'Christian Nationalist Project': Texas Schools Forced To Display 'In God We Trust' In Accordance With New State Law

The US state of Texas is forcing schools to display posters of the national motto 'In God We Trust' in the campuses.

The law was passed last year and it is being implemented now.

The law states that "elementary and secondary schools must display in a conspicuous place in each building of the school or institution a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto if the signs were donated to the school district or bought with private donations and given to the district," as per a report in Axios.

Civil rights advocates are raising alarm as they believe this is not in line with the need to maintain schools as secular spaces and have called it a disturbing development that must be seen as part of the Christian nationalist project in the United States.

The Southlake Anti-Racism Coalition (SARC) said that they are "disturbed by the precedent displaying these posters in every school will set and the chilling effect this blatant intrusion of religion in what should be a secular public institution will have on the student body, especially those who do not practice the dominant Christian faith."

It is worth flagging that the phrase 'In God We Trust' doesn't specifically mention any religion and it is the national motto of the US. However, by some accounts, the phrase is closely linked to the Bible, and it has long been used to promote Christian nationalism in the West.

Kristina Lee of Colorado State University writes that Christians were instrumental in putting the phrase on coins during the civil war and they have since that time used the phrase as supposed evidence to prove the United States is a Christian nation.

She adds that "What makes 'In God We Trust' bills so successful is that they often receive bipartisan support".

In Louisiana, for example, it was a Democratic governor who signed the 2019 bill requiring the motto be displayed in all schools. Politicians who do oppose “In God We Trust” bills run the risk of being labeled as “anti-faith.”

So it is not merely the Republicans in Texas who support it. Several states have passed similar laws in recent year which require schools to display the motto.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights organisation, didn't oppose the initiative. They welcomed the initiative and said this might allow for an opportunity for students to learn about other faiths.

“The notion of trusting God is common across faiths. Applied through that lens, the posters can foster discussions among Texas students about their various faiths and enhance understanding," said a spokesperson of CAIR.

“In God We Trust” has been the national motto for only 65 years but Christian nationalists have used the motto to validate their claim that the US is in essence a Christian nation.