Values - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Reader comment on:
Faith-Based Currency

Submitted by Pedro, Dec 5, 2007 08:04

That's a question that is harder than it looks.

I'm not familiar with American Constitution, so I can't comment about the legal aspect of it. The we in "In God we trust" does not refer to the set of all Americans and it's not meant to. It's there as an indication on what values USA is founded - which are, in great part, Christian values.

Every civilization is founded on some religious base. Attempts to build a society clear of religious values failed miserably (see communism). The good part is that you don't need to be christian to live in USA and that a non-christian doesn't lose any right for that.

Someone here mentioned that "In God we trust" is the same that "We are white". It's a mistake. Skin color nor is a value within any (major, at least) religious system, nor does provide a set of principles to build a society. It does not apply.

I've been an atheist myself once and, in my country, or currency has a similar print ("God be praised"). So I have thought a lot about that.

Sorry for any English grammar or spell errors. I'm not a native speaker. Thanks.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
If you go back and look at M2 increases from 1993-2002, you'll see double-digit expansions every year of the 1990's... [MORE]	Goldbug	Dec 5, 2007 13:04
I think we should draft a law which prohibit atheists from litigating anything in regards to atheism. The doctor should... [MORE]	travis	Dec 5, 2007 09:57
We should also pass a law that prevents religious members from litigating anything in regard to their religious values. [MORE]	LandMineHare	Dec 9, 2007 12:34
That's a question that is harder than it looks. I'm not familiar with American Constitution, so I can't comment...	Pedro	Dec 5, 2007 08:04
Pedro said: "The we in "In God we trust" does not refer to the set of all Americans and it's... [MORE]	Ben	Dec 5, 2007 14:27
Thanks for your reply. As I said before, I'm not American, so I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as you on... [MORE]	Pedro	Dec 5, 2007 23:30
"I haven't said it was founded on Christian religion, but on Christian values." Christian values are part of the Christian religion.... [MORE]	Ben	Dec 6, 2007 17:04
"Christian values are part of the Christian religion. The sentence said 'As the government of the United States is not,... [MORE]	Pedro	Dec 8, 2007 10:53
Except that's just impossible if you take that literally. The moral orientation of a man are much tied to the... [MORE]	Ben	Dec 9, 2007 12:04
Yes, the currency needs all the help in can get. But I don't think that encouraging belief in supernatural nonsense... [MORE]	Mike Riezenman	Dec 5, 2007 02:33
NY Sun Editors, you should be ashamed of yourselves. In God We Trust is not just a 'phrase printed on our... [MORE]	Ben	Dec 5, 2007 02:08
This is a somewhat answere to some of Ben's information. Congress passed the Coinage Act of April22 1864 and "in... [MORE]	Rogers Marshall	Dec 5, 2007 11:50