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"We profess our faith in a Supreme Being on our coins marked "In God we trust." It seems more appropriate to me to recognize the Deity in our spiritual dedication to the flag, the symbol of our God-given freedom. Our belief in God highlights one of the fundamental differences between us and the Communists."
--Rep. Charles G. Oakman, Congressional Record, Appendix, p. A2527
The motto, in various forms, had been off and on coins since 1863. On June 7, 1955, H.R. 619, "Providing for the inscription of "In God We Trust" on all United States Currency and Coins" was introduced in the House with the following intent:
"Nothing can be more certain than that our country was founded in a
spiritual atmosphere and a firm trust in God. While the sentiment of
trust in God is universal and timeless, these particular four words
"In God We Trust" are indigenous to our country...
At the base of our freedom is our faith in God and the desire of
Americans to live by His will and by His guidance. As long as this
country trusts in God, it will prevail. To serve as a constant
reminder of this truth, it is highly desirable that our currency and
coins should bear these inspiring words, "In God We Trust."
--Congressional Record, June 7, 1955, pp 7795-96
An earlier bill advocating the addition of "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance, House Joint Resolution 243 , introduced on April 20, 1953, clearly outlined the intent behind the entire "trinity" of laws putting religious slogans on money, in the national motto, and Pledge. Referring to an earlier sermon in which it was noted that the pledge could very well serve as the pledge of any country, even Communist Russia, Rep. Louis C. Rabaut, sponsor of H.J. Res. 243, said:
"Mr. Speaker...
Dr. Docherty and I are not of the same Christian denomination, but I
may say that in this matter he has hit the nail right on the head. You
may argue from dawn to dusk about differing political, economic, and
social systems, but the fundamental issue which is the unbridgeable gap
between America and Communist Russia is a belief in Almighty God.
From the root of atheism stems the evil weed of communism and its
branches of materialism and political dictatorship. Unless we are willing
to affirm our belief in the existence of God and His creator-creature
relationship to man, we drop man himself to the significance of a grain
of sand and open the floodgates to tyranny and oppression.
An atheistic American, as Dr. Docherty points out, is a contradiction
in terms.
This country was founded on theistic beliefs, on the belief in the
worthwhileness of the individual human being which in turn depends solely
and completely on the identity of man as the creature and son of God.
The fraudulent claims of the Communists to the role of champions of
social, economic, and political reform is given the lie by their very own
atheist [sic] materialist concept of life and their denunciation of
religion, the bond between God and Man, as 'the opium of the people'...
It is therefore, most proper that in our salute to the flag, the
patriotic standard around which we rally as Americans, we state the real
meaning of that flag. From their earliest childhood our children must
know the real meaning of America. Children and Americans of all ages
must know that this is one Nation which "under God" means "liberty and
justice for all."
--Congressional Record, House, February 12, 1954, p. 1700
Liberty and justice for all except atheists, that is. The motto on money,
the national motto, and "under God" in the Pledge were intended as, and
remain, deliberate anti-atheist propoganda, intended to disenfranchise and
insult non-believers.
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