Should "In God We Trust" be taken off the US currency?

[rulezdaworld0]

First off, sorry if this is in the wrong forum, cause I think it may fall under 'Politics and Law' just as much as religion.

But, what are people's opinions? I for one, despite being an athiest (and never having set foot in america my whole life) am against it. Simply because you only notice it if you sit down and read it. Nobody's that sad. Also, I believe it may take time away from congress for more important topics. If they debated it now for instance, what about terrorism? Or a possible swine flu epidemic? Or Micheal Jackson's death? (lol).

On the other hand it sort of does violate the whole seperation of church and state thing by assuming that the US is purely a christian country.

 

[Homunclus]

It kinda sounds more trouble than it's worth, think of the expenses of removing the currency, make new one, etc...

And I agree it's not in any way a priority

 

[theatheistguy]

Before the Euro, the Greeks still has stuff on their money of ancient gods, it was kind of a heritage thing, but in the case of the States, I think it does nothing but help this idea of a 'Christian Nation'. Get it remove, and out of the pledge, get the ten commandments removed from courthouses and stop the president from swearing on the bible. It's all idiotic and effectively meaningless.

 

[IBSpify]

The president does not have to swear in on the bible, many do because they are Christians, that's the only reason the bible is used to swear them in, because they choose that

I agree the the pledge should return to the way it was originally written, and while i think the words in god we trust should be removed from the currency i don't think there is really a pressing need for it

as for removing the old money that's simple, you don't, you simply stop printing the words on the new money and allow time and circulation run it's course

 

[Artsysiridean]

as for removing the old money that's simple, you don't, you simply stop printing the words on the new money and allow time and circulation run it's course

Repeated because it's very true. That's how money works.

I think the saying should just be updated. Not reflecting any religious values or lack thereof, just that it's a bit old.

 

[e2iPi]

What a nation chooses to put on our currency says a lot about what that nation values as a society. Seemingly all nations have paid homage to their great patriots and leaders, most have symbols of nationalism or the national motto, some even have depictions of their societies greatest achievements from antiquity, or the more recent past. They are those things which are a source of national pride and unity. A few nations have chosen to honor those who have made great contributions to the world in the form of scientific genius. Newton, Kelvin, Faraday and Darwin have all been honored on British currency. Copernicus was featured on a Polish banknote, Germany and Austria have honored Gauss and Schrodinger. Galileo was featured on Italian money. France has honored Marie and Pierre Curie among others. Switzerland honored Euler (I actually have one of these notes ). Even the United States has not completely missed the boat in honoring one of it's great thinkers, Benjamin Franklin.

I hold no delusions that any single image or motto would be acceptable to everyone in a society, particularly the United States as we are nation of immigrants. People from every corner of the world, from every ethnic background and every imaginable creed proudly call themselves American. The ascertain "In God We Trust" is not a unifying principal in American society, it is not a source of national pride and those who believe that everyone who is a true American should subscribe to this unofficial motto are ignorant of the very thing which has made America great. Removing a source of division from one of our nations most visible symbols is long overdue. e pluribus unum.

-1

 

[Aught3]

Yeah get rid of it the cold war's over. Actually since the wars going on at the moment are against islamic fundamentalists perhaps it needs to be changed to "there is no god" or something equally silly.

 

[monitoradiation]

How about everyone just take a felt pen and replace it with "In Gold We Trust"? :3

 

[WolfAU]

I'm an Australian, so not sure what my oppinions worth on the topic, but I do feel that it is a breach of "seperation of church and state" and was put on for all the wrong reasons. It should be removed and so should "One nation under God" from the pledge, but I agree this shouldn't be seen as a priority.

 

[e2iPi]

How about everyone just take a felt pen and replace it with "In Gold We Trust"? :3

Nope, Nixon took us off the gold standard in 1971.

 

[Raistlin Majere]

It should be removed. The pledge also needs to be fixed and we need to stop swearing on the bible in courts as witnesses. There's an ass backwards idea. Swearing to tell the truth on a book with more lies in it than I can count.

 

[rulezdaworld0]

It should be removed. The pledge also needs to be fixed and we need to stop swearing on the bible in courts as witnesses. There's an ass backwards idea. Swearing to tell the truth on a book with more lies in it than I can count.

In courts as well? Or just the pledge?

 

[Gimble]

"By the people, for the people..." Our currency doesn't represent ALL the people. From my point of view, it is a huge embarrassment that our goverment shamelessly posts our nation's mass delusion as if it represents what America is all about.

When the hell is the world going to wake up? I'm getting impatient - there's no reason why it shouldn't happen in my own lifetime.

 

[RestrictedAccess]

While getting 'in God we trust' off the money shouldn't be a high priority, it did manage to make it on there through an act on Congress. As congress is not supposed to pass any laws favoring any particular religion, 'in God we trust' is arguably an unconstitutional additive to our money.

I'm honestly concerned about the correct implementation of "separation of church and state", but 'in God we trust' is simply not one of those concerns..

 

[rulezdaworld0]

"By the people, for the people..." Our currency doesn't represent ALL the people. From my point of view, it is a huge embarrassment that our goverment shamelessly posts our nation's mass delusion as if it represents what America is all about.

When the hell is the world going to wake up? I'm getting impatient - there's no reason why it shouldn't happen in my own lifetime.

It may, I mean with all the advances in science they say we could be living to 150 years old...
We've seen that the better science and technology becomes, the less people believe in the supernatural, and the outright bollocks.

Every 18 months, computers half the size and/or double the power, but as they become more powerful, surely the faster they are able to become even more powerful (if you get me). In other words, the more athiests there are, the faster the number of athiests will increase. Although I doubt that this will pressure the government to change the currency thing. Too much effort

 

[Vonensor]

As an American I won't miss it if it goes. Because we don't trust in god. It's just a facade.
e2ipi : Thanks for posting the list of scientist etc... found on different currencies, I'd like to add to the list Tesla found on the Serbian note.

 

[monitoradiation]

Nope, Nixon took us off the gold standard in 1971.

Yeah. I recall something like that. I was just trying to make an unfunny joke T_T

 

[Aught3]

Perhaps more accurate?

 

[e2iPi]

Yeah. I recall something like that. I was just trying to make an unfunny joke T_T

Yeah, me too. Guess it didn't take

 

[rulezdaworld0]

Perhaps more accurate?

MUCH more accurate!
Well, more so if Bush was still in power.