The fact is that the "In God We Trust" on the money dates back only to about 1880 where the machinations of a group of religious zealots foisted this upon the people of the United States, this after failing to pass an Amendment to the First Amendment declaring the United States to be a "Christian Nation".
The "Under God" part of the pledge was added much later, in the 1950's under the Eisenhower administration and under the pressure, direct or indirect, of the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) otherwise known as the McCarthy Commie Witch Hunts.
The undeniable fact is that at the start of this nation in 1791 the Treaty of Tripoli clearly states that the United States is NOT a Christian nation and is in no way based upon Judeo-Christian religion. In the entire text of the US Constitution we have only ONE mention at all of religion, and that is that there is to be NO religious test for public office. In the Bill of Rights there is also only ONE mention of religion, and that is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment which is consistent entirely with the concept and doctrine of the Separation of Church and State.
In point of fact the majority of the Founding Fathers were Deists, not Christians. Their documents produced a country which while not promoting religion, was respectful of it. It is to neither promote nor disparage religion. The same guideline is used in the public schools. No longer are the schools allowed to promote or proselytize religion, but neither are they to be bastions of anti-religion indoctrination. But the true zealots will claim anything short of absolute promotion of religion in the schools is outright opposition to religion. What nonsense!
As for an intepretation of a 1947 USSC ruling on this issue, go here.
