Keep In God We Trust on Currency
Although the phrase “In God We Trust” has been on United States dollars and coins since 1956, when an act of Congress declared that to be the national motto, people continue to debate the appropriateness of having that phrase on currency. In fact, Jon G. Murray, President of American Atheists, Inc., went before Congress on Sept. 14, 1988 about the issue.
He started to make people think. He said that America is a free country with equal rights, the freedom of religion being one of the most important rights. A small percentage of the United States population is atheist. According to the adherents.com web site, three to nine percent of United States citizens are self-proclaimed atheists. Therefore, some people started to wonder whether or not he phrase “In God We Trust” should be taken off of the United States currency.
Nevertheless, almost 20 years after Murray first went before Congress regarding this matter, the United States Mint had plans of releasing new currency with the phrase removed from it.
Students on the F.L. Schlagle High School newspaper staff have many different opinions on the subject of religion. But we all agree on one thing: We believe that the phrase “In God We Trust” should remain on all United States currency.
F.L. Schlagle Senior Sascha Johnson said, “If the United States is equal, and if people really believe in equality in the United States, then the phrase should be allowed to remain on the currency.”
Another senior at F.L. Schlagle, Josh Pack, said that perhaps the United States Mint should utilize symbols that represent all the religions. That would provide equal representation, Pack said.
Because of his strong Christian faith, senior Brandon Henderson believes the statement should remain on all United States currency. “The capacity of our minds can not fathom what God can do,” Henderson said. “Our world was created by Him. How is it that evolution could create mountains and oceans . . . our natural lands? God existed before time itself.”
However, other students who also practice Christianity believe the phrase should be taken off all currency simply because they believe that the United States is a country where everyone should be treated equally. Therefore, these students agree, everyone has the freedom and the right to choose their faith. Ultimately, it is up to individual people to decide for themselves whether or not they believe in God.
“In my opinion, since so little people do not believe in God, then we should consider being fair and leave the phrase on our coins,” said another F.L. Schlagle student who asked to remain anonymous.
People’s opinions on removing this controversial phrase from the currency may go either way. However, most people in the country believe in some sort of god or goddess; most people in the United States follow some sort of faith. It is the opinion of the F.L. Schlagle Stallion Beat editorial board that, since the currency has been around for quite some time and has become a part of our country’s history, then the phrase “In God We Trust” should remain on all United States currency.