Let us suppose that the government is entirely at one with the people, and never thinks of exerting any power of coercion unless in agreement with what it conceives to be their voice. But I deny the right of the people to exercise such coercion, either by themselves or by their government. The power itself is illegitimate. The best government has no more title to it than the worst. It is as noxious, or more noxious, when exerted in accordance with public opinion, than when in opposition to it. If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.

– John Stuart Mill, Chapter II: Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion, On Liberty (1859), quoted from Ed and Michael Buckner, “Quotations that Support the Separation of State and Church

In Part 1 I mentioned the letter written by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson to the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. Written November 13, 1861, this was the first request according to the U.S. Treasury Department for the recognition of God on U.S. coins. The Rev. Watkinson was a Baptist minister and Secretary Chase an Anglican/Episcopalian.

The letter reads as follows:

You are are about to submit you annual report to Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.

One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.

You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were now shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words ‘perpetual union’; within this ring the all seeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath the eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united. In the folds of the bars the words, ‘God, liberty, law.’

This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my heart I have felt our national shame in disowning God not the least of our present national disasters.

To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.

Secretary Chase replied:

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.

“In God We Trust” was approved December 9, 1863.

It seems clear that both Rev. Watkinson and Sec. Chase are Christian. Rev. Watkinson did not say in the second paragraph, “You are probably a non-Christian or Jew or Muslim, but said, “You are a probably a Christian.” He seems concerned that the nation had, in some way, disowned God. I am not sure what he meant unless he is referring to our secular constitution and the men of the Enlightenment who drafted it. His prime motivation for having God’s name on coins is his awareness of America’s past brutal injustices and inequities, calling it a “heathen nation.”

Did Rev. Watkinson think putting God’s name on coins and having an “all seeing eye crowned with a halo” would set things aright, alleviate the “ignominy of heathenism,” and that “no possible citizen could object?” No citizen or any other religious entity was ever asked!

Having God’s name, Christian or otherwise, on currency or any other property has not stopped inhumane practice anywhere in the world. It serves no purpose except in the minds of believers. Human beings commit crimes against humanity and human beings can end these brutalities. Invoking God does nothing.

These two Christians, Rev. Watkinson and Sec. Chase, were responsible for this action. Politicians and other state and federal government officials who are Christian have tried, and are still trying, to inscribe “In God We Trust” (or the Ten Commandments) on federal and state buildings. Making “In God We Trust” the national motto is incredibly disrespectful to those who practice the many other religions in the U.S. (or practice no religion at all).  It is equally incredible that it was ever allowed.

What I cannot understand is how the Supreme Court can rule that the motto is not wholly Christian and not an explicit breech of the separation of church and State.

Related Posts:

1. In God We Trust? – Part 1
2. FL Governor Crist Assaults Atheist; Apology Demanded

Tags | church and state, government