In God We Trust?
According to a press release published on his website,
"Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that he has introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.CON.RES.274, reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States. In addition, the Resolution supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions."
The full text of the resolution is available here.
For yours truly, Congressman Forbes' very conspicuous piety raises two questions:
1.) Is this resolution constitutional?
2.) Is this resolution preferable to its absence?
If any passage within the Constitution should inform a decision regarding the first question, it ought to be the Establishment Clause which asserts that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...". Some may object by arguing that the Free Exercise Clause, which asserts that "Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (thereof meaning "of religion" or "of an establishment of religion"), equally applies. Alas, this is not the case since the failure of the government to adopt the motto or embellish government infrastructure with the motto desired by Congressman Forbes is not an example of a legal prohibition against the exercise of religion or of an establishment of religion.
Unfortunately, the Establishment Clause is, along with its fellow clauses, disturbingly vague and ambiguous (yes, a cliched description, but an compulsory one nevertheless). For what does "respecting" mean? An equally imperative question is: What should "respecting" mean? To a certain degree, it seems that the meaning of constitutional clauses is, essentially, up to the discretion of the Supreme Court. For example, what would have happened if the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Westboro in Westboro v. Synder instead of voting against Synder, where the constitutionality of a certain kind of speech was subject to examination? Who would have stopped them?
Furthermore, it appears to me that many constitutional clauses are sufficiently vague and ambiguous to produce actual confusion over their legal meaning. A law stipulating that the ratification of a constitutional amendment requires "approval of the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or ratifying conventions held in three-fourths of the states" is neither vague nor ambiguous, and thus is easy to understand and abide by. But how does the government abide by the Establishment Clause, nebulous as it is?
But nonetheless, the Establishment Clause test is as follows: Does H.CON.RES.274 commit Congress to "respect" (whatever that means) an establishment of religion? If yes, then its unconstitutional. If no, then it does not contravene the Establishment Clause.
I'll wager that the resolution does not violate the Establishment Clause and is constitutional, given that, prima facie, it does not coerce individuals into expressing or lending their support to religious behavior.
As for the second question, I hope I don't sound too presumptuous when I say, given my past posts and the very mildly condescending tone of this one, that I don't like the resolution. I think its obnoxious and dwarfed by infinitely superior alternatives. The motto of France is probably my favorite of all the national mottoes I've heard. "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" identifies three ideals, three unforsakable values, the popular pursuit and maintenance of which are necessary conditions for a just, ever improving, and ever progressing society, plus it does with one word what "E Pluribus Unum" does with three. Its a good, short hand summary of what the guiding principles of a nation ought to be. Yes, "liberty", "equality", and "fraternity" (or brotherhood, if you prefer) can be employed for wicked ends, but this shouldn't discourage their use. They all have useful connotations. Its entirely legitimate to inquire as to what is meant by "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité", hence its as legitimate to investigate "In God We Trust". What does Congressman Forbes mean? To which god does he refer, since more than one have been posited? Why that particular god? Just curious.
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Comments :
Jun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
I believe that issue was tested in court and found valid--though I can't remember the case or how long ago it took place.
Dec '10
Re: In God We Trust?
I always thought it was "Liberte' Egalite', Je me rends"
May '10
Re: In God We Trust?
There have been a few proposed variations.
Jul '10
Re: In God We Trust?
I'm surprised you don't understand the establishment clause. It clearly means Congress cannot establish an official religion, such as the Church of England. Period.
Mar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
Why is it so many religious people want the government to affirm theism/deism? Why can't people just let the issue rest and give us motto that doesn't automatically exclude all of us who don't adhere to any supernatural world view?
Selling out your values to get the government to officially affirm some vague post-modern mention of God accomplishes nothing, except for annoying me of course (-_-).
Do you all really want our national motto to be this vague little umbrella slogan that includes everything from the god of ultra liberal relativists to the god of the Westboro Baptist Church? There really isn't any slogan that more accurately represents the ideals our founding father's stood for?
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:44pmMay '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Silly me. And I thought there was a debate of some depth surrounding what it does/should mean. The surprise is mutual....
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:15pmJun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
"In God We Trust" reminds us that there is a moral authority above and antecedent to the state, defining and limiting its legitimate authority. It hearkens back to the statement in the Declaration that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. The problem with the French Revolution was that they thought the state had boundless authority and could pursue any means necessary to promote liberty, equality, and fraternity. As such I think "In God We Trust" perfectly represents what the founders stood for and what made our Revolution so much more successful and lasting than the French version.
Jun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Abdiel: Why can't people just let the issue rest and give us motto that doesn't automatically exclude all of us who don't adhere to any metaphysical world view?
· Mar 23 at 1:43pm
You really don't adhere to any metaphysical world view? I find that hard to believe. Atheism? Agnosticism? Materialism? Realism? Humanism? Surely your views about politics and morality are grounded in some sort of metaphysical world view, are they not?
Jun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
And I would ask: Why is it so many non-religious people are so similarly adamant that all vestiges of religion, including expressions of faith and the language therein used, be removed from the government? Why can't people just let the issue rest and allow for the cultural heritage and values that have shaped us as a nation and a people for over 200 years?
I realize the expression of "In God We Trust" on our currency doesn't date to our nation's origin, but to deny the expression of faith that most certainly played a significant role in the lives of our founders, and to take away that expression of faith due to post-modern sensibilities - I think does a disservice to a significant portion of the population.
Still, the greater witness should be reflected in the lives of those who believe, and less so what's printed on government issued currency.
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:19pmJul '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Michael Labeit
Silly me. And I thought there was a debate of some depth surrounding what I does/should mean. The surprise is mutual.... · Mar 23 at 2:05pm
A debate of some depth? Oh, I didn't know you were a "living Constitution" guy. Maybe you should bone up on the history of established religions in Europe, which informed the establishment clause. Start with, say, the Thirty Years War.
No serious person believes that the Founders - deeply religious men - intended to create a wall of separation; they simply believed in religious liberty. Catholic? Protestant? Atheist? Fine with the Founders, they just wanted to assure it was a personal choice - not an edict of the State.
Mar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
"In God We Trust" leaves just as much room for the same flaws. What if your God is some Taliban-esque version of Allah? "In God We Trust" doesn't affirm higher morals in any ways because its so vague it includes just about any god. It opens room for everyone's own personal God, and so makes each and every individual the arbiter for who "God" is and what "God" wants.
Why not include something more specific that someone like me or Christopher Hitchens can be proud of?
Jul '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Waawwww! Do you wander around feeling disgruntled at every creche and Christmas tree?
Sad.
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:21pmMar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
Joseph Stanko
You really don't adhere to any metaphysical world view? I find that hard to believe. Atheism? Agnosticism? Materialism? Realism? Humanism? Surely your views about politics and morality are grounded in some sort of metaphysical world view, are they not? · Mar 23 at 2:16pm
Its not that I don't adhere to any supernatural worldview, its that I don't hold any supernatural worldview
;)
Edited on Mar 23, 2011 at 2:43pmMar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
Kenneth
Waawwww! Do you wander around feeling disgruntled at every creche and Christmas tree?
Sad. · Mar 23 at 2:20pm
Edited on Mar 23 at 02:21 pm
Alas, I spend every Christmas eve harassing walmart Santas and passing out grinch cookies.
There must be something wrong with me :(.
Jun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Abdiel
Its not that I don't adhere to any metaphysical worldview, its that I don't hold any metaphysical worldview
;) · Mar 23 at 2:22pm
I'm using metaphysics in this sense:
1a (1) : a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology
What do you mean by "metaphysical?"
Mar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
Jim Chase
And I would ask: Why is it so many non-religious people are so similarly adamant that all vestiges of religion, including expressions of faith and the language therein used, be removed from the government? Why can't people just let the issue rest and allow for the cultural heritage and values that have shaped us as a nation and a people for over 200 years?
I realize the expression of "In God We Trust" on our currency doesn't date to our nation's origin, but to deny the expression of faith that most certainly played a significant role in the lives of our founders, and to take away that expression of faith due to post-modern sensibilities - I think does a disservice to a significant portion of the population.
Because its my government to, I want it to represent me as much as you.
I'm all for individuals and corporations espousing particular religions, or even (though credulous imo) all religions. I'm even fine with government employees (like teachers for example) doing so. But please, no official government declarations supporting theism over atheism.
Mar '11
Re: In God We Trust?
Joseph Stanko
Abdiel
Its not that I don't adhere to any metaphysical worldview, its that I don't hold any metaphysical worldview
;) · Mar 23 at 2:22pm
I'm using metaphysics in this sense:
1a (1) : a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology
What do you mean by "metaphysical?" · Mar 23 at 2:38pm
Good catch, I can't believe it took this long for me to realize that. This is worse than Poulos's misuse of passive aggressive -_-.
Jul '10
Re: In God We Trust?
This is one of those gripping questions that can only be solved over a six-pack in the college dormitories of the nation.
May '10
Re: In God We Trust?
The Founders didn't imagine in their wildest dreams that so many Americans would one day call for secularism. America thrived without secularism for more than a century.
Establishment and promotion are not the same. The Founders would have laughed at the notion that politics can be divorced from religiously-informed morals and aspirations. The Constitution provides freedom "of" religion, not freedom "from" religion.
Well said. That motto explicitly recognizes that a government exists not to give us rights but to protect them.
Incidentally, this is why I reject suggestions that what Middle Eastern nations need is secular governance. What they need is a more sensible religious / ideological foundation.
Jun '10
Re: In God We Trust?
Hitchens admires Lenin, Trotsky, and Che Guevara and said "I still think like a Marxist in many ways. I think the materialist conception of history is valid. I consider myself a very conservative Marxist." So I think it would be difficult to come up with a specific motto of which he and I would both be proud.