"In God We Trust"

After returning from a week away, I have enjoyed catching up with the recent blog postings.  In this post, I want to address Steve Shiffrin's post from a few days ago. 

In that post, Steve says:  "I am also opposed to government trying to express what it considers to be the religious sentiments of majorities. 'In God We Trust' is a good example of the latter. In expressing the sentiments of the majority, it suggests that Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, and agnostics are not part of the “We” in our political community. Is it part of Christianity not to respect other citizens because of beliefs with which we disagree? And just what has been gained for religion?"

I respectfully disagree with Steve.  To my mind, the motto, the "under God" language in the Pledge, and the display of the Ten Commandments are not merely attempts by the government to express what it considers the religious sentiments of the majority.  Instead, these symbols reinforce the fact that "our institutions constitutionally presuppose a Supreme Being." (from July 4 posting by Steve).  These public symbols are especially important at this time when the presupposition itself is under attack.  By saying that we are a nation under God, the majority is in a sense paying its deepest respect to the Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, and agnostic, by recognizing (as the Christian must) that these minorities are created in God's image and likeness, and, therefore, worthy of being treated with dignity despite their minority status.

Michael S.