Atheists Lose Battle To Have 'In God We Trust' Removed From U.S. Currency

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

Atheists suing to have the "In God We Trust" phrase removed from U.S. currency were smacked down on Thursday, when a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit.

The case against the U.S. Treasury Department and other government officials was brought forth by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and others earlier this year. Represented by lawyer and atheist Michael Newdow, the plaintiffs argued that they were "forced to proselytize -- by an Act of Congress -- for a deity they don't believe in whenever they handle money."

Newdow claimed that the placement of the motto on bills and coins was unconstitutional, in violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. He also claimed that the phrase had particular religious connotations that could be seen as discriminatory to non-believers, including numismatists who no longer felt comfortable collecting coins.

But in dismissing the suit, U.S. District Judge Harold Baer, Jr., wrote that "the Supreme Court has repeatedly assumed the motto's secular purpose and effect," according to the Associated Press. Baer also ruled that the federal appeals courts "have found no constitutional violation in the motto's inclusion on currency," and that the placement of the phrase didn't constitute a "substantial burden" on atheists.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/atheists-in-god-we-trust_n_3916762.html

[immoderate]

1. I've always wondered what it means...

I mean I understand what E Pluribus Unum means, at least since it was explained to me.

But I have never had "In God We Trust" explained in any way that I can understand what it means.

--imm

[DFW]

3. I was always told this:

Last edited Fri Sep 13, 2013, 06:03 AM - Edit history (1)

the implied message in "In God We Trust" was "All others pay cash"

[immoderate]

4. Yes, the joke theory of national mottoes...

And yet, it's the best fit.

--imm

[TreasonousBastard]

13. It all started during the War of 1812 with the "Star Spangled Banner"...

talking about trusting in God and all, but was put on coins during the Civil war, among other things to hint that God was on the Union side.

The Cold War brought it up again as a counter to the state-sponsored atheism of the Soviets. We're the God-fearing stalwarts to hold off the dirty Commie atheists. That's when it went on paper money.

Since it is felt in some parts that paper money has no value, such an affirmation in God as out protector would not have any value either, but that may go over the heads of those who think this sort of thing is important.

[Major Nikon]

16. It means the opposite

[jmowreader]

32. It's the English translation of "Gott Mit Uns"

[FSogol]

49. It means: "We're Number 1"

[Drale]

51. No I think it means Go Wildcats ./nt

[FSogol]

52. Wolverines!

[Scairp]

54. I don't actually care

Because I'm not the delusional one who believes in some "higher power" who created all on this earth including us. But I suspect one day they will get their wish and have this religious saying removed from our money. It's the right thing to do, church/state separation and all. But because this not very Christian acting country can't just admit that more people don't believe than do, even if they don't admit it, the fundamentalists cling to these sayings like some sort of lifeline and if they just hang on we'll once again become "One nation under god, blah, blah, blah". Not going to happen. Science is trumping myth and as we evolve into more thoughtful people, religion will mostly be a sentimental thing that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will find hard to fathom their ancestors actually believed was literal truth and not merely stories made up by Bronze Age peoples to explain how we and the Earth were formed.

[immoderate]

57. From your mouth to god's ears!

My great grandchildren won't be religious. But someone's probably will be. I don't ignore a possibility of a society regressing.


--imm

[AtheistCrusader]

2. The motto E Pluribus Unum is an actual example of a secular motto.

'In god we trust' is clearly not secular.

[Archae]

5. Although I am an atheist...

It doesn't bother me that there is this *CLEARLY* religious statement (you're a fucking idiot, Judge Baer,) on the money.

As long as I can use it.

I think there are more pressing religious issues in the US nowadays.
Like how religious "leaders" get away with molesting boys, religious "parents" are given nearly full carte blanche at times to abuse and neglect their kids, and military holy rollers are allowed to bully non-religious troops.

[Heather MC]

12. +1 Funny thing we don't trust God if we did we wouldn't threaten to bomb anyone ever we would just

pray for their destruction and trust God will provide
LOL

[maxsolomon]

6. yeah, what exactly is the "secular purpose and effect" again?

it was added because communists were atheists by another know-nothing congress at the height of cold-war hysteria.

i'd rather it was left on the money and churches paid taxes.

[unblock]

7. it's common among theocrats to confuse "ecumenical" with "secular"

they think they're being fair by saying "god" instead of, say, "jesus", because "god" is more inclusive.

of course, it not only doesn't pertain to atheists, it also doesn't pertain to polytheists.


it is, on its face, an affirmation of the existence of god and is therefore practically the furthest thing possible from secular.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. It'll happen eventually.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. If you come to belief in God only because He was advertised on your money then

you're exactly the kind of person God doesn't want believing in Him.

[burrowowl]

10. How sad

even Christians should protest this as it is blasphemous to have God's name on bloody lucre

[rpannier]

23. Theodore Roosevelt tried that logic

And it blew up in his face.
I happen to agree with Teddy

[dawn frenzy adams]

11. Typically when the name God is applied to something...

The people that do this, are up to no good.

[longship]

14. Totally expected.

Put on all money as a result of McCarthyism during Eisenhower's administration. Fear of the evil, atheistic Soviet Russia. If they were secular, we had to be theistic.

One of the most mindless and useless things the USA has ever done. It served no other point than to divide the country and replaced the original motto, e plurbus unum, one out of many.

[Larry Ogg]

15. If the money printers wanted to be objective they would put "In Banksters We Trust" on it...

However, people might start seeing our ponzi scheme monetary system for what it really is, and the monetary predators that benefit from peoples ignorance wouldn't like that.

[thesquanderer]

17. Ironic, putting God's name on the root of all evil.

An atheist might be inclined to say that is merely truth in advertising.

[jb5150]

34. Actually the bible doesn't say that ...

it says the "love" of money is the root of all evil. By the way, I'm an atheist.

[RebelOne]

18. This atheist knew they wouldn't have a chance in hell (if there is such a place)

of removing "In God We Trust" from our currency

[CarrieLynne]

19. Problem is - it probably belongs there more than most realize...

since money is the true god of this world....

it determines how & when you eat, how/where and how well you sleep, where you live, how you live and IF you live....sounds like a god to me.....
certainly more than an imaginary friend up in the sky....

[0rganism]

20. "the motto's secular purpose and effect"

secular? Excuse me?

[RetroLounge]

21. I sometimes take a sharpie

and cross it out on all my paper money.

RL

[philosslayer]

28. What a productive use of your time

N/T

[Xipe Totec]

39. Irony is not your second nature, is it. nt

[RetroLounge]

55. THanks for saving me the trouble

RL

[snooper2]

46. You just gave me a new hobby LOL

thanks

[RetroLounge]

56. ...

RL

[Politicalboi]

22. Why must we pay for the extra ink?

I want that motto gone too. Some day soon I hope we will get rid of ALL religion in our government. No swearing in a fucking old book full of fantasy. You swear in on the Constitution ONLY. And NO prayer meetings unless OFF the clock, and OFF the premises.

[xocet]

24. In God Wet Rust? n/t

[daleo]

25. What is the motto's secular purpose?

Frankly, that baffles me.

[Xipe Totec]

40. It's to cover your ass when you sit on your wallet. nt

[bravenak]

26. By GOD they meant money.

Right?

[forestpath]

27. Fuck that judge and everyone who shoves their religion down my throat.

[Uncle Joe]

29. It's not just atheists, Hindus believe in many Gods and Goddesses.

The phrase whether intended or not De Facto states there is only one God.

Thanks for the thread, onehandle.

[defacto7]

30. It's just strange to me

that there is a name depicting a being in a motto on US currency that can't be defined or agreed upon. I guess it can mean anything you want it to mean, but that's what stupid about it. Then again money is the same way... can't be defined or agreed upon... constantly changes value, has worth in one form but no worth in another, it's worth one thing to one country and something else in another. And when it wears out, you burn it and print more.

Is that what god is like? Ah, now I understand.

[yuiyoshida]

31. I wonder...

Is there any other country in the world, that puts "GOD" on their money?

[matt in france]

35. the Netherlands

they stamp GOD on the side edge of their Dutch minted 2 euro coins, so yes, I in secular France am obliged to use their shit fucking dutch 2 euro coin with "The edge lettering features the words GOD * ZIJ * MET * ONS (God Be With Us). The same lettering had been applied to the larger guilder coins." even though i am an athiest and it is illegal to mention religion on money in France, yet another reason i want france to leave the euro zone! here in France you dont swear on a bible in court or when you become president or something, you swear on the constitution! the president NEVER invokes god, or says god bless france.....

[yuiyoshida]

45. fascinating

thank you.

[Arugula Latte]

47. Interesting. The Netherlands is wisely evolving away from religious belief.

Apparently only 39 percent are religiously affiliated, and 51 percent are described as "non religious."

I can only dream of a day this ignorant, backwards country (USA) gets numbers like that.

[SeattleVet]

33. At least be honest about it...

Just takes a small change in the dies:

"In Gold We Trust"

[Nihil]

36. I suppose "In Mammon We Trust" is a little too obvious.

[JRLeft]

37. I am an Atheist and I do not care that our currency says In God We Trust.

[Democracyinkind]

38. I think the motto aptly explains the fundamentals of our imperial economy.

[LibertyLover]

41. It simply boggles my mind

that a reference to God and putting trust in him can be considered secular in any way. It just doesn't compute.

[Sunlei]

42. wonder how much this Foundation spent for this Federal court battle over text on money?

“Any fool can criticize, complain, condemn, and most fools do. Picking your battles is impressive and fighting them fairly is essential.” —Dale Carnegie.

[Paulie]

50. $273k in 2012 for legal battles

Probably end up being similar in 2013 as this one of a dozen cases have been a few years in the making.

"This Foundation" isn't as church so posts their finances as required by law.

[CrispyQ]

43. "Thou shall have no other God before me."

I find it interesting that they put "In God We Trust" on money, considering that Mammon is what this country really worships.

[Nye Bevan]

44. This is VERY IMPORTANT and I hope the plaintiffs keep fighting.

I know a great many people who wanted to be atheists but instead were effectively forced to be devoutly religious because of this slogan being printed on their cash.

[Arugula Latte]

48. That's not the point of the suit and you know it.

Nice red herring, though.

[Deep13]

53. 1st Amendment loses to popular opinion. nt