A Debate On "In God We Trust" And The Constitution's "In The Year Of Our Lord".
The phrase "In God We Trust" is in the news this week first with the Supreme Court dodging whether it should be on government buildings or not and then with Michael Newdow's attempt to erase it from the currency of The United States.
"In God We Trust" is an exclamation of faith. It is obviously not an evangelist message no more than someone who states I believe in God is evangelizing. On the other hand if someone were to make me exclaim In Satan I trust I would balk and would not be happy to support a nation who held such beliefs but as to the later case the morality taught and practiced in that nation would be more important. Below is some fine words from the June 12, 1776 Virginia Bill of Rights on this subject.
The other side of the coin so to say is that the vast number of American claim to be theist of one sort or other that all hold faith in a God though not necessary the same God. Between 6 and 9 percent is the number of professed atheist and agnostics is the country and of them only the atheist can reasonably object to the phrase. So one question becomes do you oppress the majority by denying them an expression of their faith in the name of granting the religious rights of a minority or the minority by having them support an exclamation of faith they don’t believe in in the name of the right of the majority to practice theirs. Another question which can render the first irrelevant is whether the cost of adding the phrase "In God We Trust" is significantly different than not adding the phrase because if there is no harm then there is no foul. My conclusion so far is that the government should not spend a significant amount of money for no other reason to make a exclamation of faith or lack of faith for either the majority or minority of the People; nor should they stand in the way of anyone making such declarations even on government grounds by government employees unless the declaration is harmful to themselves or others.
Another point is that the Constitution itself professes belief in Jesus and therefore God with the phrase in the year of our Lord and the First Amendment is obviously not a way to amend it but rather to rationalize it as the above quote above from the Virginia Bill of Rights shows. So to remove the equivalent expression of belief in God from our coins and our buildings would be to deny the Constitution itself and the justification behind it.
"In God We Trust" is an exclamation of faith. It is obviously not an evangelist message no more than someone who states I believe in God is evangelizing. On the other hand if someone were to make me exclaim In Satan I trust I would balk and would not be happy to support a nation who held such beliefs but as to the later case the morality taught and practiced in that nation would be more important. Below is some fine words from the June 12, 1776 Virginia Bill of Rights on this subject.
16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our CREATOR, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity, towards each other.
The other side of the coin so to say is that the vast number of American claim to be theist of one sort or other that all hold faith in a God though not necessary the same God. Between 6 and 9 percent is the number of professed atheist and agnostics is the country and of them only the atheist can reasonably object to the phrase. So one question becomes do you oppress the majority by denying them an expression of their faith in the name of granting the religious rights of a minority or the minority by having them support an exclamation of faith they don’t believe in in the name of the right of the majority to practice theirs. Another question which can render the first irrelevant is whether the cost of adding the phrase "In God We Trust" is significantly different than not adding the phrase because if there is no harm then there is no foul. My conclusion so far is that the government should not spend a significant amount of money for no other reason to make a exclamation of faith or lack of faith for either the majority or minority of the People; nor should they stand in the way of anyone making such declarations even on government grounds by government employees unless the declaration is harmful to themselves or others.
Another point is that the Constitution itself professes belief in Jesus and therefore God with the phrase in the year of our Lord and the First Amendment is obviously not a way to amend it but rather to rationalize it as the above quote above from the Virginia Bill of Rights shows. So to remove the equivalent expression of belief in God from our coins and our buildings would be to deny the Constitution itself and the justification behind it.
posted by Kerwin | 2:30 PM
1 Comments:
This has to be one of the most mis-leading, poorly reasoned arguments I have ever read. The historical documents you present in favor of religion are inaccurate or purposely misleading, and the logic that the absence of a government supported religious motto is exclusionary is silly. The absence of a motto or deceleration on this topic is the only inclusionary option available.
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