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Ah-HAH — here’s proof (?) that America is forsaking God, just look at the new dollar coins

Oh, my Lord, will the good religious folks out there never cease in their passion for persecution? A column in our local newspaper decries the way the newest U.S. dollar coins will have "In God We Trust" on the edge -- exactly where it will wear off the fastest, and in a position that indicated the way America is trying to forsake the Christian God Who founded her. More or less.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: America is not nor ever was a "Christian nation." It won't do any good to say that, because all the sincere folks who believe it will simply deny that. Those who want to score political or religious points with the issue will just scream more loudly.

I suspect the column I've referenced above is from a good Christian brother who simply wants America to be "Christian," and isn't fighting any battle. My PERSONAL opinion is that "true" Christians living out "true" Christianity would be perfectly good leaders.

Of course, the fellow who wrote the column, as well as any other of you reading this, would find room to disagree with me on the definition of "true" -- which is exactly why the Constitution rejects the idea of any religious "litmus" tests for those who govern our nation. I call your attention to Article VI of the Constitution:

"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

At any rate, back to the new coin and "In God We Trust." At first I thought this might be simply an "urban legend" started by fundamentalist alarmists. I was wrong. The new coin is indeed being minted with "In God We Trust" on the edge of the coin. But what, really, is the issue there? The column writer -- and I might add a number of conservative blogs, too -- assumes this is somehow disrespectful to God and will somehow deteriorate or wear off the coin early in its use.

How bizarre is that, really? Actually, the edge-incised "In God We Trust" may just as well draw more attention to the phrase because it's so new and unique.

Ah, well, what do I know? I'm just a guy who reads the papers
[tags]Christians in America, religion and politics, fundamentalism, U.S. coins, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]