Humanist Group Unveils "In Good We Trust" Billboards

The American Humanist Association (AHA) has unveiled a new series of billboards that replace the word "God" in the national motto, inscribed on the surface of a U.S. quarter, with the word "Good," according to their official web site. The revised phrase now reads "In Good We Trust." The first billboards, which also feature the AHA's official web address, went up last week in Moscow, Idaho.

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the AHA, said, "The billboard nicely sums up the two main messages of the American Humanist Association. First, that you don't have to believe in God to be good-in fact, humanists and other nontheists see being good as one of the most important responsibilities in our one and only life."

He also added, "Second, that church and state should remain separate for the benefit of us all."

In Speckhardt's opinion, the motto "In God We Trust" violates the First Amendment. Last month, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit maintained that references to God on national currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance are completely constitutional.

Prominent atheist and attorney Michael A. Newdow, who argued that the references to God be removed, was defeated by the court's 3-0 vote.

The American Center for Law and Justice could not have been more thrilled with the outcome, saying, "We're delighted to see the appeals court reach [this] conclusion with both the National Motto and the Pledge."

The ACLJ also added, "The fact is that it always has been our position that while the First Amendment affords atheists complete freedom to disbelieve, it does not compel the federal judiciary to redact religious references in every area of public life in order to suit atheistic sensibilities."

Historically, the motto "In God We Trust" was "placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War," according to the U.S Department of the Treasury. After receiving a letter from one Rev. M.R. Watkinson, which pleaded for a national "recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins," Former Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase wrote his own letter to a Mr. James Pollock.

Pollock, you see, was the Director of the Mint at Philadelphia. In the letter, dated November 20, 1861, Secretary Chase asked him to prepare a national motto and said:

"Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition."

Congress approved the motto "In God We Trust" with the passing of several acts and in 1864, the phrase appeared for the first time on the two-cent coin.

Current American Humanist Association president David Niose disagrees with the beginnings of the national motto and has his own ideas about what phrase would better represent America.

"The adoption of the 'In God We Trust' motto came at the height of the Cold War and McCarthyism in the 1950s, and it is unfortunate that we still cling to such religious rhetoric today," he says. "E pluribus unum, the Latin phrase for 'out of many, one,' would be a much more appropriate motto. It reflects the true character of American society and government."

The AHA currently has four other billboards in the Moscow area, which read "Don't Believe in God? You Are Not Alone," "Want a Better World? Prayer Not Required," "Millions are Good Without God" and "No God? No Problem!"

©2010 Joshua D. Givens and The Underground Christian E-Magazine

For more news, arts and culture and features on pop culture from a Christian perspective, visit The Underground Christian E-Magazine at: www.theundergroundsite.com. This article was originally published here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/04/humanist-group-unveils-in-good-we-trust-billboards-11518