Sunday, July 19, 2009

Atheists sue to keep 'In God We Trust' off Capitol Visitor Center

 

WASHINGTON — A California Republican congressman wants to do a little writing on the walls of Washington's newest federal building. If Rep. Dan Lungren gets his way, Congress will spend nearly $100,000 to engrave the words "In God We Trust " and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent spots at the Capitol Visitor Center .

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090718/pl_mcclatchy/3274259

 

I don’t believe in God, but I don’t consider myself  an “atheist.” I try to stay away from labels. People will say, “well, you don’t believe in God, so you must be an Atheist.” Nope.  Then they’ll say “Oh well you’re an agnostic then.” People are so quick to put labels on people and things. I dislike labels because they discourage an open mind. I don’t believe in God, okay? But that’s not to say I don’t believe that there could be a superior being of some sort. I don’t believe it, but I’m open minded about it. In simple words: I don’t dwell on it. Okay? I don’t let my life be dictated by some invisible man in the sky. If there really is a man up there, then we all shall find out some day. Until then, let’s just enjoy life, with or without God.

Now onto the article. I really don’t know why people are so easily offended these days. Seeing “In God We Trust” on our money and wherever else the phrase may happen to be, doesn’t offend me. I respect that others believe in a God. Long as they don’t try to convert me or whatever, I’m fine with it. I believe there should be some sort of acceptance on both sides of the aisle. Both sides could afford to be a little more accepting, I think. In the words of the late, great, George Carlin: “Keep thy religion to thyself.”

I don’t think that displaying In God We Trust affirms God’s existence. No one knows for a fact that God exists. Are the religious people that insecure in their beliefs that they have to see In God We Trust everywhere? And are the Atheists that insecure that seeing In God We Trust might make them reconsider their beliefs? I laugh at non-believers getting upset about God being in the pledge of allegiance. All I have to say to these people is: Get a life.

If people were more secure about their beliefs, this wouldn’t even be an issue. But alas, here it is. The real issue, is this: Spending $100,000 of tax payer money to put these words in public areas is a little ridiculous when this country is in a financial crisis. I’m sure $100,000 could be better spent. Don’t you?

11 comments:

The BoBo said...

repent heathen for such blasphemy! :)
While I consider myself a religious person - I also consider myself to be very practical. However, what I disagree with you on is that the money could be spent somewhere else. Me - I say that money shouldn't be spent at all. We can't afford any more spending of any kind.

Stunatra said...

@bobo, that's exactly what I meant. That money would be better spent in the hands of the tax payers, not politicians.

Steve said...

Thanks for this post. While my beliefs are similar to yours, I love labels. I call myself an Atheist even though I fall more under the category of Secular Humanist. Labels make things easier in my opinion. But if I Say I'm a SH, people will expect me to spend hours explaining it.

As an Atheist, however, I could care less about "In God We Trust" being on the money. I'm also a White Sox fan who uses AT&T, yet amazingly, I am not offended by the U.S. Cellular branding on our ballpark.

People need to grow some thicker skin. I don't understand how someone who is offended by a nativity scene or a replica of the ten commandments gets through the day. But I suppose, for the sake of fairness, we could change it to "In Gosh We Trust"?

phuckpolitics said...

I'm all in favor of this.

How many times have religious assholes sued/boycotted/bitched about things they didn't like? How many times have they rallied their crazy followers to pester their Senators and Congressmen to take action on trivial bullshit? How many religious cunts do we have in government passing laws that benefit their beliefs?

They're slowly reaping what they've sown, and it's about fucking time.

Bird said...

Well said pal :)

Anonymous said...

I've never met anyone who has said "I don't like labels" who wasn't a complete fucking moron.

You are an atheist. Sorry but the word is A- without and theism - belief in god. You lack a belief in god and therefore you are an atheist. You are also a human being, probably a white male, and a dumbass. These are all descriptors. Language works by describing things. If you don't use labels you cannot communicate.

They don't want god off their money because their "offended". They want it gone because it's illegal, unconstitutional, and has absolutely no place in a secular democracy.

Stunatra said...

Anonymous, take your labels and shove them up your ass. Not that you'll ever see this message because you're "anonymous." Fucking troll.

The BoBo said...

Okay..gotcha!

I hate anonymous trolls as well. Assholes.

The Hawg! said...

I'm a religious person, but I agree with you here. Why on earth should taxpayers be tapped for $100,000 to pay for this kind of thing? We're broke enough as it is and now we're starting to see why -- this government spends money like it's water.

Some new thinking needs to take hold in Washington. Saving money on the little things might one day result in some fiscal responsibility.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for proving my point about labels.

Troll? I thought you didn't like labels.

My point, which you failed to engage in (maybe because of your evil act of labeling) was "They don't want god off their money because their "offended". They want it gone because it's illegal, unconstitutional, and has absolutely no place in a secular democracy."

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Stunatra said...

@Anon, that certainly is part of it.