“In God We Trust” shouldn’t be on official currency anyway but don’t get me started.
I’d like to hear your argument on that. Not necessarily that I disagree. I’m just curious.
The text was added in the 50’s (along with “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance) as a way of distinguishing our nation from the godless Communist menace presented by the Soviet Union.
So first of all, it’s an anachronistic holdover from the Cold War–so even if you agree with the logic that put it on our currency, that foundational reason no longer exists. Secondly, it’s a poor descriptor of our nation, which our founders explicitly stated is not a Christian nation. And thirdly, even at the time, it was a bad way to distinguish us from the Soviets–belief in God was a much less distinguishing characteristic than the freedom to believe or not believe in God as you chose. Or democracy. Or other civil rights.
I know all the history behind it, I just don’t really care either way. I wouldn’t be too phased if it went away, and I wouldn’t be too phased if it didn’t go away.
Must… not… gaa…
Fazed. It’s fazed.
But yeah, it’s small potatoes in the whole state establishment of religion problem we have in this country. There are much bigger fish to fry. I imagine this comes up a lot because everyone’s seen it, the history is so unambiguously unconstitutional, and nobody stands to gain financially from it being the way it is, so the number of people willing to spend billions on lawyers to keep things the way they are should be low. Contrast this with tax-exempt status for churches or the Hobby Lobby decision.