What the Religious Right Wants, the Religious Right Gets

February 7, 2008 by Holly in Menstrual Poetry  

In God We Trust national motto There’s a little surprise waiting for all of the coin collectors come 2009.

According to AlterNet, The 2009 new coin series, which will honor past US presidents, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor, will not have “In God We Trust” just along the edge of the coin. Instead of just around the edge, which I thought was bad enough to have on any coin in a country where the first amendment physically states “freedom of religion”, but “In God We Trust will be moved to the direct front or back of the coin instead of more dramatic portraits and better art elements, which the cleared space provided the room for.

This change is due to the fact that many religious fanatics with way too much time on their hands complained profusely about how the words on the coin were hard to read and that over time, the words would wear off. And here I thought that the main point of money was to exchange them for goods or services, not to parade what religion a country is trying to shove down the throats of its citizens or what religion a country has fought every war in history over; but perhaps I’m just a little more logical than “Oh no, over time the word ‘God’ is going to wear off, it must be on the direct front or back of the coin–Screw the art!”

Religious Right activists also insisted that a conspiracy was untangling (as they usually do) and began to voice their concerns that because of the motto being moved to the edge of the coin, they immediately assumed that the words would eventually be taken off of the coin–But of course we know that wouldn’t be too much of a possibility, since the word God has been placed on or in everything that symbolizes this country. However, in case there was actual speculation of the motto being removed, we can now all be secure in knowing that the Religious Right will not let that happen–and they always seem to get their way.

“I certainly can’t imagine growing up in a country and under a government that is atheistic and denies the existence and dependence upon God,” said Dave Stotts, who hosts a program for Focus on the Family called “Drive Thru History.”

I have a bit of a problem that can actually co-exist with Stotts concern. I also certainly can’t imagine growing up in a country and government where it is written in black and white that all people who live in the United States are promised freedom of religion yet in the same respect, the country and government does absolutely nothing to back that amendment up. I also find it hypocritical that while we live in a country with this amendment, the national motto, which was declared in 1956 being “In God We Trust”, suggests otherwise.

I wonder what would happen if Muslims, Pagans, Wiccans or even atheists came together and demanded that we and our religions (or lack thereof) be represented as well in this country as Christianity is. Stotts’ statement, as well as others that have been made several times by several people suggest that the people in this country who do not believe in the accepted “God” are something to be ashamed of; whose religious views are something that this country must lock away in the closet and pretend does not exist.

I don’t know how comfortable I am being an atheist living in a country that says while I have the freedom to reject religion, it is also going to tell me I’m a bad person because of it. After all, most people have been polled in saying that they would not vote for an atheist president.

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  • i wonder would there be changes once hillary steps in as president next year?
  • Dave
    I've always wondered about this myself. It kinda seems counter-productive to have "God" mentioned _anywhere_ on our money. It's American cash, for crying out loud. It's the most un-Godlike aspect of our society and it's something that people kill each other over on a daily basis... I don't see what it matters if that phrase is on our coins or not when it's just something more that we compete and lie and cheat and steal for anyway... Makes no sense to me really.
  • It doesn't really make any sense from a biblical standpoint either. Makes me think of a mixup of the "render unto Caesar" bit.
  • I'm just waiting for someone to spin the relocation as a promotion. I'm sure that'll be how its viewed on Fox News.
  • its not a matter of what religion or sect you are in. its how we are in real life. we can go to church all day long but if we dont practice christianity outside church it doesnt matter at all.
  • Huh. I went to college with Dave Stotts. Had no idea about the TV show.

    I think it's perfect to put In God We Trust on the coins and bills of the US, because it's so damned true: the dollar is the god of most religious leaders and many religious people.

    Just let's keep the slogan off our libraries and schools.
  • bipolar2
    >> Now, an anti-theist speaks.

    As a non-theist, perhaps anti-theist would be better, I claim my right under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution to freedom of conscience.

    I choose not only to deny any god anywhere, any time, but also to oppose all god-hypotheses with as much amused irony, satire, civilized invective, and responsible reasoning as I can muster.

    After all, "God" is just a front man. (And each of the big-3 monotheisms is androcentric, misogynist -- and views female sexuality as inherently sinful.)

    The real "religious" issues in the US are not religious. They are about political domination and overthrow of government.

    Issues leading to social control by organized christo-fascists have nothing to do with religion per se, but fundie interpretations of xian religion used as a front for totalitarian ideologues. (As must be obvious, a strictly analogous problem arises within Islam and Judaism.)

    Undermining the Constitution, trashing biological science, and perverting education to suit ideologies of cultural domination by right-wing politico-xians will lead us to the dystopia envisioned by Margaret Atwood in "The Handmaid's Tale."

    What's "God" got to do with all that. Nothing.

    bipolar2
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