This is something I have often wondered about: why didn’t the US Supreme Court ever take “In God We Trust” off the money (in the USA, Re: “Establishment Clause”)? Oh, I certainly know why they don’t do it now. The Supreme Court is largely in the hands of the conservatives. But what about in its more “liberal” past? I guess anecdotally, the Supreme Court was at its most liberal edge in 1973 with Roe v Wade. So why didn’t they do it then?
Thank you in advance to all who reply:)
Did anyone bring a case concerning “In God We Trust” to the SCOTUS in 1973? If not, then that’s your answer.
Otherwise, see “ceremonial deism”. That’s the fig leaf that the SCOTUS has put over religious content that they are reticent to challenge.
“Ceremonial deism”
What hypocrite came up with that phrase?
Not sure, but that is basically it. I think it was a case involving a prayer before Nebraska legislative sessions. I have looked it up because there is a city in my area that has thumbed their nose against people complaining about their skirting the establishment clause by making “In God We Trust” the town motto.
You can probably get the details on this site: http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org
Eugene V. Rostow, according to Wikipedia. And it was Justice Brennan who incorporated it into the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence (in a dissenting judgment in a 1984 case in which he argued that the crib scene displayed by the town of Pawtucket went beyond constitutionally-acceptable “ceremonial deism”).
Fair point. But Justice O’Connor points out, in Newdow, that the Supreme Court opens every sitting by having its own marshal proclaim “God save the United States and this honourable Court!” If that kind of deism bothered them in 1973 (or at any other time) they could have just told him to stop, without waiting for a plaintiff to raise the issue.
Ceremonial deism may not have been explicitly judicially endorsed until later, but since the 1973 court actually practiced it, their later endorsement of it can hardly be seen as a profound change of position.
I personally think all politicians should be Atheist (like their not godlesss already) I don’t want anyone having a hand in running my country who can instinctually dismiss verified scientific evidence for the sake of tradition or something he read in a book. As for the pledge, I’m not saying it anyway, I used to live in Paraguay then Ireland, do you honestly think i prefer either of those places to America (I suppose I should clarify that I lived on the crazy ass border of Ireland which out ghettoes the most ghetto of ghettos in america.) I don’t need to recite the pledge to prove I love my country you bet your lily white asses I do! I’ve never said the pledge and won’t say it any time soon I know more civics than your average american and as soon as that stops becoming true I’ll consider saying it.
The thing about ,“In GOD WE TRust” is that most people do not really trust in God! If they did the world would be in better shape. Most just want to have things their way,at least that is my opinion, I know I can be wrong, but it seems to me, if a person really trusted in their God, they wouldn’t need prayer; just as a child of a good father would not have to beg him for their daily bread or the necessities of life, nor would they worry about what some one else’s sins were and just trust the God who created them, is well capeable of handling things without them telling Him what to do!
Although I see nothing wrong in having IN GOD WE TRUST on our money etc. It does remind me of why Jesus hated the Pharisees; they insisted on wearing their religion on their sleeves, but didn’t practice the spirit of the law, just wanted to show how holy, and better than others they were. If people just lived like they claim to believe, and worried less about the way others live ,it would be a better world. Leave others up to the God they claim to trust in, unless they do not really believe their God is capable of taking care of things. It seems to me Jesus didn’t run around correcting the sinners, but was angry with the holier than thou Pharisee and priests of His day!
I just wonder why it is so necessary to have it on our money or anywhere?
What you are missing is that in the legal area, perhaps more than anywhere else, there are shades of grey absolutely everywhere. Being a SCOTUS justice isn’t like being a Senator, where you make political considerations and vote with your party, even if you aren’t 100% sold on something. There simply aren’t, and have never been, two completely distinct wings of the Court - the liberals and the conservatives, who vote in lock step on everything. It’s easy to paint Justices as being in one camp or the other, but that ignores that Thomas is often the staunchest defender of free speech rights, and Scalia often the greatest friend of the defendant in the face of borderline police search tactics.
While removing “In God We Trust” might be seen as a liberal political position, it doesn’t necessarily play that way legally. Judges all bring their personal backgrounds to the table, and in 1973 the Court was overwhelmingly Christian (and I am guessing Protestant Christian, unlike today).
No, it wouldn’t. “Don’t worry, God will take care of it” is a poor planning technique.
Pawtucket RI is clear evidence refuting intelligent design.
For everybody: Why do you believe (or disbeleive) that the words ‘In God We Trust’ establish religion.
Personally I consider the state approval of religions for tax purposes and definitions in the law to be offensive, and clear establishment of religion, and something we should be concerned about.
Because it uses the name of a specific, not general deity, one that is common only to some of the Earth’s religions, and one that exists only in the minds of believers. It says we put our faith in this construct to make it all come out right in the end, by belief alone.
It worships a mythical being by figuratively bowing to a superior force and declaring a subordinate position to it. If that isn’t religion, I don’t know what is.
Now if I hit my thumb with a hammer, and exclaim, “God!” that’s ceremonial deism. 
The words on money don’t upset me that much, but I’d much rather they say, “Don’t worry, be happy.”
Since “In God We Trust” didn’t appear on any US coins between 1793(our first coins) and 1864, I figure if it was good enough for the Founders to not use it, it should have been good enough forever.
Why bother? It’s a meaningless aphorism; to censor the word “God” in any context automatically implies that you fear God may exist. Since God doesn’t exist, it’s no different than saying “FRODO LIVES!” or something similar. It’s a snappy catchphrase; nothing else should be implied.
(And don’t even get me started on that whole B.C.E./C.E. nonsense…)
Nonsense. Does someone who complains about the phrase “Jews serve Satan” fear that Satan exists?
As for “Why bother”; how do you think most people would feel if there was a swastika or a hammer and sickle on every coin? Like them, “In God We Trust” is a symbol of evil.
None of your examples have the warm & fuzzy feeling of “In God We Trust”. You may disagree, but most Americans kinda like it.
Ah, so you do fear God may exist…I’m kinda surprised to learn that, Der Trihs. I had no idea. 
To simplify the argument for “ceremonial deism” (a term I personally despise):
The same First Amendment rights that mandate that people have the right to choose which if any religion to practice and that Congress (or, as extended, the Federal bureaucracy and the state and local governments) has no right to mandate any religious practice, also require that government accommodate itself to the fact that a majority of people have in fact chosen to practice a particular religion in one mode or another. (Do not argue the use of “majority” – if not true today, it was at least historically true.)
In addition to its powers to pass binding laws for the government of the country, Congress (as well as the state legislatures) has the power to pass non-binding resolutions recognizing this and that as of value to the social fabric of America, from a First Congress resolution acknowledging the bravery of one Eliphalet Hale in the Revolution to formally noting the tastiness and health benefits of American-made cheeses and setting aside February 15-21 as National American Cheese Week.
It follows from the above that Congress may recognize the common belief of many Americans in a deity by adopting a motto of “In God We Trust” and ordering that it appear on coins and currency, setting a standard form by which Americans may pledge their allegiance to their nation and one of its symbols, etc., so long as such honorific actions are not mandative on the citizenry.
Most Americans also hate me since I’m an atheist. I expect the Nazis had a warm and fuzzy feeling when they looked at the swastika too; that didn’t make it stand for good. The Christians in essence are much like what a successful Nazi regime would likely have evolved into given a few centuries. Both sought to establish themselves as a dominant world power by means of mass slaughter; the Christians pulled it off where the Nazis failed.
Don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t believe in God, but others do and they’d cheerfully oppress or kill me given the chance because of that. “In God We Trust” might as well be “We Hate You Der Trihs” from my perspective.
I do not mean it in that way. I just live and let live. I do what I can about a problem etc. and then figure what will happen, will happen. The old adage that God helps them that help themselves is a good idea.
I was referring to people who say they trust in a God but do not really trust, so I wonder if their belief is for real!