"In God We Trust" is non-denominational.
Still a waste of time and money.

Lurking Fear: "In God We Trust" is non-denominational.
Still a waste of time and money.

As an atheist, I have to point out that your "non-denominational" misses the point. A buddhist would be tempted to as well. And the Animists. And the Polytheists. Etc.

Lurking Fear: "In God We Trust" is non-denominational.
Still a waste of time and money.

I don't really agree with the non-denominational claim. It's pretty clear that it's meant to be the Christian god. The phrasing was made by Christians, supported by Christians, and it's Christians who fight against it. If you look at all religious people in the United States who believe in a single god around 98% of them are Christian. It's difficult to imagine that the phrase represents any other god or gods than the Christian god.

Tell it to the hand, I'm an atheist too. Personally, I find all religion a crutch for the weak minded, and another mode of control of the masses.

Lurking Fear: "In God We Trust" is non-denominational.
Still a waste of time and money.

Yes, it doesn't specify which denomination of Christianity it refers to.

Republicans actually believe that if we pray hard enough god will make fires stop burning. For all they know having god on the money will make everyone rich.

farking scumbag republicans. remember, the first thing they did upon seizing the house was to read the constitution aloud. they are big on symbols and short on policy - unless it's symbolic policy, such as defunding planned parenthood and NPR.

I couldn't farking believe this when I heard it. And not just because I don't believe in their sky wizard.

I can't wait until the trolls show up to try to justify this monumental waste of time.

Barbigazi: For all they know having god on the money will make everyone rich.

It's a good thing none of those people remember anything about camels and needles.

Shhh. We're trying to fool God that we still obey His wishes. "Oh, well...the United States puts people to death all the time, violating my 'thou shalt not kill' order, but LOOK! They have 'In God We Trust' on their money and government buildings! I guess they really do still respect Me. I guess I won't smite them after all."

He's a freaking moron. He'll fall for this. He's such a dope.

Does anybody else remember how the tea party wasn't a socially conservative movement? How's that derp and change working out for you?

"In God We Trust"...what does that even mean?

No really, I know it's bullshiat but even in context, what is it supposed to mean?

"As our nation faces challenging times, it is appropriate for Members of Congress and our nation-like our predecessors-to firmly declare our trust in God, believing that it will sustain us for generations to come."

Translation: "We don't really give a fig about your problem. Want a job? Pray for it, dick. We're too busy pandering to bother."

Every single one of them who campaigned on JOBS and won a seat in the last election should have their phone ringing off the hook, night and day, with outrage from the people who voted for them. But they don't. And that's what I don't understand.

Maybe it's because deep down, we all know it won't matter.

If it's "non-denominational", then there'd be no harm in simply changing it to "Gods", right? I mean, the monotheist flavor of godbotherer will understand that it only means "their" god, and the polytheists will be fine with it.

I'd like to know what the resident religiotrolls here have to say about this.

Oh, and also:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
-T. Jefferson

Lando Lincoln: He's a freaking moron. He'll fall for this. He's such a dope.

It is sad and revealing how many religious people think so very little of their God. They play semantics and technicalities in hopes He won't notice, cheerlead to make up for their lack of faith (or, even worse, as a competition between the believers), and basically don't give a sh*t about Him.

dahmers love zombie: If it's "non-denominational", then there'd be no harm in simply changing it to "Gods", right? I mean, the monotheist flavor of godbotherer will understand that it only means "their" god, and the polytheists will be fine with it.

I'd like to know what the resident religiotrolls here have to say about this.

Oh, and also:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
-T. Jefferson



I need to correct myself. That signature is technically John Adams, who was President, though since the Treaty of Tripoli was unanimously ratified by the Senate, the "author" of record is the Senate. Translation of the treaty was performed by Joel Barlow.

Figured I should self-correct before someone uses that error as an excuse to attempt to ignore the whole of the quote.

Mugato: In God We Trust

It means that people would rather trust in a myth instead of trusting in humanity and our ability to overcome problems on our own.

Money=God. Rich people have better lives so they feel they are closer to heaven. They think God only exists for them, and rewards them with money. They can influence law makers to create more laws that target poor people and people of color. Or the 'others'. 'Them'. 'That one'.

Poor people are closer to poverty, stigma, discrimination, hatred, police abuse, and eventually jail. They feed the money mill so the rich can stay on top.

Happy Holidays!

Why is Congress trying to allay responsibility to some religious figure? God doesn't write our laws. God doesn't enforce those laws. God doesn't determine the best course of action that we as a collective nation can or should take to alleviate our various issues. I don't trust some figure of imagination to oversee all these, I want to trust the people elected whose job it is to oversee all these. Why are these elected figures trying to tell me that it is not they who are to be trusted with such matters? Perhaps they should step down if they believe they are not up to that task.

I thought American money has a picture of a Roman God on it?

The House has passed many job creating bills that are being blocked by Senate democrats. Why not tell Harry Reid to pass those bills, instead of complaining about "In God We Trust"

SkinnyHead: The House has passed many job creating bills that are being blocked by Senate democrats. Why not tell Harry Reid to pass those bills, instead of complaining about "In God We Trust"

Because those bills are shiatty.

SkinnyHead: The House has passed many job creating bills that are being blocked by Senate democrats.

bwahahahahahahahahah *deep breath* bwahahahahahahahaha

Lurking Fear: "In God We Trust" is non-denominational.

it officially endorses the existence of a "god" and is therefore in violation of the separation clause of the first amendment. leaving it as is - on money, etc. is no big deal for most atheists like myself. it's tradition and it doesn't really hurt anyone. but passing new legislation to affirm it as our national motto is unconstitutional and a colossal waste of taxpayer money.

My 'favorite' line of the bill:

Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured

Hyperbolic much?

/Bill Text (new window)

How much do you want to bet that this will be a "jobs" bill when it doesn't get passed by the senate?

For those interested, here's the committee report on the bill, including the dissenting view:

Judiciary Committee Report - H Con Res 13 (new window, pdf file)

Type_Hard: My 'favorite' line of the bill:

Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured

you've got to be farking kidding me.

just when i thought i couldn't hate republicans more...

All others pay cash.

Mugato: "In God We Trust"...what does that even mean?

No really, I know it's bullshiat but even in context, what is it supposed to mean?



"Be not that far from me, for trouble is near; haste Thee to help me.
Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me."

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), the founder and chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus

This shouldn't even exist. Separation of church and state b*tch.
Keep your God out of politics. Not everyone in this country, or even in Congress, worships your God or has any desire to pray to him.

Mugato: "In God We Trust"...what does that even mean?

It's a bit like this:



No, seriously, I have no freaking idea what "In God We Trust" means. "Gott mit uns" at least makes sense.

I guess "we" trust him to take care of the big stuff (like jobs and the economy), so it's OK for Republicans to spend their time on piddling crap like this.

What they really meant to say last election was, "We trust God to bring JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! so we're gonna focus on divisive, unimportant, but inflammatory social issues, k?"

If there is a god it's certainly not on my money.

Lurking Fear: Tell it to the hand, I'm an atheist too. Personally, I find all religion a crutch for the weak minded, and another mode of control of the masses.

Then explain your obviously stupid comment," "In God We Trust" is non-denominational." Seriously. that some stupid shiat to say right there. I'm sure all the Hinus would say, which version?

I say we go with the one Adams and Jefferson came up with: e pluribus unum

That is the nature of America. God has nothing to do with it.

An irony, as Jesus would despise republicans, take up causes against them and for the poor, then be crucified in the corporate-owned media as a leftist, socialist hippie. Given this, it's curious that republicans would look forward with such anticipation for Judgement Day. Although if it does come, it will be fun to see the looks on their faces.

Sleeping Monkey: An irony, as Jesus would despise republicans,

Not Supply Side Jesus
(new window)

Most of the god stuff that is supposedly a part of this nation's founding actually popped up in the 1950's during the Red Scare. "Under God" in the Pledge, "In God we trust" on our money, "so help me God" in official oaths of office and in court -- all of it was added in the 1950's, with the fear of Communism used as the excuse.

But the Christianists would have you believe that George Washington himself willed it all into being on his first day as President. We may have started out as a "Christian Nation" but certainly not the twisted form of Christianity currently peddled by the Republican Party.

FlashHarry: farking scumbag republicans. remember, the first thing they did upon seizing the house was to read the constitution aloud. they are big on symbols and short on policy - unless it's symbolic policy, such as defunding planned parenthood and NPR.

If only defunding Planned Parenthood and NPR were only symbolic...

Lurking Fear: "In God We Trust" is non-denominational.
Still a waste of time and money.

Non-denominational =/= secular, particularly when there's only three major religions on the planet that would refer to God (proper name), and one of them would spell it G-d, out of respect, and the other would be more likely to refer to Allah.

So... basically, this is saying that it could be any religion, as long as it's a Christian one.

George Washington took an oath that included "so help me God." Founding fathers didn't seem to have any trouble taking that oath.

dahmers love zombie: If it's "non-denominational", then there'd be no harm in simply changing it to "Gods", right?



These folks agree.

Mugato: "In God We Trust"...what does that even mean?

No really, I know it's bullshiat but even in context, what is it supposed to mean?



Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

Jesus is the one and only son of the Job Creator. Appease him and jobs shall rain down upon the faithful.

I hate Boehner so much, goddammit. He's finishing off this country. Why does he allow this shiat to come to the floor and refuses to even let Congress talk about the jobs bill.

/I know Forbes introduced the bill, but it's Boehner who runs the show

shower_in_my_socks: Most of the god stuff that is supposedly a part of this nation's founding actually popped up in the 1950's during the Red Scare. "Under God" in the Pledge, "In God we trust" on our money, "so help me God" in official oaths of office and in court -- all of it was added in the 1950's, with the fear of Communism used as the excuse

To be fair, the Communists DID systematically attempt to abolish all religions. And they are still trying to this day. You must worship the State, not some fairy tale.

Sound familiar?

Lurking Fear: Still a waste of time and money.

Isn't that how most government "job creation" bills actually work? If this bill passes and forces us to put "in god we trust" signs on all government buildings, we're going to create a hell of a lot of work for the sign industry.

CitizenTed: dahmers love zombie: If it's "non-denominational", then there'd be no harm in simply changing it to "Gods", right?

[img2.timeinc.net image 450x300]

These folks agree.

It's kind of sad that the best example of polytheism you can come up with is Battlestar Galactica.

And now, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew.

1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

And a further reading from the Gospel of Matthew

16 Now a man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18 "Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother," and "love your neighbor as yourself."

20 "All these I have kept," the young man said, "What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."