Xianity on U.S.
Currency
by David M.
Fitzpatrick
Last updated
Tuesday, 30 August 2005Despite the entire
concept of separation of church and state, the government has a way of
shoving Xianity up our tailpipes at any opportunity... in fact, it happens
billions of times a day when the millions of citizens of the U.S. handle
their currency.
The history of the
United States is filled with the ongoing practice of forcing Xianity upon
the country, despite the Constitution making it perfectly clear that
Congress has no business establishing a state religion (which is exactly
what spewing Xian rhetoric about God all over our money. Here's a timeline
of events:
- 1776 (4 July): The Continental
Congress appoints a committee "to bring in a device for a seal of the
United States of America." Submitted designs are rejected.
-
 1782 (20 June): A third
committee's design is approved by Congress. It contains the bald eagle. In
the eagle's mouth is a ribbon with "E pluribus unum," which means "One out
of many." In the eagle's talons are the arrows of war and an olive branch
of peace. The reverse of the seal shows the incomplete pyramid with the
eye of Providence atop it. "Providence" is "God"; this is his "all-seeing
eye," supposedly watching over the United States.
- 1856: "In God We Trust"
originates as an inscription on some coins during the Civil War.
- 1861 (13 November): With Union
morale shaken by defeats, the Rev. M. R. Watkinson (of Ridleyville,
Pennsylvania) writes to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, "From
my heart I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least
of our present national disasters" and suggests "recognition of the
Almighty God in some form on our coins." Chase orders designs prepared
with "In God We Trust" and backs legislation that authorizes use of this
slogan on coins.
- 1864: "In God We Trust" first
appears regularly on some U.S. coins. It is not consistently found on all coins for
nearly a century.
- 1955: Congress orders "In God We
Trust" on all paper money and all coins.
We can watch
over ourselves. |
