In God We Trust

What does it mean?

In 1956, an act of the United States Congress effectively supplanted the national motto "E Pluribus Unum" for "In God We Trust." This was largely a move to cast the United States in a light opposite that of Communism, which was largely associated with atheism (adding "Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance was also part of this movement). Not only was that not really true, but Communism is no longer a threat to any sort of religion or political regime. So why keep it?

Keeping "In God We Trust" as the national motto of the United States of America is still casting us in a light opposite that of others. Except now we're the bad guys. Keeping such a federal endorsement of religion emboldens the radical evangelicals and helps in part to keep the United States behind in social and technological developments (in addition to being a violation of the Constitution). There was once a time when religion controlled the government. They were called the Dark Ages.

The radical religious right prevent us from legalizing gay marriage, which is a human rights issue and has nothing to do with religion. The RRR prevents stem cell research, because using frozen embryos that are going to be discarded anyway to cure diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and spinal injuries is somehow 'destroying life.'

However, "E Pluribus Unum" (Latin for "Out of many, one"😉 is a uniting motto as opposed to a dividing one. Originally referring to the original thirteen colonies becoming one nation, it evolved as America became a nation of immigrants. No matter what or how many different cultures enter our borders, no matter what hardships we all face, we are one nation and we stand united.

But no. We continue to have a motto on our money and in our lives that continues to send a message that is categorically un-American.

In God we trust yet bible teaching in school not possible?

I think putting "God" on our money says less how we feel about God and more how we feel about money.
loveshower

disturbing stuff.
eh, money isn't everything.

Originally posted by Mindship
I think putting "God" on our money says less how we feel about God and more how we feel about money.
loveshower

Ha! I absolutely concur.

I think Russia, without a doubt has the best country motto - ''Workers of the World, unite!''

(You have nothing to lose but your chains)

...

There are a lot of things which are categorically un-American in America today, and we can argue this is one of those.

I'm sorry to be a horrible off-topic pedant, but in absolutely no way at all was the time when relgion controlled the Government called 'The Dark Ages'. A Dark Age refers to a time from whiuch we have insufficient recorded history- nothing to do with a time of evil or what-not, except when used by clueless laymen- and the term 'The' Dark Age generally refers to a very elongated example of that process in Britain during the first millenium AD.

Religion controlled (or at least had a huge influence on) Government in huge swathes of historical times that were not at all Dark.

I don't think many people pay attention to things such as national mottos any more, do they?

Originally posted by JaehSkywalker
In God we trust yet bible teaching in school not possible?

Hello fool, teaching the Bible in schoold is 100% legal as long as it is not preached. Many public schools have it as part of their cirruculum, including my former HS.

E Pluripus Unum is much more romantic, but its in Latin, meaning 99% of Americans can't understand it. What they cand understand and gobble up is "I believe in God" and not examine the consequences.

Originally posted by Alliance
Hello fool, teaching the Bible in schoold is 100% legal as long as it is not preached. Many public schools have it as part of their cirruculum, including my former HS.

E Pluripus Unum is much more romantic, but its in Latin, meaning 99% of Americans can't understand it. What they cand understand and gobble up is "I believe in God" and not examine the consequences.

Then you should re read your bible, because in the bible, Jesus says that those who call another person (their brother) racca (or fool) is in danger of hell fire. But the real question is, do you really understand why that's a problem or why Jesus would have said that?

🤨 Did that have any coherence or relevance to my statement?

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
''Workers of the World, unite!''

At a benefit dinner, Bush had used the terms, "the Haves," and the "Have Mores," these as opposed to the "Have Nots," which are 99% of us. What don't we have? Excess wealth, which in itself is not bad. What I personally don't like is when the Haves and the Have-Mores use their wealth and power to acquire even More, and often to the detriment of the Have Nots, or as in my case and most people I know, the "Don't Wants (we have what we need and are happy with it)."

In other words, if someone lives for money, great, go for it. But then, don't use that money to shape society so that you can reap even more, far more than you really need (eg, $20,000 shower curtains), and in turn making it harder for those who are content with $20 shower curtains. I don't need nor want my world to go faster and faster and become harsher and harsher just so you Haves and Have-Mores can fatten your bank accounts in trying to one-up one another.

The world now demands more, promises more and delivers less. It is increasingly becoming "Type-A." And that's not good news for all us relaxed, live-and-let-live B types. Our world needs more compassion, not more deceit and greed.

"Dont-Wants of the World, Unite!"

(To the thread starter, I apologize: my rant should probably have been put in the "American Dream - what a joke" thread. But the opportunity to respond was here).

I'm confused as how a slogan on a coin deters technological advancement...

Originally posted by Alliance
🤨 Did that have any coherence or relevance to my statement?

you said "hello fool" to someone, in the same sentence about God/bible...just pointing out what the word "fool" means to Jesus.

Ok, I see the coherence, but it still has no relevance. He is ignorant of US law.

Originally posted by Alliance
Ok, I see the coherence, but it still has no relevance. He is ignorant of US law.

it's only relevant to your statement, not the entire thread.

Originally posted by silver_tears
I'm confused as how a slogan on a coin deters technological advancement...

Originally posted by Ushgarak
I'm sorry to be a horrible off-topic pedant, but in absolutely no way at all was the time when relgion controlled the Government called 'The Dark Ages'. A Dark Age refers to a time from whiuch we have insufficient recorded history- nothing to do with a time of evil or what-not, except when used by clueless laymen- and the term 'The' Dark Age generally refers to a very elongated example of that process in Britain during the first millenium AD.

Religion controlled (or at least had a huge influence on) Government in huge swathes of historical times that were not at all Dark.

I don't think many people pay attention to things such as national mottos any more, do they?

IT EMPOWERS THE RADICAL, RELIGIOUS RIGHT-WINGERS TO KILL GAYS AND PETITION ONE-STOP ABORTION SHOPS

IT'S A TRAAAAAAP

Actually, its a perfect example of right-wing zelotry..how even our nations historci past can be bastardized to support "moral" "majorities"

Originally posted by Strangelove
But no. We continue to have a motto on our money and in our lives that continues to send a message that is categorically un-American.

In addition, some non-Christian minorities aren’t all that small. American Muslims may already outnumber American Jews, while the U.S. Buddhist and Hindu communities number around one million each. Then there’s the real elephant in the living room; The number of Americans with no religious preference (including secular humanists and atheists, but a lot of other folks besides) has doubled in the last ten years to 16 percent. That’s forty-seven million people, making “Nones” more numerous than any single faith group except Roman Catholics.

It’s also worth noting that in what Religious Right activists love to call “a Christian nation” and “the most devout industrialized country on Earth,” fully forty percent of the population belongs to no church, temple, synagogue, or mosque.

Originally posted by Adam_PoE

It’s also worth noting that in what Religious Right activists love to call “a Christian nation” and “the most devout industrialized country on Earth,” fully forty percent of the population belongs to no church, temple, synagogue, or mosque.

Originally posted by Strangelove
Well if you notice, I didn't even mention the money. The fact that it's our current national motto is the important part

Fair enough, how does a motto deter technological growth then?