# If USA is a secular country, how come "in God we trust" is written on its money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 29, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361 "2012-04-29T22:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/41 "2012-04-30T14:06:54Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If the U.S. is a Western nation, why can people in Asia get here by traveling east? Portals. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/42 "2012-04-30T14:24:13Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Lots of good stuff [here](http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html) re how separate church and state were/were not way back when. Thank you for the instructive link. Personally, I have more of a problem with ‘Under God’ than I do with ‘In God We Trust’. Forcing children to blindly utter a pledge to the symbol of our country is bad enough, but to insert the words ‘Under God’ includes a kind of religious coercion that I find to be stealthily dangerous. In comparison, most people pay little or no attention to the wording on their coins and bills as long as such are acceptable tinder. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/43 "2012-04-30T14:27:35Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The New England tendency to disparage Christmas lasted until the late 19th century according to the link - with public schools being open on Christmas as late as 1870 It wasn’t a holiday anywhere until right about that time, so that’s some circular reasoning. Why would schools be out if it wasn’t a holiday? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/44 "2012-04-30T14:37:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Meh. 90% may believe in God, but I sincerely doubt a majority of them get their panties twisted over the idea of losing the motto on the currency. Really? For sure not all of the 90% would get their panties twisted over removing it, but from my experience, the number would be _way_ more than half of them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/45 "2012-04-30T14:53:09Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Really? For sure not all of the 90% would get their panties twisted over removing it, but from my experience, the number would be _way_ more than half of them. I can’t imagine any Congresscritter who voted to do so getting re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/46 "2012-04-30T14:55:52Z")
Pretty much as an ignorant, kneejerk backlash against the godless, heathen communists of the 50s, and we’ve been too lazy to change it back. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/47 "2012-04-30T14:57:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Pretty much as an ignorant, kneejerk backlash against the godless, heathen communists of the 50s, and we’ve been too lazy to change it back. 1860s. You’re thinking of “under God” in the pledge. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/48 "2012-04-30T15:19:22Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] It was put on the money in the 1950s specifically as a way of saying “we’re Christians, not Commie atheists”. That’s a lot more recent, and something the majority of the population still takes very seriously. [/QUOTE] It was put on PAPER money in 1956 and formally adopted as the official motto in either '56 or '57 (don’t remember which), but it had been periodically on US coinage since the 1860’s and had been kicking around since at least 1812 IIRC. As with many things, it wasn’t formalized until late in the game, but it wasn’t like it was invented in the 50’s to differentiate us from ‘Commie atheists’. > [@](#): > > Actually, I’ve reminded of the habit of southern racists of sticking the Confederate flag on everything. “In God We Trust” is the same kind of crypto-bigotry. We might as well put “We Hate Everyone Who Isn’t Christian” on money, it would be more honest. Hilarious. 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/49 "2012-04-30T15:25:11Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] Meh. 90% may believe in God, but I sincerely doubt a majority of them get their panties twisted over the idea of losing the motto on the currency. [/QUOTE] I doubt it too. However, considering the overwhelming numbers of people who believe in God in the US, even if only a fraction of them got worked up over taking it off the money you are still talking about significant numbers. While the numbers of folks who would get worked up about the words being on the money are taken mainly from a group that has an extremely small number of representatives. Small fraction of a large number of people=something that has political ramifications. Small fraction of a marginal group=_yawn_, politically speaking. All I was saying. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/50 "2012-04-30T15:46:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > 1860s. You’re thinking of “under God” in the pledge. Not so much. Yeah, the pledge was also kneejerk, but: > [@](#): > > “In God We Trust” was adopted as the official motto of the United States in \*\*1956 \*\*as an alternative or replacement to the original motto of E pluribus unum, adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782.[1] McCarthyism was still going strong in 1956. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/51 "2012-04-30T16:52:01Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “In God We Trust” is the same kind of crypto-bigotry. We might as well put “We Hate Everyone Who Isn’t Christian” on money, it would be more honest. The notes in my pocket have a picture of Darwin and a hummingbird on them. Your argument here is as ridiculous as a fundamentalist claiming a tenner is an attack on their faith would be. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/52 "2012-04-30T17:02:22Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > In comparison, most people pay little or no attention to the wording on their coins and bills as long as such are acceptable tinder. Hey, as long as it lights my cigar, I don’t care what they print on this $100 bill. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/53 "2012-04-30T17:08:45Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Hey, as long as it lights my cigar, I don’t care what they print on this $100 bill. Same here…as long as somewhere on the bill I can find the word “Monopoly.” ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/54 "2012-04-30T17:30:24Z")
Because God wants it that way. His design, His rules. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/55 "2012-04-30T17:39:25Z")
Considering the uses for the dollar, I’m surprised there aren’t more religious calls for the statement to be erased lest God’s wrath be invoked. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/56 "2012-04-30T17:39:26Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Because God wants it that way. His design, His rules. God works as graphical designer for the US treasury? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/57 "2012-04-30T17:41:53Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Because God wants it that way. His design, His rules. I know we can always count on your unique perspective on these matters, but do you actually think that the Creator of the Cosmos is concerned with such minutia as what words are currently stamped on the coins used in the USA? ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/58 "2012-04-30T17:47:14Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I know we can always count on your unique perspective on these matters, but do you actually think that the Creator of the Cosmos is concerned with such minutia as what words are currently stamped on the coins used in the USA? Didn’t God say something along the lines of “hate thy labour as thy love thine wealth”? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/59 "2012-04-30T18:04:01Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Didn’t God say something along the lines of “hate thy labour as thy love thine wealth”? No, no, no. It was hate thy neighbor as thy love thine MILF. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361/60 "2012-04-30T19:33:49Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I know we can always count on your unique perspective on these matters, but do you actually think that the Creator of the Cosmos is concerned with such minutia as what words are currently stamped on the coins used in the USA? Quite honestly yes. I believe He is that involved in all aspects of creation to this level and much more. The reason for the saying I believe is God just wants to have His say to the people, bypassing the government’s illusion of trust in government currency. In other words don’t trust this money in your pocket to get you home this evening, it is only because I allow it that you can get home safely. The message is there for those who can heed it. It is also Him demonstrating His absolute authority over our nation, along with the famed ‘one nation under (the authority of) God’ which is how I take this line of the pledge. It is also Him laughing at our government’s authority by ordering them to place His name above theirs. It is amusing in many ways to me that these debates as to why things are, when the answer is because God has made it so and He does what He wants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361.md?page=4)