Atheist wants "In God We Trust" off money

[Nekusagi]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/merc...s/california/northern_california/13160876.htm

...Okay. Anyone else think that this is just a wee bit crazy? I mean, the pledge was one thing, and was completely reasonable, but this is money we're talking about. Not something anyone's forced to say.

Also, if this is such an issue, wouldn't other atheists have brought it up by now? At least with the Pledge of Allegiance, there had been prior complaints. But I'm pretty positive this is the first time for money.

On the other hand, if he's so offended by his money, I'll gladly take it off his hands for him.

 

[Archaic]

It's only on the money because the phrase was inserted into the pledge. It's another of those old holdovers which has no place in modern society, and it really should be removed from any new money printed or minted, though I wouldn't advocate recalling all the existing money just to change the line. Let them live out their normal lifespans before being handed in by the banks to be melted down and reminted as new, like all money is anyway.

 

[Zeta]

I agree with Archaic. The phrase on our cash is . . . well, archaic. Not to mention I can also see how it can be offensive to theists who would rather keep their God off their cash. I mean, Jesus was pissed off about money-changing in his father's temple. I can't imagine he would be too happy with his pop's name stuck on money itself. In fact, I could really only picture Greek or Roman Gods being kosher with the setup.

 

[Mozz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

Pretty interesting history of the phrase.

 

[Argy]

OMG letz all boycott money!!!!11

I wish it weren't there, but to be honest, I really don't think about it all that much.

 

[Kthx]

Got this in an e-mail:

"According to the US Census, 86% of US citizens believe in God. So why don't we tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up!"

This whole political correctness thing is going to far. I mean, I know that we have religious freedom in this nation, but this nation was built on the fundamentals of Christianity. I am a Christian and proud of it, and I don't mind saying God during the pledge every morning (which none of the kids in my homeroom say anyway because it's "uncool" to support the nation you live in), and I don't mind seeing it on my money. Atheists should just learn to deal with this nation and the religion it was built upon.

*Please note that I have no problem with people of any other religion. I just think that people should respect one anothers beliefs and stop bitching.

 

[Zeta]

"According to the US Census, 86% of US citizens believe in God. So why don't we tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up!"

Because the majority is always right. If you disagree with the majority, you're wrong!

Yeah, that doesn't fly too far.

I mean, I know that we have religious freedom in this nation, but this nation was built on the fundamentals of Christianity.

1) Prove that it was built on the fundamentals of Christianity. I don't see shit to prove that. If anything, it seems this nation was built on a loosely based understanding of the Roman Republic state.

In fact, Christianity lends itself to monarchies. Not Republics.

I am a Christian and proud of it, and I don't mind saying God during the pledge every morning

And if it said "Allah" or "Buddha" or "Zeus", would you still mind?

(which none of the kids in my homeroom say anyway because it's "uncool" to support the nation you live in)

What does saying the pledge have to do with supporting the nation? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the country's wellfare is magically determined by how many people say the pledge. It's not like Tinkerbell - it doesn't become better when the audience at home claps their hands.

and I don't mind seeing it on my money.

Again, would you mind seeing "All Hail Zeus, Lord of Olympus" on your cash? Or even better: "Cash is real, God ain't"?

Atheists should just learn to deal with this nation and the religion it was built upon.

Except it wasn't built on that religion, and if people just dealt with things instead of trying to change them - nothing would ever improve.

*Please note that I have no problem with people of any other religion. I just think that people should respect one anothers beliefs and stop bitching.

Um, trying to say that 14% of a country should shut up doesn't seem like respecting their beliefs to me. But that's just my humble opinion. Perhaps you have a different definition for respect I'm not aware of?

 

[Mozz]

Problem: Why was "God" prominent throughout the first 100 years of the country? Why was it mentioned so damn much in governmental proceedings?

 

[Zeta]

Problem: Why was "God" prominent throughout the first 100 years of the country? Why was it mentioned so damn much in governmental proceedings?

The individuals running the country were religious. This does not neccessarily mean that:

A) The country as a whole was built on a singular religious idealogy.

B) That most or all governmental or legislative decisions were based on a single religion.

C) Or if A and B ARE true, then it still doesn't mean that things should continue in that fashion, or that it would even be in the best interest of the country to do so.

 

[Argy]

And if it said "Allah" or "Buddha" or "Zeus", would you still mind?

Nitpick! Allah and the god Christians worship are one and the same. "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "the god." But, yes, I agree with your point.

"Cash is real, God ain't"

If I ran my own country, I'd have THAT on my money! >

"According to the US Census, 86% of US citizens believe in God. So why don't we tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up!"

According to Wikipedia, 98% of Iranian citizens are Muslim. So why don't we tell the other 2% to sit down and shut up!

or would you prefer

China has the biggest army in the world. So why don't we tell the other countries to sit down and shut up!

 

[Mozz]

So this 1% of the country who are offended know better?

 

[Argy]

Not necessarily, of course, but it's the "sit down and shut up" line that irks me. People, even idiots, should have the right to voice their opinions.

 

[Archaic]

Problem: Why was "God" prominent throughout the first 100 years of the country? Why was it mentioned so damn much in governmental proceedings?

Atheist, agnostic and deistic politicians (who dominated the early government) pandering to the masses.

 

[A Concerned Solomon]

I don't know how a phrase on money really affects anyone's life in a meaningful enough way that they would want to go to the Supreme Court to stop it. But I see no real reason this case should be lost.

 

[Joey]

What it all comes down to is balance. Atheists have the right to be free from religion, and the religious have the right to celebrate their religion. Obviously the two are going to conflict whatever happens.

Personally I don't give a damn about God being on money. With the internet and credit cards it already feels like money is being phased out anyway. It seems rather silly to imagine some athiest agonizing every time he looks at a dollar bill.

 

[Archaic]

The point is less that the Atheists feel put off by the phrase, and more that the phrase violates constitutional law. There's some pretty big legal ramifications in something violating that law on such a large scale, ramifications which the courts would be quite anxious to avoid.

 

[The Big Al]

This is an amusing topic. Though, how many people even notice "In God We Trust" on there money? Oh well, Democracy in action.

 

[Pro-Life-7]

Funny Fourm.

It's pretty funny and shows how smart an Theist is.
Since Theists don't believe in God, or any god for that matter, why would they even care if the words " In God We Trust" were on it?

It's funny, they are not offended by t.v. shows or movies or music. Or a brand of food or a brand of a car..etc..and you can find all that all over the world!

We don't see Theists trying to change things in Islam or Israel.

Ploblem is there are so many races in the USA someone is going to get offended sooner or later and start a club or group to try to change America.

Why has no anyone started a Theist school? They should feel at home there. Why not just make one State just for the Theists, another for the Christians..etc.. As for as money, its been this way since America has been here. Why change it for ANYONE?
When ever you are an Theist, Christian, Jew, Islam, etc..
The laws we follow everyone is suppose to follow them too.

Not everyone likes them. Some are quiet dumb. Some make your blood boil. But It's the law as we know them.

Everyone should be glad they just live in America. And have free speech and freedom. A lot of places in this world you will get killed for just saying something you dont like.

So the way I see it, I have about 45 years left If I'm lucky.
It's going to take more then 45 years to turn America into a 100% Theist County or any other for that matter.

In the mean time I have the freedom to say and do what I want by law.

Another thing, how many people really carry cash around?
Once you get paid you put it in the bank. You then use either a checkbook or credit card.

Notice there is no " In God We Trust" on a check or credit card?

We can't even use common sense anymore without some "special group" getting offended.

What a world!

 

[Pro-Life-7]

Nitpick! Allah and the god Christians worship are one and the same. "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "the god." But, yes, I agree with your point.

Allah is NOT the God who created the world! History HAS proved Allah is the moon god! A false god. Allah WAS created by mans mind! A Idol!

You are true though on saying " Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "the god." But which God? A flase god or the crreator? But God, the one who created the world, has never called himself "Allah." So Allah is not the same God.

 

[Pie]

Oooh, you know, I could care less about the whole issue, but I just can't resist this.

It's pretty funny and shows how smart an Theist is.

Unfortunately, grammar is beyond them.

Or did you mean Atheist and change it at the last second for mysterious reasons?

Since Theists don't believe in God, or any god for that matter, why would they even care if the words " In God We Trust" were on it?

Guess so. Hey, maybe it's because they don't trust in God?

Why not just make one State just for the Theists, another for the Christians..etc..

Hey, not a bad idea! Why stop there, though? We can dice up the whole country's location based on their beliefs, their class, and their race! It'll do nicely with that problem about all those pesky Native Americans that want their ancestor's land back - it doesn't really matter to them what part of the nation they're living in, right? Nobody'll mind moving, and I'm sure if the rich Anglo-Saxon Christians happen to get the part of the country that has the highest quality of life and stuff it'd just be a coincidence. My non-existant God, why hasn't anyone thought of this before?!

Translation - Please tell me you were joking, because if you were, you didn't show it particularly well.

As for as money, its been this way since America has been here.

What in the hell were those funny slips of paper they had before, then?!

In the mean time I have the freedom to say and do what I want by law.

Yeah! Like speak up when something offends your beliefs, no matter how small and trivial! Like, I dunno, currency that reflects the religious beliefs of a portion of the nation that excludes you!

...wait a second...

Another thing, how many people really carry cash around?
Once you get paid you put it in the bank. You then use either a checkbook or credit card.

Huh. My checkbook or credit card is unusually green and acceptable at vending machines.

We can't even use common sense anymore without some "special group" getting offended.

Yeah. Damn those minorities! The majority can't do anything that completely ignores those guys without them piping up with that free speech of theirs or doing something equally whiny.

Allah is NOT the God who created the world! History HAS proved Allah is the moon god! A false god. Allah WAS created by mans mind! A Idol!

"But my God totally wasn't created by man's mind because it's mine so THERE!"