IN GOD WE TRUST
"The Supreme Court passed on taking up a case disputing the inclusion of the national motto of “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins and currency without even giving it a comment."
"The highest court rejected hearing the case from a group of atheists represented by activist Michael Newdow that posed the constitutional question of whether or not the inclusion of the motto on U.S. currency “violates the Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment."
"According to the group, it “perpetuates and exacerbates the political disenfranchisement of atheists,” who Newdow claimed were “the nation’s most politically disenfranchised ‘protected class.'”
"The Establishment Clause makes it illegal for Congress to establish a national religion, and the national motto itself has appeared on all U.S. currency and coins since 1955 and was first used on coins in 1864."
bob
Comments
I don't see any conflict. Our Founding fathers were deists of various stripes. Newdow has been doing stunts like this for quite some time, and is best ignored. The atheists I know don't try to put their atheism in your face, like this guy.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Well said..
The nation has much bigger problems than mottoes on coins.
Petty issue by petty people.....Typical whining like so much social media today...little minds grasping small issues so they can feel important...Mental twerps. Cheers, RickO
I'm for banning all "protected classes", the creation of which only opens the door to total abuse of the justice system. "Liberty and Justice for All" shouldn't exclude those not in a protected class. rant over.
I knew it would happen.
While it would be nice to go back to the way it was originally - it is not going to happen. The restoration of this tidbit of old/original America, while noble, borders on trivial and has never gained traction as an cause/issue.
And if a coin were issued with "We Trust in No God" or "In God We Do Not Trust", would this still be a trivial issue?
I think the motto needs to be changed to "IN ALL GODS WE TRUST."
What you don’t get is that ‘IN GOD WE TRUST” is putting your faith in our face. A secular nation should not be doing that to you OR me. And this wasn’t a problem until 1954 ish, when it was put back on our currency during the Red Scare. And the Pledge, for that matter.
E Pluribus Unum was the motto the founding fathers created and supported.
It is simple, beautiful, and worthy. Poetry worthy of self-sacrifice. Absolutely non divisive. The opposite of exclusive.
Support for a religious motto on coinage says much more about the depth of its supporter's beliefs than it does about the nation or any god.
--Severian the Lame
To me it's just there and I don't focus on it. So I couldn't care less if it's there or not. If push came to shove, I'd prefer to see it removed rather than be required to include In Allah We Trust or whichever God the holder of the coin/note subscribes to.
Interestingly, to me at least, this is probably an issue with Judaism too. "This issue is most controversial in the context of the United States Motto, "In God We Trust", which has been minted or printed since its first appearance in 1864 without hyphenation." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism#Writing_divine_names)
The name of God, once written, must not be destroyed. Coins and currency get destroyed. Strict Jews would probably prefer the motto to be "In G-d We Trust".
I wish the atheist would find something more constructive to do with time then go mess with something like that.
As an atheist, I really couldn't care less. There are many other issues more important than the motto on the money I spend. Gosh, if it makes people "feel better" about themselves...
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For whatever the reason, what you don't get is:
This nation was founded in the belief of God. It was a Christian God. Due to changing values, a lack of education leading to misinformation plus a deficiency in simple English comprehension, many folks think that this country should be completely divorced from "Christian" values. They call it "Separation."
All beliefs are tolerated here. Anyone who has a problem with God or the lack of a God can believe as they wish. This God thing has even lead to a division of genders where boys can go into girls dressing rooms, compete and often win in sports against girls, and force folks to bake cakes for them. Who are the actual intolerant "crazies?"
I for one think the 2%'ers who are BLESSED to be born or live in this country should be totally ignored! Here is a kiss & a hug for you Mr.Tea
XXXXOOO You go...(whatever you are/believe.).
I'm surprised that this thread hasn't been nuked! The people that know me here knows where I stand on this. Enough said.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.I'll be apolitical/non-religious and just say that I love seeing it doubled on a coin, the stronger the better.
@Insider2 ...yeah, "this God thing has lead to" all sorts of craziness. The next thing you know there will even be pedophiles in the clergy... oh, wait... or how about wars started in the name of.... oh, well... in god we trust, eh??
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Do we have a list yet of which gods it is we are trusting in?
Waiting for the detonation.....
At some rather indefinite point a trade name, such as "Thermos" becomes so deeply ingrained, and devoid of specific meaning, that it becomes a generic word, and looses its status. Much the same has happened with Pollock's religious motto "In God We Trust." Had it been used during the Civil War and for a few years after - say through 1876 - it might have retained its contemporary force. But by 1900, it was just another string of words that had to be stuck into already-cluttered designs, Having so much required hoarded words also makes it very difficult for good artists to break away from conventional design approaches.
On day, I'll print my definitive background story of the motto - it's researched and written - but I've not published it because a test issue sold poorly in a semi-bible belt area.
Some people believe in God and creation. Some people believe in Darwin and evolution. Maybe a few odd ducks believe in both ?
Anyway, "God" people tend to want the motto "In God We Trust" on money. I don't know why. Many of those same people would probably also view money as "dirty" and "sinful". Darwin people would probably like to see coins with a Darwin reference on it. So maybe it would only be fair to issue a few coins with this on it ?

Non denominational or nothing would be fine. But this topic is a dead horse has sailed. If we become cashless, will someone push for the motto on virtual currency?
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
If I chose the motto I would choose "IN DOG WE TRUST", because God made dogs to give us the one soul that loves us unconditionally.
Cheezo! I'm still searching for an In God We _rust. Peace Roy
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?? Most "God people" I know are inclined to accept evolution. They see the creation story as a metaphor. I don't think that makes them "odd ducks", except maybe to fundamentlists.
Now where is that nuke strike I was expecting....
>
As a scientist I don't "believe" in evolution... I accept the empirical data that's reproducible, peer reviewed, and published that leads to an acceptance of evolution as the best explanation for the origin of species. But, I suppose if someone failed college biology and chemistry courses... the belief that "god zapped us here" is more plausible.
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Without in god we trust it would be harder to find DDO.
I like Seated and Barber dimes.
I remember when the religious diehearts would start in on me while I was in college. I was a geology major so that was a conflict for them. The strict interpretation of the bible by most says the earth was created in 4004 BC. When they would query me on that I would simply say God created an old earth!
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing