Atheists & Agnostics

trof

(54,273 posts) Tue May 19, 2015, 06:41 PM May 2015

"In God We Trust" A simplistic and probably meaningless protest.

I just read this. It's worth reading.

How Atheists Are Turning ‘Religious Freedom’ Laws Against Religion

"For almost a year now, the nation has been locked in almost constant debate over various state and federal versions of the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA), a 20-year-old law that was broadened by the Supreme Court in 2014 and has since been embraced by right-wing politicians and pundits — especially religious conservatives. But in an unusual twist, an atheist activist is galvanizing support for a legal campaign to use the federal RFRA to remove the phrase “In God we trust” from U.S. coins and paper bills."

much more at link: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/05/19/3660284/atheists-trying-use-religious-freedom-laws-remove-god-trust-us-currency/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tptop3

Well, I was inspired.
I got my wallet and pulled out the few bills in it.
I took a black felt tip pen and struck through the offending phrase.
I will do this for all U.S. currency that comes into my possession from now on.
Yeah, it's a small thing that doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
But it makes me feel better.
Try it.

17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

"In God We Trust" A simplistic and probably meaningless protest. (Original Post) trof May 2015 OP

I really like that idea bvf May 2015 #1

Editing me wallet right now... F4lconF16 May 2015 #2

I have been known to "enhance" Gideon Bibles in motels/hotels. Arugula Latte May 2015 #3

Easy protest.....I can do this. And I will. Curmudgeoness May 2015 #4

All my money says "Visa" on it. AtheistCrusader May 2015 #5

Public currency is disappearing. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #6

Yes. I very rarely use cash any more. trof May 2015 #11

i think that makes his even more important Lordquinton May 2015 #14

One of my prized possessions is a "God-free" bill I won at an FFRF conference ... cdogzilla May 2015 #7

Winner! PassingFair May 2015 #8

I won the $100 bill (n/t) cdogzilla May 2015 #9

You do know that those bills will no longer be accepted in a lot of bill slots Stryst May 2015 #10

1. I can't remember the last time I used a vending machine. trof May 2015 #12

1- And what about the physically disabled who use grocery self check out? Stryst May 2015 #13

it's civil disobedience Lordquinton May 2015 #15

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #17

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #16

bvf

(6,604 posts)

1. I really like that idea

Reply to trof (Original post)

Tue May 19, 2015, 07:16 PM

May 2015

and am following suit. Will carry a Sharpie with me from now on.

Small steps...

F4lconF16

(3,747 posts)

2. Editing me wallet right now...

Reply to trof (Original post)

Tue May 19, 2015, 07:19 PM

May 2015

It does make you feel better.

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)

3. I have been known to "enhance" Gideon Bibles in motels/hotels.

Reply to trof (Original post)

Tue May 19, 2015, 07:21 PM

May 2015

I mean, it's pretty effing presumptuous to put those things in rooms, so it's only fair that a comment or two on the veracity of the contents of said book is added.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)

4. Easy protest.....I can do this. And I will.

Reply to trof (Original post)

Tue May 19, 2015, 09:05 PM

May 2015

Sometimes the simple things are the ones that take off.

I'll be looking for currency from other atheist's hands.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

5. All my money says "Visa" on it.

Reply to trof (Original post)

Tue May 19, 2015, 10:19 PM

May 2015

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)

6. Public currency is disappearing.

Reply to trof (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2015, 06:18 AM

May 2015

we are rapidly returning to a system of private currency, so "In God We Trust", obnoxious as it is, is being replaced with "In MasterCard We Trust" or "In WINKLEVOSS BITCOIN TRUST" we trust. This is all atheist's fault because Ayn Rand.

trof

(54,273 posts)

11. Yes. I very rarely use cash any more.

Reply to Warren Stupidity (Reply #6)

Wed May 20, 2015, 06:17 PM

May 2015

But when I do...

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)

14. i think that makes his even more important

Reply to Warren Stupidity (Reply #6)

Thu May 21, 2015, 01:59 AM

May 2015

Hard currency will still be around, i use it all the time. If it's reduced to a mostly ornamental role than what's on it becomes more important.

cdogzilla

(48 posts)

7. One of my prized possessions is a "God-free" bill I won at an FFRF conference ...

Reply to trof (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2015, 07:28 AM

May 2015

Here's a snapshot the bill, if you're curious.

And here I am holding it (that's me in the red polo shirt) from the pages of Freethough Today.

PassingFair

(22,437 posts)

8. Winner!

Reply to cdogzilla (Reply #7)

Wed May 20, 2015, 07:41 AM

May 2015

What denomination did you win?

cdogzilla

(48 posts)

9. I won the $100 bill (n/t)

Reply to PassingFair (Reply #8)

Wed May 20, 2015, 02:16 PM

May 2015

Stryst

(714 posts)

10. You do know that those bills will no longer be accepted in a lot of bill slots

Reply to trof (Original post)

Wed May 20, 2015, 03:46 PM

May 2015

such as vending machines or grocery self checkouts, right?

I'm an out atheist, but this is going to cause problems for people. Nothing quite like having to spend hours waiting to see your doctor and the only bill in your wallet not working to get something to drink.

Also, potentially illegal under 18 USC § 333

"Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."