Where did "In God We Trust" and "Under God" come from?
This asinine little graphic was posted on Facebook by a liberal college classmate of mine. Can anyone refute the statements here?
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Answer by Ottoman Umpire
The graphic omits this little thing called the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. And The Declaration of Independence, where "God" is in the first sentence, "Creator" in the second, and "divine Providence" in the last.
This is like saying, "Did you KNOW that the ORIGINAL Constitution didn't mention the words 'press,' 'democracy,' or 'privacy' at all? OMG!" (Except, of course, I'd have to make it all blue and red to get the point across, and replace the G of OMG. Maybe we could get an intern from Seventeen to do the layout.)
For that matter, the Right to Privacy didn't exist until seven Justices, sitting around the Constitution like it was some crystal ball or hunk of rotting cheese, detected "emanations" and "penumbras" that enabled them to discern said Right, which they thus codified in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965).
I'm sure your purist friend will be getting to that one any day now.
Answer by Eric Ames
What he has here is more or less correct even if a little smarmy. What is omitted is that In God We Trust was added to coins in 1864, and has appeared on all coins since 1938. Changes to the national motto and the Pledge were, as far as I know, adopted as Cold War era gestures to distinguish us from the godless commies.
Pseudodionysius: Two points of interest. The United States was founded by people's who wanted to escape the establishment of a national church, subservient to the State under the monarchy. This is a doctrine known as Erastianism. Hope is not an emotion, but one of the theological virtues, as distinct from the cardinal virtues.
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- · February 7, 2012 at 3:16pm
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Pseudodionysius: Further, no religious test shall ever be required as a test for high office, but a conscience clause exemption shall be forbidden under the HHS directive. Fascinating as the Founding Father Mr. Spock once said. Live Long and Prosper, unless you silently scream.
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- · February 7, 2012 at 3:19pm
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Western Chauvinist: I'd say it's accurate until the last editorial paragraph interpreting the meaning of the founding as "equality" -- that was the French Revolution. As we conservatives know, the founding was intended to protect the God-given rights of the individual from an overbearing government. Thus, the separation of powers. Fear of responsibility and failure consumes the Left.
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- · February 10, 2012 at 4:49pm
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jrad22: Would agree about the last paragraph the initial facts don't support this idea of "fear being traded like a commodity." Who is trading this fear? Who is afraid?
"One from many" definitely sounds Rousseau / French Revolution - esque
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- · February 18, 2012 at 1:32am
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Answer by Robert Barraud Taylor
A little odd, isn't it, that this "asinine little graphic" notes that we didn't have paper currency until 1861...was it written by a Ron Paul supporter? Was gen-u-wine hard gold money God-free? Are gold coins the currency of Atheists?
Answer by
Here's some more facts:93% of Americans want "In God We Trust" to remain on our money.90% want "under God" to stay in the Pledge of Allegiance.84% support references to God in schools, gov't buildings, and other public places.76% are in favor of displaying the Ten Commandments on public property.Your friend doesn't understand that we have a tradition that is very religious and he/she is not interested in preserving it.Here's an article that addresses this issue (sorry if it's not hyperlinked; I'm on my iPad):http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=99351
Answer by Elizabeth Herring
It didn't include the right to vote, either. That was left to the Electoral College for the president and VP .... and to the states to decided how to elect their own politicians.
Eric Ames: <duplicate>
Edited on February 7, 2012 at 6:19amJoin Ricochet or Sign In to add your comment.