American Judeo-Christians will sometimes cite the words “In God We Trust” that is printed on federal property to justify their position; however this Judeo-Christian maxim is not the original motto of the United States. In fact, it did not appear until almost a hundred years after the founding of the nation—although, even then, it was only used on coinage. It did not become a nationally recognized maxim until 1956. The original national motto that was chosen by the Founding Fathers was actually E Pluribus Unum (One out of Many). Moreover, it does not say “In God We Trust” in the U.S. Constitution, but rather, “We the People”—which is a reference to a democracy, not a theocracy.
Judeo-Christians cite many examples of the Founding Fathers referring to God and the principles of the Judeo-Christian faith; however, while it is true that for the most part, the Founding Fathers of America did respect religious liberty and tradition, they were also students of Greek philosophy and Enlightenment thinking.
What the Founding Fathers of America established was not specifically a Judeo-Christian nation, but rather, a free and independent country that respected religious liberty. It was an expression of the humanistic principle that all people should have the right to practice their religious belief—or not to at all—and not be persecuted one way or the other.
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