better. If France and the USA have similar documentation with the exception of God you have to admit that Religion produces positive influence on the people.

Answer 7

#1...the Constitution is based upon the king James Bible for morals and all so even though you are an atheist...the laws of the U.S.A. and some other countries are based upon this #2)Congress has not and will not declare "a national religion" as you put it #3) Who or whom would you then trust??? Brother in Christ Jesus Tim M. Murphy

Answer 8

I agree - as solid Jew I would have to write "G_d".
Just besides. But it is a motto of greed as most won't
realize - a Puritanian slogan, they believed, that nicely
praying will make you rich eventually - so the dollar came.

Answer 9

Exactly WHICH religion does this motto establish? Judaism? Catholicism? Islam?

Be specific.

Answer 10

I didn't realize our Country's motto is a law.