In God We Trust - September 11, 2005
Many think "In God We Trust" was put on currency by the founders of the United States but that is not the case. "In God We Trust" was first placed on a coin (2-cent piece) in 1864. The civil war resulted in an increased religious sentiment and several citizens wrote letters to the Secretary of the Treasury asking that the Deity be recognized on United States coins. James Pollock, Director of the US Mint, believed that the United States should become an official theocracy and was instrumental in the effort to have "In God We Trust" placed on a coin.
In 1908 Congress passed a Bill which put the motto "In God We Trust" on all Gold and Silver coins. "In God We Trust" was not added to paper money until 1957. The beginning of the cold war in the 1950's and the Senator McCarthy hearings had made Americans paranoid about losing their religious freedom. I was also at this time that "In God We Trust" was made the national motto. This replaced the secular "E Pluribus Unum" (one from many) motto of the nations founders. You can read the official history of this issue at:
Our nation's founders understood the importance of separation of church and state and there is no indication that they wanted any form of religion integrated into our government. In fact there are numerous statements by our founding fathers indicating just the opposite.
Thomas Jefferson used the phrase "The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation of church and state."
George Washington said, "The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion…"
James Madison said, "…the number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church from the State."
Just because our government strayed from the intentions of our forefathers and integrated religion into government does not mean we should continue down that road. Complete separation of church and state is in the best interest of all religions!
