'In God We Trust' Is Next

Newsmax.com ^ | June 27, 2002 | Carl Limbacher

[Paul Atreides]

After those two judges in San Francisco censored the Pledge of Allegiance, some people wondered if the national motto, "In God We Trust," would be next. Guess what: It is.

Michael Newdow, the California atheist and self-promoter extraordinaire who was behind the ruling, told CNN he would fight to remove all references to God from government, including from U.S. currency.

"One day I was just looking at the coins is what brought this up," Newdow said. "I saw 'In God We Trust' on my coins. I said, 'I don't trust in God,' what is this?

"And I recalled there was something in the Constitution that said you're not allowed to do that, and so I did some research. And as soon as I did the research, I realized the law seemed to be on my side, and I filed the suit.

'Cool'

"It's a cool thing to do. Everyone should try it," he said.

Of course, there's nothing "in the Constitution that said you're not allowed to do that." The Constitution merely prohibits establishment of a state religion.

First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Not one word about censoring references to God. Not one word about that left-wing fantasy "separation of church and state." (Why do we never hear outcry about "separation of atheism and state" or "separation of paganism and state"?)

Everyone should read the Constitution. It's a cool thing to do.

By the way, though Newdow has claimed he filed the lawsuit out of concern for his daughter, Fox News reported today he has admitted he did it for himself, that his daughter voluntarily said the pledge along with her classmates.

'This Offends Me'

"My daughter is in the lawsuit because you need that for standing," he told CNN.

"I brought this case because I am an atheist and this offends me, and I have the right to bring up my daughter without God being imposed into her life by her schoolteachers. So she did not come and say she was ostracized."

[Pyro7480]

He has tenacity, but his efforts will be futile.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

bump for later reading

[Heartlander]

Washington's Farewell Address 1796

“…Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. “

“It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric? “

[anniegetyourgun]

Something about a millstone and being thrown into the sea....

[rvoitier]

I used to think the majority was supposed to rule in a democracy. I guess now it's a matter of finding a judge without common sense.

[Howlin]

I guess now it's a matter of finding a judge without common sense.

You're exactly right. This guy tried this first in Florida......found a warm and fuzzy place in SF.

[reasonseeker]

Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to William Boldly, November 11, 1907: "My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."

[reasonseeker]

Thomas Paine, 1794: "Soon after I had published the pamphlet, Common Sense, in America, I saw the exceeding probability that a revolution in the system of government would be followed by a revolution in the system of religion. The adulterous connection of church and state, wherever it had taken place, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, had so effectually prohibited, by pains and penalties, every discussion upon established creeds and upon first principles of religion, that until the system of government should be changed those subjects could not be brought fairly and openly before the world; but that whenever this should be done, a revolution in the system of religion would follow. Human inventions and priestcraft would be detected, and man would return to the pure, unmixed, and unadulterated belief of one God, and no more."

[#3Fan]

Michael Newdow, the California atheist and self-promoter extraordinaire who was behind the ruling, told CNN he would fight to remove all references to God from government, including from U.S. currency.

I guess "...endowed by our Creator..." is next then. These idiots are so out of touch with the Constitution's framers.

[Tanniker Smith]

So I guess if you don't believe in a "Creator" who endowed us with these rights in the first place, then you don't have any First Amendment rights, in which case, atheists don't have any legal standing to sue.

[reasonseeker]

In his, "A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America" [1787-1788], John Adams wrote:

"The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature; and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. Although the detail of the formation of the American governments is at present little known or regarded either in Europe or in America, it may hereafter become an object of curiosity. It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of Heaven, more than those at work upon ships or houses, or laboring in merchandise or agriculture; it will forever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses.

". . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretense of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind."

[IamHD]

From what I hear, I don't think he'll live to see it. He's been getting death threats. :)

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This notion that the reason of man is apart from God's creation is preposterous. How did man develop reason? From what source did man's ability to create societal order thru government originate? Did the complexity of our human brain emerge from the swamp? From what source comes our ability to love another person?

The answer is God. His miracles are so plentiful before us every day of our lives it is laughable to pretend He does not exist or that all that is right, ordered and good does not have God as its source.

[supercat]

Anyone who is offended by the "In God We Trust" motto printed on currency should send it to me; I'll be sure to deal with those banknotes so they won't have to worry about them anymore.

[#3Fan]

So I guess if you don't believe in a "Creator" who endowed us with these rights in the first place, then you don't have any First Amendment rights, in which case, atheists don't have any legal standing to sue.

Yes, I guess that's true. It should be against their philosophy to believe in the legal right to pursue happiness, since the only place it's mentioned is where it's said the Creator gave us that inalienable right. :^)

[jpl]

This guy seems to have a lot of free time to spend suing the government. I'd love to know who's paying his lawyers.

[Charles Martel]

"Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?" ;-)