Poll: "In God We Trust" on coins?

"The First Amendment of the Constitution states - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof......" Seems rather obvious to me what that means. That the Congress shall not make any law that establishes a State Religion. That is what is meant by and what was intended by our founding fathers to maintain a separation of church & state. "

And what religion does "In God We Trust" promote as The Religion of the Federal government? Catholic? Baptist? Lubavitcher Chasidim? Eastern Orthordox?...

 

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I think your right

 

I say keep it on there for tradition's sake. I'm not religious by any means, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not doing any harm keeping it on there. If some people want to get their religious underwear in a knot over the issue, then so be it, but as for whether or not to keep it or get rid of it, I think that it adds more variety and potential for errors, doubling, etc. for roll searches and coin buffs everywhere.

 

The use of the motto doesn't necessarily promte a single religon over any other religon, but it does promote religon in general which many view as inappropriate under the Constitution. For example, there are plenty of folks that don't believe in ANY god so the phrase would likely be seen as inappropriate by them as they are surely left out of the "we" in "In God We Trust."

 

Demonstrate how the motto promotes the establishment of a single state religion or prevents the free excerise of such?

The arguement that the word We is not inclusive of non believers in no way prohibts them from exercising thier beliefs. One could argue there may be individuals that feel that any means of monetary exchange include mention of God and without it then they are alienated.

 

All of the above? It probably doesn't promote Buddhism or ...Muslimism (what's the right form of that?!) or Atheism.

As far a tradition goes, we had the "tradition" of racial segregation for much, much longer...

It struck me that there was something inherently untrusting in the moving of the motto from the rim of the dollar coins to the obverse! Seems like it is more important people know we trust in God than to actually trust in God.

 

Prediction:

This thread will easily surpass 150 responses.....

 

The motto is a historical legacy of the Civil War, much like "Liberty" (originally "Liberty, Parent of Science and Industry") is the longstanding motto in the spirit of the American Revolution and the Constitution.

 

i think you might be right

 

Definately agree with your dollar statement. Of all things that were on the rim to move to the obverse they chose that phrase. I agree that was a little eyebrow raising. One would think that date and mint mark would be more appropriate, especially to the collectors, but then again, maybe not.

 

You mean Islam.

 

As long as no specific God is implied, it doesn't indicate a religion.

 

I voted YES simply because it's now required by law. The effort needed by Congress to remove it and the brouhaha created by the attempt to remove it would divert the Nation's attention from more important matters. We have bigger fish to fry!

 

That's the one! Now that I think about it Christianity doesn't get an -ism either.

I think the God that is implied is a Judeo-Christian one; I doubt people would infer any other one. (OK, maybe not the Judeo part)

 

Yes, it should.

 

But the question is phrased in the Utopian "should," not whether or not we should do anything about it. And now it's too late to change your vote... I demand a recount!

 

Teddy Roosevelt's words on the subject:

"My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does not good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence which comes dangerously close to sacrilege. A beautiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily implies a certain exaltation of spirit. Any use which tends to cheapen it, and, above all, any use which tends to secure its being treated in a spirit of levity, is free from every standpoint profoundly to be regretted. It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in buildings such as those at West Point and Annapolis - in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to be eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."

"As regards to its use on the coinage we have actual experience by which to go. In all my life I have never heard any human being speak reverently of this motto on the coins or show any sign of having appealed to any high emotion in him. But I have literally hundreds of times heard it used as an occasion of, and incitement to, the sneering ridicule which it is above all things undesirable that so beautiful and exalted a phrase should excite. For example, thruout [sic] the long contest, extending over several decades, on the free [silver] coinage question, the existence of this motto on the coins was a constant source of jest and ridicule; and this was unavoidable. Everyone must remember the innumerable cartoons and articles based on phrases like 'In God we trust for the other eight cents'; 'In God we trust for the short weight'; 'In god we trust for the thirty-seven cents we do not pay'; and so forth and so forth. Surely I am well within bounds when I say that a use of the phrase which invites constant levity of this type is most undesirable."

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=392&Lot_No=6501

 

Good point the shwuck. It seems sacrilegious to put God on money to me.

 

Tell that to the atheists Doesn't matter that it's not a specific god to them I would think.

 

I was brought up Catholic, and never gave it much thought to the motto "In Gog we trust." I think it should stay on the money, but would not raise a fuss if it were removed, as some did on the "Godless" Prez dollars. I really have to wonder if the motto does any good though, considering some of the dirty deeds exchanged for money these days.