This is sickening.

[Takun]

We also have God's name on our money, but I don't think anyone wants to complain about that.

I complain about that more than anyone else in the world. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!

[MasterKeyX]

Does it really affect your life that much? You're taking it to the extreme.

[MagmarFire]

Remember, guys, this is not a discussion about religion. It is a discussion about an ad. Please stay on topic.

[Keaton]

Who cares, MK?

It's built into the system of America.  Nobody's saying that by owning and/or using this dollar, you are committing yourself to Christianity.  It's just a time-honored tradition.

Don't be a whiner.

[Commodore Axilon]

He's complaining about it on an internet message board.

Watch out! He's a maaaaaad man!

[MasterKeyX]

Im thinkin' it's time we lock or move this one, mods.  ::)

[MagmarFire]

Nah, I think this should be given slightly more leeway before I threaten to lock it.

[Keaton]

As the topic starter, I give this topic permission to follow whatever road it may-- without getting spammy.

[Twilight Wolf]

Who cares.

It's built into the system of America.  Nobody's saying that by owning and/or using this dollar, you are committing yourself to Christianity.  It's just a time-honored tradition.

Precisely, Tacheon. It's very similar to having "one nation, under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance: It's just a reminder of how this nation was founded.

Personally, I think that if we removed "In God We Trust" and "one nation, under God" from our money and the Pledge of Allegiance, respectively, we'd not only be upsetting far more people than are upset by it now, but, in a sense, be helping to remove along with them the ideals and values that helped make this country great. As has been said before, just because those words are there, it doesn't bind you to worshiping any one god or to be part of any religion. When America was founded, it was guaranteed that you have the freedom to worship as you choose or not do it at all. This is the last I will say of it, as I don't want to get any more into it and risk fueling a firefight.

[Keaton]

Also, as to the separation of church and state-- that's an idiot's argument (no offense).  That particular clause was simply so that America wouldn't be overrun by another Church of England... it simply means that a religious entity cannot assume a position of official power.  Nothing more.

[darkphantomime]

Go do your homework and read what Thomas Jefferson wrote, you know, the man who actually made that thing into a right.

[Fishalicious]

Yeah, I'm with Tac here.

I just... don't understand why something as trivial as that would upset anyone. /: Honestly, I think it's really stupid to get all up in arms about how God's name is written on something.

[MasterKeyX]

Wow, for once people actually support my side of the argument. That is so rare.  :o

[Vaati]

We shouldn't get into a huge fuss about it, but I stand by JQ and MajoraKirby. Who cares about tradition? What other God could they be relating to other than the religious god? I can't think of any other God out there. I don't remember there ever being an American government God. If the other religions that believe in more than one god/goddess or call their god something else don't care, then fine. But frankly, it's not being too fair to Atheist America. Now, I'm Agnostic, so I partly believe in religion and partly don't. So when it comes to  religious beliefs and science, I try to piece things together and try to find a factual explanation for things. But when it comes to religious beliefs and government, I believe that's going a little too far.

Sure, if you're going to take "In GOD we trust" and "Under GOD" out, why not stop hanging up Christmas decorations around town? (Actually, around my town, they hang up Hanukkah and Kwanzaa decorations, too) It's not that we think it's forcing religious beliefs, it's just that it doesn't seem correct, especially for a government that believes in separation of church and state.

I mean, hey, America's a democracy. We should just settle this over a vote, yes? It's not like GOD is going stop us.  :-*

[Takun]

In my opinion it is not pressing religion on us. I think its just telling us something that, weather we believe it or not, contradicts our beliefs. And yes, in this day and age anyone who doesn't believe in God will be contradicted. But it's still forcing those that dont fully believe in God to say that He rules over this country. Tradition or not, this country was raised thinking that we can worship a head of lettuce if we so desired, yet on our currency and in our pledge we are told that what we believe is wrong.