One Nation Under Atheism

In response to concurrent resolution #13 which has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, I would like to make a few points.  I understand that my congressman, Jim McDermott , has voted in favor of this bill which reaffirms "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the U.S.

The reasons given:
1. It is the official motto of the U.S.  Okay, but does this mean that it should be?  Do you want a motto that says, in effect, that if you don't believe in God then you're not one of us.  Maybe you do, in which case I suppose you won't be needing my vote.

2. The sentiment has been an integral part of our nation since its founding.  I have no doubt that since the founding of our republic, there have been bigoted theists who wanted to exclude atheists from the country, but calling this an integral part of our country goes a bit far.  If this were the case, why would it be that our constitution makes no reference to God and further explicitly states that there will be no religious test for holding office.  If our founding fathers wanted to exclude atheists from being considered as Americans, wouldn't they be even more adamant about prohibiting them from holding elective office?  Why would they write a document that appears to say the exact opposite?

3. The people turn to God in times of tragedy.  Except, of course, for those that don't..

4. The Declaration of Independence acknowledges God as the source of our rights.  Perhaps so, although I would question whether Thomas Jefferson really meant to assert that the existence of God was "self evident", since he seems to advise his nephew to question all matters regarding religion including this one.  Even if this were so, what would that prove?  Some of our founding fathers owned slaves.  Does that justify slavery?

5. It's in our national anthem.  Should it be?

6. It appears over the entrance to the Senate and over the rostrum of the Speaker of the House.  Ditto.

7. "So help me God." is in the oath of office for every Federal employee except the President.  Really?  Every Federal employee?  If this is the case, should it be?

8. John Adams said it was religion and morality alone that could establish the principles on which liberty could securely stand.  So religion and morality are both required?  It seems obvious that without morality there can be no belief in freedom, since that would be part of a system of moral and ethical values.  Religion, however, is not required.

9. If religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, freedom cannot be secured.  This point is true, but it doesn't support the resolution.  In what sense does keeping religion and morality in the marketplace of ideas entail giving theism a monopoly by declaring it to be what we believe.  Religion has a place in the public sphere and will continue to have one so long as some of us are religious.  The same could be said of atheism.  We could say that if atheism and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, freedom cannot be secured.  That wouldn't justify making "In Atheism We Trust" our national motto or putting "under no god" in the pledge of allegiance, and neither are the public statements of theism justified.

10. Eisenhower and Ford said that without God there could be no American government or way of life.  They were wrong.  There is no God, and there is both an American government and an American way of life.

11. Kennedy said that the guiding principle and prayer of the nation was "In God We Trust."  Really?  Do nations pray or is it individuals within those nations that pray?  If we were to tell God that we trust in Him, this would be dishonest, since some of us don't.  I would say that freedom is the guiding principle of our nation.  In short Kennedy was wrong.

Our House of Representatives has given us eleven reasons why "In God We Trust" ought to be our national motto, but none of them are valid.  It is true that a majority of Americans profess belief in God (but we're working on that).  If we choose some other motto, they can continue to do so.  We will then be free to express a different opinion.  That's what freedom is all about.