’In God We Trust,’ we are told, isn’t about religion.
Religious Right leaders and their followers often assert that it’s no big deal when the government endorses religion in a general way. “In God We Trust” appears on our money, and “under God” was slipped into the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s a generic endorsement of religion, so no harm done, right?
Recent events in California indicate that it’s not that simple. Bakersfield City Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan has started a national campaign to persuade local governments and public schools to post “In God We Trust” signs in a conspicuous place. The drive has sparked a surprising amount of discord.
In Lancaster, Calif., a woman who protested the council’s unanimous vote to post an “In God We Trust” sign had her house vandalized. Debbie Phillips had publicly opposed the move at two open meetings. She woke up May 29 to find the words “In God We Trust or?” scrawled in shoe polish in foot-high letters across two windows and a sliding-glass door.
“People should be able to voice their opinion at City Hall without worrying about repercussions,” Phillips told the Los Angeles Daily News. “It’s mild vandalism, but it’s more damage to the psyche.”
In Fountain Valley, Calif., the proposal divided the city council.
“People do not come here for the purpose of practicing their faith, although they are free to do so if they wish,” Councilwoman Cheryl Brothers said. “I believe that City Hall is where we do government’s business in everyone’s name.”
Stephanie Campbell, president of the Orange County chapter of Americans United, had urged the council to vote down the proposal, remarking, “This is not a house of worship; this is a house of democracy.”
The council voted 3-2 against posting a sign, but the two members who supported it said they may try again later. One of them, Mayor John Collins, made an unusual argument about “In God We Trust,” telling the Orange County Register, “I don’t consider it to be theology professing.”
I’ve heard similar arguments made elsewhere. “In God We Trust,” we are told, isn’t about religion. It’s about patriotism. Even some courts have bought into this, asserting that the government use of “In God We Trust” is “ceremonial deism” that, over time, loses its religious significance.
What nonsense. These signs state that community trusts in a deity. How is that not religious? Furthermore, it’s an endorsement of a certain type of religion – monotheism. The communities adopting these signs are stating that they trust in God, not gods or no god. If the signs are merely meant to promote patriotism, does that mean polytheists and atheists can’t be patriotic?
Let’s extend the argument a little further: a statement that we “trust” in God implies that there is some value to this position. If we place our trust in God, perhaps God will reward or protect us. This principle is common in certain forms of Christianity but is not shared by all religions. The early Deists, for example, believed in a God who created the universe but then stepped away from it and did not intervene in the affairs of humankind. To them, there was no point in publicly announcing trust in God, as there was nothing to be gained.
Sullivan told the San Francisco Chronicle back in 2002 that she can’t understand why some people get upset over her crusade.
“To me, ‘In God We Trust’ is our official national motto, and God is all-inclusive of everyone,” she said.
This narrow perspective is all too common among the Religious Right. A moment’s thought should demonstrate that generic endorsements of God do not include Americans who believe in many gods, don’t believe in God at all or define God in a non-traditional way. They are also offensive to some believers who don’t like to see these pathetic attempts to secularize God.
Municipal governments face a lot of responsibilities. There are roads to repair, public schools to run, libraries to fund and a host of development issues. Maybe it’s time local governments in California and elsewhere focused on these issues and leave the theological matters – such as whether there is a God or gods and whether we should announce trust in him/her/it/they – to houses of worship and debating societies.
P.S. It’s worth remembering that “In God We Trust” is the new kid on the block and was adopted in 1954. The United States’ original motto, “E Pluribus Unum” (”Out of Many, One”) really does include everyone.
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