American citizens should be offended that our government makes theological statements on our behalf. By placing the phrase "in God we trust" on US currency, Congress has overstepped their bounds. Furthermore, it is insincere for any person who does not "trust in God" (atheists, pantheists, polytheists, etc.) to pass a note stating that he does trust in god.
The phrase should be removed from our currency. Unfortunately, this issue is not urgent enough to affect the way that we vote, so we cannot rely on electoral politics to remove this insult against our conscious. Instead, we should directly remove the phrase from our currency.
Anyone can simply draw a line through the phrase on paper money. The next time you are waiting for your computer to boot, grab a pen and your wallet and cross out the phrase on all bills.
More dedicated activists can also remove the phrase from coins
This modification of the money does not seem to be in violation of the currency law of the US, as described in Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 17 , as these modifications are neither fraudulant nor do they render the currency unfit for use.
For some history regarding the use of the phrase, see the Wikipedia article on In God We Trust.
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Considering the current religious inclinations of the present crop of politicians who respond to their constituents, this modification is unlikely to attain official status. As someone who has found much of the activity of religious organizations throughout history as reprehensible, I concurr with the emotion indicated but I am also something of a realist who has better things to do with his time than deface coinage and paper money, inspite of an occasional inclination to draw a mustache on George Washington or render Benjamin Franklin crosseyed.
This issue reared its ugly head a few years back, when a man tried to have a similar phrase removed from the Pledge of Allegiance because his daughter was made to recite the pledge in a public school. The end result? The senate voted 99-0 on a resolution supporting the words "under God" in the pledge. How's that for dismal? Apparently government-funded schools are exempt from the seperation of church and state. It's safe to assume you'd get the same result trying to remove "In God We Trust" from money.
Our country was founded on basic christian fundamentals, but the currency does not even advocate christianity. This is a democracy (really it is a republic, which is a form of democracy) and the majority rules. I have no doubt that the majority of this country believe in God in some form. Personally I believe that nature itself gives evidence of a Creator. The laws of thermodynamics state that(First Law)no matter/energy is created or destroyed. So... Where did the original matter/energy come from? Nothing at all should exist. (Second Law) Everything in the universe seeks a state of reduced organization and/or energy. This is the law of entropy, and in my opinion the greatest hurdle for evolution to overcome. The fact that there are laws at all suggest that there is a Law Giver. Besides, How come these non-God believers cant learn to be more tolerant. Thats what they always preach isnt it??
Americans traditionally distinguish between issues that may be decided by the group, and issues that are the jurisdiction of individuals. Religion has always been treated as the realm of the individual, except when politicians think that they can win power by pretending to be pious.
Atheism has not necessary connection with tolerance. However, for this issue, tolerance is on the side of the atheists. The government is a shared institution, and for it to be inclusive (and tolerant) it should stay neutral on these personal issues. Writing "in God we trust" on the currency is just as intolerant as writing "God is a lie" on the currency.
Regarding physics: Matter/energy may have always existed. It didn't need to "come from" anywhere, any more than the proposed creator needed to "come from" somewhere. Biological evolution is compatible with the second law of thermodynamics. Every bit of organization in life is paid for by an even greater decrease in organization at some other level (chemical or atomic)--thereby staying within the bounds of the second law of thermodynamics. If you want to understand this, study biochemistry and physical chemistry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemistry <p>
On this issue I have a feeling that you and I are going to have to agree to disagree.
The Supreme Court ruled on this type of issue awhile ago, stating that it's 'of little importance,' or the Latin terminology for it. Like it or not, we live in a nation with a Christian heritage, and the phrase has become largely a national motto. Learn to live with it.
Why not " In the Pope we hope " for Caholics.LOL.. It`s just a thing. Have a Ham sandwich & chill out . Lt1
Or how about showing a little respect for a country that doesn't chop your head off for mentioning such an idea? Whether you believe in God or not, you are very "blessed" to live in this country in this epoch of humanity where we have progressed beyond such barbaric tendencies and allow you to have these freedoms.
If you don't like the phrase on the coin, petition to have it removed in the next printing. Don't disrespect society and the social process by taking the task upon yourself to violate the consensus of the moment.
plane340 is right. I have this happen io me at school all the time. Whether or not YOU like it, it's part of are herritage. Not to metion most of rebublic laws are alive today because of christian monks during the dark ages.
The idea that this country was based on Christian fundamentals is pure bs. If our leadership had consisted of Christians in 1775, the Revolutionary War would not have happened. They would have read their scripture and obeyed it's teachings - thou shalt not kill, the love of money, a house divided, turn the other cheek, etc.
There is nothing about democracy, free elections,etc, in the Bible. It speaks only of kings and their divine right to rule over the rest of us. "Obey your leaders, they were chosen by God."
This is the land of Mammon, not JC.
thou shall not use the lord's name in vain
those who usually defend having "god" on u.s. currency are christians - but i believe that these christians should be against having "god" on our currency -- vanity in today's world is usually expressed through money - and speaking of god money and vanity here is a link to a vain "christian" preying on people during tax season - - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcyX2CCoLVk