Either “In God We Trust” means something religious or it doesn’t.
During the Civil War and the Cold War “In God We Trust” stamped on our coins was meant to acknowledge our reliance on our creator. Later, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit seem to say it did not mean anything religious, but only to inspire.
If it means something religious: for example if it implies we as a nation trust in a Judeo-Christian God, not an Islamic view, or we trust in God, not gods, or we trust in God, not no God at all, then Roger Williams would agree it never should have been on our coins and violates the freedom of conscience for which he instituted the separation of church and state.
If it does not mean something then it is worse. Roger Williams would abhor it, as false worship, a pretending, a taking God’s name in vain, a “top ten” violation.
However, it’s meaning may be historical. It is undeniable that our forefathers took ideas from scripture into the law. In that sense it is historical cultural memory of where we came from, as opposed to a current day religious statement. It is a recognition that our expectation of rights does not come from government, or from the majority but from what our founders believed was a higher power.
In our era, a time of burgeoning national debt, a refugee crisis, and vast income inequality, it seems a bit over the top to spend money changing OR defending the format of our money. In any case having it or removing it should not prevent anyone that wants to from trusting in God.
Fox News: Atheist’s Challenge “In God We Trust”
Order historical fiction novel Rekindled with the button below.
