I wasn't prepared to face a religious test when renewing my license plates

[70sEraVet]

I knew that this year, Tennessee was issuing new, redesigned auto tags this year. But the question of religious preferences took me by surprise. "Do you want 'In God We Trust', or without."
I wasn't sure. Its not that I don't BELIEVE in g-d, but I sure don't TRUST him/her. And Tennessee has a mandatory liability insurance law -- doesn't sound like the state has much faith in him/her either.
So, in order not to have my hypocrisy cast into stone (or, in this case, aluminum), I opted for the 'without', and left, feeling like a Rebel without a clause.
This question of one's religious beliefs at tag renewal time is apparently happening in many states.

“In God We Trust” license plates are already available in 20 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

https://www.blitzwatch.org

So, my advice is to be prepared -- your automobile's eternal salvation may depend on your answer!

[Joinfortmill]

1. SC also has 'While I breath I hope'.

[SCantiGOP]

55. And one that says "In Reason We Trust"

SC has over 100 specialty plates. The one I mentioned was sponsored by the Lowcountry Secular Humanist group.

[hlthe2b]

2. I want an "In Dog I trust" plate

[maxrandb]

4. I want the bumper sticker George Carlin talked about

"I found Jesus...he's in my trunk"

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. Get yerself one o' these!

[piddyprints]

3. My take on it:

If they really trusted in God like they say, they wouldn’t have to splash it all over the money, license plates, polling places, schools, etc. It’s almost as if they’re trying to convince themselves.



BTW, we opted out. Not sure why they didn’t send a new one for the motorcycle. Now our plates don’t match.

[LakeArenal]

14. I always wondered why, if they follow Jesus...

Why the Jesus fish isn’t on the front of the car?

Why love jesus by putting his icon by your car’s asshole?

[BlackSkimmer]

80. Your car has an asshole?

My car has front and rear bumpers. My Dem stickers are on the rear bumper.

[druidity33]

81. It's called an exhaust? nt.

[BlackSkimmer]

88. Lol, guess so.

Depends on your outlook on things I reckon.

[ShazzieB]

107. Because it's not for His benefit.

Gotta put it on the back so all those godless libruls can see what a good little Christian you are!

[jimfields33]

19. I got in god we trust in Florida.

It was that or sunshine state which Seemed weird. So I took the best option.

[Deuxcents]

62. I got a the Sunshine State on mine..

It’s our state motto like Pennsylvania is the Keystone State or NY is
The Empire State or New Mexico is The Land of Enchantment State. Growing up here, my
Sisters n I used to make a game of it when we’d see out of state tags..we didn’t have digital games back then 🤗

[H2O Man]

24. +1

[Skittles]

33. their "faith" is very shaky

INDEED

[duckworth969]

5. g-d this, g-d that, religion yes, religion no

It’s all so completely annoying.

We spend far too much time and energy on gawd and religious concepts.

Secular Humanism is where it’s at peeps.

Toss all the rest overboard.

Except, for your Tennessee plates that is.

[Sky Jewels]

13. Almost every religion has some variation of the Golden Rule ...

which pretty clearly originated out of our evolution as highly social primates who need to live in groups and cooperate closely in order to survive and thrive. Do Unto Others makes a lot of sense in that context. I really don't understand why people waste their time with anything beyond that simple philosophy. All the supernatural stories and mythologies attached to these different sects are so obviously fictional (not to mention downright convoluted and nonsensical and usually highly patriarchal), it's amazing they're still being accepted and espoused by millions of gullible people in "modern" times.

[Skittles]

34. you don't need religion to be a good person

some people believe in "the golden" rule without expecting some kind of reward

[Sky Jewels]

42. Definitely.

I count myself in that camp.

[Skittles]

64. same

yes indeed

[Mickju]

45. So true

[ProfessorGAC]

104. In Fact...

...a person who does good & acts justly without the expectation of an eternal life of bliss may be more authentically good, than one who does it for the payoff.
I fear some religious folks are solely motivated to be good people by the eternal bliss or to avoid the hell thing.

[msfiddlestix]

31. ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ n/t

[erronis]

54. The Secular Humanists is where the intellect meets the reality.

I've been a member of a few groups but it's hard to compete with book thumpers who demand your money to be part of their clique.

That's the problem with liberalism. We like to keep our tent flaps wide open - no entrance fees, no damnation on exit.

In the end, all of these bags of protein will go to earth and recycle.....

[Moostache]

6. Should have demanded a variant..

Allahu Akbar

[liberal N proud]

7. Been that way for a long time here is South Carolina

[Lucid Dreamer]

8. Thanx for your service. Spend a couple of bux and get a service related tag.

There are more than 20 Veteran related specialty plates offered in the State of Tennessee. We have provided links to find out more about each specialty plate, but to find out more about all specialty plates and how to obtain them, please visit the Tennessee Department of Revenue website.
https://www.tn.gov/veteran/veteran-benefits/tn-state-benefits/motor-services/veteran-specialty-plates.html

Specialty License Plate for Distinguished Flying Cross Recipients
Specialty Plate for Air Medal Recipients
Specialty Plate for Bronze Star Recipients
Specialty Plate for Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients
Specialty Plate for Purple Heart Recipients
Specialty Plate for Former Prisoners of War
Specialty Plate for Handicapped Veterans
Specialty Plate for Sons of Confederate Veterans
Specialty Plate for Pearl Harbor Survivors
Specialty Plate for World War II Veterans
Specialty Plate for Korean War Veterans
Specialty Plate for Vietnam War Veterans
Specialty Plate for Desert Storm Veterans
Specialty Plate for Bosnia Veterans
Specialty Plate for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn
Specialty Plate for Women Veterans
Specialty Plate for Blue Star Families
Specialty Plate for Gold Star Families
Specialty Plate for Veterans Honorably Discharged
Registration Plates, Medal Recipients

[demigoddess]

29. what!? not one for military brats?! How dare they!!!!??????

[msfiddlestix]

36. Right?!! We deserve a little recognition for being "raised in the military"....

especially if both parents served in uniform.

I will say I did love seeing my dad in uniform, that I had to ireon for inspections. but I really loved seeing him in his dress blues.

yeppers.

[demigoddess]

106. not much of that with my dad. We saw his scars everyday from his wounds.

and his kindness to me, because my mother was a monster.

[Lithos]

41. Noticed they did not do one for "Sons of Union Veterans"

And of course they should be sued for not using the term "Children of Union or Confederate Veterans".

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. If you don't like too many choices, don't tag your car in Florida!!

Florida has more styles of plates available than any other state;

https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor-vehicles-tags-titles/personalized-specialty-license-plates/specialty-license-plates/



I find all that absurd, frankly.

[Lucid Dreamer]

26. I wonder if FL would let my vanity plate read "SAMEPL" nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. ROFL!

Probably not. There are already several thousand!

[Lucid Dreamer]

66. ...but not the way I misspelled it. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

70. Knowing this state, they would find an inappropriate meaning and deny it!

"SAMEPL"...isn't that another name for Satan?


I knew a guy who had "PU55Y" back in the early 80's. Not sure if that would be issued today!

[milestogo]

10. Shouldn't it be "Let Jesus Take the Wheel"?

[TheBlackAdder]

50. Doesn't look good when cleaning up crashes on I-95.

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. We have those plates here too, it's annoying as hell.

Worse yet are the teabagger plates.

Why the fuck do they get their BS on license plates? Why can't I get a liberal plate?????

[Lars39]

15. There's another difference with the tags...

3 Numbers on left, four letters on the right =in god we trust

3 letters on left, 4 numbers on right = heathen

Somebody’s taking notes.

[dchill]

22. Srsly? Guess that means we can keep track, too.

[Lars39]

35. Yep!

My husband first noticed it, then noticed it was a regular pattern. Won’t it be fun having a heathen plate and getting pulled over at night by a talibornagin Barney Fife.

[Pinback]

60. 666 STYX

is probably not available.

[Lars39]

61. Heh, be fun to try

[Sogo]

16. "...your automobile's eternal salvation may depend on your answer"

Ahh, but I've renewed my car's warranty!

[nilram]

17. ... all others pay cash.

[Gaugamela]

18. The ulterior purpose here is that once the christofascists take over their

brownshirts will know who to disappear.

[vercetti2021]

20. I'd opt in for Hail Satan myself

Just to piss off the troglodytes

[dchill]

21. "In God We Trust" has ZERO to do with religion or anything else...

... but status quo and the fear that someone will figure that out.

[barbtries]

28. I really wish it would go away though.

I'm an atheist and i'm allowed to be. This default to gawd is offensive to me.

[dchill]

38. Me, too. Me, too. And me, too. 👍

[orleans]

58. same here. what's all this fucking around with god?

what about that separation of church & state shit?

[NYC Liberal]

86. You'd think it would be offensive to Christians too.

Theodore Roosevelt was against putting it on money because he said it was sacrilegious and cheapened the sentiment.

My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does not good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence which comes dangerously close to sacrilege. A beautiful and solemn sentence such as the one in question should be treated and uttered only with that fine reverence which necessarily implies a certain exaltation of spirit. Any use which tends to cheapen it, and, above all, any use which tends to secure its being treated in a spirit of levity, is free from every standpoint profoundly to be regretted. It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in buildings such as those at West Point and Annapolis - in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to be eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements.

As regards to its use on the coinage we have actual experience by which to go. In all my life I have never heard any human being speak reverently of this motto on the coins or show any sign of having appealed to any high emotion in him. But I have literally hundreds of times heard it used as an occasion of, and incitement to, the sneering ridicule which it is above all things undesirable that so beautiful and exalted a phrase should excite.

[barbtries]

94. Imagine no religion.

When atheists can be honest with their constituents and still stand a chance of winning. My theory is that many, many in Congress do not believe in gawd but they must pretend to if they want to gain office.

[Voltaire2]

92. Sure it does. It asserts that a god exists.

[YoshidaYui]

23. Good thing I am in California

i am Buddhist.

[BigmanPigman]

25. Donate to FFR

Freedom From Religion! They are in my Trust instead of a stupid religious organization when I die.

[barbtries]

27. In NC there are more than 2 choices I believe,

first in flight, first in freedom, and possibly that other one. i chose first in flight.

[yaesu]

30. in my highly RW area everyone started putting signs in their yards stating we support our local

police after the defund police started. I decided to do something diff and since I love pizza I copied the sign only saying we support our local pizza.

[barbtries]

96. i love that

who can argue with it. but i bet it raises the hackles on the pro fascist right

[yaesu]

97. I've had a few horn toots :o) nt

[ShazzieB]

108. Cool! 😄

[TNNurse]

32. As I was walking out with my tag which is without....the county mayor

who does not know me joined me in the elevator. He asked which tag I got. I replied that I followed the Constitution and believed in the separation of church and state. My husband thought I should have called him out...I chose dignity and brevity.

By the way, in case you do not know, check your tag. Yours and mine start with letters then numbers. The "with" tags are the opposite. First numbers then letters....They said it was just to keep them organized when processing...I call BS. Law enforcement will notice....

[Lars39]

37. You noticed, too!

Creepy isn’t it.

[TNNurse]

83. I belong to a liberal FB page

they were all over it pretty quickly....

I am not much for conspiracies...but this fits.

[sarge43]

39. In God We Trust; all others pay cash. n/t

[Rebl2]

40. Have never seen

that on a plate in KS. I don’t live there, but it’s right across the state line from me.

[70sEraVet]

43. If they started posting 'In God We Trust' in passenger jets, wonder how many would get off?

[Orrex]

44. When I was sworn in for jury duty years ago...

I asked about "so help me God" part of the oath, specifically because I'm atheist.

The bailiff said "eh, it's no big deal."

Also, when the missus & I had a JoP perform our wedding ceremony, he sneaked in a line about God at the very end.

This "God" character may not be omnipresent, but it sure as hell feels like it.

[Liberal In Texas]

49. In my retirement job that's currently on pandemic hiatus, I sometimes had to swear in a witness

and there are two versions that can be used. One is the oath with God and the other an affirmation without. I never asked which one they wanted, just did the affirmation. It was just as legal as the other one.

[DFW]

46. Seeing as how we spend a few weeks every year on the eastern tip of Massachusetts, I demand

IN COD WE TRUST

(Sorry, those wanting a lobster slogan will just have to apply in Maine)

[dickthegrouch]

47. How f'ing disgusting

I hate having their religion shoved down my throat at every opportunity. There should be a way I could claim harassment or something every time I see one.
It’s bad enough all the cosmetic commercials trying to force heterosexuality on me, now I have to put up with religion too?

[Martin68]

48. Woah! That's not a choice that should be automatically offered to every taxpayer who applies.

Sounds like a religious "test" to me, expressly prohibited in the Constitution. I remembered feeling conflicted after a meeting at the Culpeper, Virginia shortly after 9/11 that started with an invocation ending in "...in Jesus's name we ask you, Lord, please grant us our prayers when we ask that you... I wanted to make an official complaint to the City, but I knew it would cause a commotion which could cause my employers, a water and land conservation non-profit, a lot of difficulty. It's "systemic theology".

[3Hotdogs]

51. What do we trust in God to do? See? There's a big lottery drawing on Monday night.

I did my part. Now here's the offer to you, Jesus. I win the big prize and I promise, I don't make no more fun of you.

[Ms. Toad]

52. That's a little misleading, as to the other states.

Ohio permits vanity license plates and special interest license plates. Both cost more - so you're not going to be asked at registration time whether you want one.

(There are literally hundreds of special interest plates - organizations, schools, military, sports teams - should you want to spend a few extra bucks.)

[Lars39]

63. These aren't vanity plates.

These are the basic plates. You are now asked if you want “In God We Trust” or the “without”.

[Ms. Toad]

69. Your link included Ohio as having them already.

It is misleading to put Ohio in the same category (as in the question may be coming to you soon), because in Ohio they are special plates which you have to ask for and pay extra for. They aren't vanity (special number), they are special plates for which someone has jumped through hoops (usually an affiliated organization) to create an opportunity for you to pay more and brag.

My guess is that most of the states in that list offer them on a similar basis - you ask for them, and pay more for them.

[Lars39]

77. The op had a link , I didn't.

The “In God We Trust” used to be a vanity plate in TN, now it’s a basic choice, with distinguishing placement of numbers and letters in addition to the slogan. The point is that the same thing could happen in other states, too.

[ForgedCrank]

53. I was just

reading their website.
It reads almost like a hate group.

[locks]

57. No thanks

It's your god I don't trust.

[AdamGG]

59. New Hampshire plates said "Live Free or Die" for many years

It doesn't invoke God, but it's still kind of a strong statement for a license plate.

[IronLionZion]

65. God did plenty of mass murder

the old testament is full of smiting and wrath. Not sure I would trust God.

[usaf-vet]

67. I would have ask to see proof that god is who he claims to be. I had to show an ID to renew.....

.... my plates. The service counter person had a name tag and a uniform leading to proof that he was who he said he was.

Why should we let the third party in this transaction be accepted without a government issues ID?

[ecstatic]

68. In Georgia, it's an optional sticker, but

I always get the sticker to conceal my county. I like being able to travel throughout the state without being typecast.

[Lucid Dreamer]

72. Conceal county... Good Idea!

I lived in GA just south of ATL for 15 years.
I wish I had thought of that!

[crickets]

74. I've never minded, but I can understand why that might be an issue.

Good to know there's a sticker for that.

[alphafemale]

76. I was sent the SC "IGWT" in the mail.

This was after finally repairing my credit to the point where I could get a loan for a decent used car a few years after a divorce.

I had been riding a bike and using a cart behind it for groceries much of the time.

I felt betrayed. I promptly ordered a vanity plate from the Free Thought society and it says "In Reason We Trust"

[mwooldri]

71. Thankful that none of this exists in Europe.

Different shape yeah but it's simple - black numbers on a white background, with a blue strip to the left for country identifier. Rear number plate the same except it's black on yellow. Some European countries may do some personalization but typically the plate is issued to the vehicle and not the person so usually a plate stays with the vehicle for life.

My adopted home state has that "in dog we thrust" option, or one can go all out on a specialized "in dawg we fussed" plate, along with a long list of special plates one can get. My truck plate wants to speak about my waistline... Says I'm "weighted" ehehe - and that's apparently standard issue for 1/2 ton and heavier trucks (i.e. trucks like a Ford F250 and up). About as plain a plate as you can get. But in my mind nothing screams more of NC than a "First in Flight" standard plate. Most specialized plates have this on them.

[crickets]

73. In Georgia, license plates used to show your county until somebody decided to witness by taxation.

For decades it was easy to tell who was from out of town by reading their county on the license plate, and now it's all about who is proud of going to church. Does no one remember how Jesus taught that we were all supposed to pray in private?

I have a problem with the fact that tax dollars are directly spent on advertising for a deity, even if by taxpayer choice, and not just because it's tacky to treat Jesus like a NASCAR sponsor.

It didn't come up the last time I needed new plates, but my answer will be clear and unintimidated when I buy my next (and likely last) car. I don't advertise.

Funny story from when I lived in CA - it took the Toyota dealership some effort to find my car in my color, even in the late 80s, because I drove a manual transmission. I told them I did not want any dealership logo at all - not painted on the rear trunk flap, not on a license frame. Nothing. I got what I asked for. Because my dealer was not Cal Worthington (and his dog, Spot!) they were going to have to 'rebrand' the car anyway, and we both knew it. I just paid a tiny bit extra to make both dealerships kiss off. Shouldn't have had to, but willing to get what I wanted.

It can be done.

Your car is transportation for which you have already paid a pretty sum, not a vehicle for advertisements.

[Tree Lady]

75. We have one regular with a tree

And smokey the bear plate, Oregon. There's lots more choice but on my car my plate cover is good enough, Namaste Peace!

[Deminpenn]

78. Specialty license plates make money for DMVs

That is all there is to it.

[Lars39]

89. These are the basic cost plates.

The TN plates aren’t specialty plates or vanity plates.

[Emile]

79. I pay a little extra for a Navy veteran vanity plate.

[eShirl]

82. It Doesn't Say Which God

[Novara]

84. Wasn't there an alwsuit by the ACLU regarding this some years ago?

Oh wait, I googled. Looks Like the ACLU lost a case in 2015 in Indiana, but American Atheists have recently sued in Mississippi: https://www.atheists.org/2021/06/in-god-we-trust-lawsuit-mississippi/#:~:text=In%20the%20lawsuit%2C%20American%20Atheists,message%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Geoffrey%20T.


I have no idea where the case stands.


Not that we have any hope. The SCOTUS wants to make America into a back-ass religious backwater.

[JHB]

85. And, of course, there's no option for "E Pluribus Unum"...

...because that motto was never made "official."

[Samrob]

87. The question is, in which God do you trust? What if it was In Allah We Trust? nt

[Buckeyeblue]

90. I would ask if "god is dead" is an option

[Voltaire2]

91. Why are we spelling 'god' 'g-d'?

Is the nasty sky daddy gonna strike us dead for using all three letters?

The word ‘god’ isn’t even the abrahamic god’s name. His actual name is sort of Yahweh.

The theocrats are forcing their awful religion down our throats (and into our wombs), perhaps we ought to stop tiptoeing around their vile idiocy?

[shrike3]

93. I live in Indiana; this has never been an issue for me.

Maybe here you have to specifically request "In God We Trust" plates?

[BluesRunTheGame]

99. I live in Indiana too.

They made me choose. It was either the God plate with stars & stripes or the covered bridge plate.
I said gimme the bridge plate.

And the interaction did have the flavor of a religious test. At least she was nice. The DMV people in Montana were crazy and mean.

[shrike3]

100. We do everything on-line, regarding our license plates.

Maybe it's the part of Indiana we live in?

[BluesRunTheGame]

101. This was 3 years ago in Franklin.

Since Covid I’ve used the kiosk in the entryway.

[shrike3]

102. Well, can't deny Indiana's Indiana.

I try and focus on the good parts.

[Kaleva]

95. Did you pass or fail the test?

[70sEraVet]

103. I guess that will depend on who is grading it.

[UpInArms]

98. All others pay cash

Screw that crap …

If someone asked me that, I would ask them if they were among the sky fairy cultists

[ThoughtCriminal]

105. I'm pretty sure that the 1970 AMC Gremlin

That I drove in high school and college is in HELL. What else would they drive there? (Yugos?). Oh, and the AC didn't work, so that's a bonus.

[ShazzieB]

109. Cars without AC don't need to go to hell.

They ARE hell on wheels, afaic.

No, I am not just a spoiled American. Being too hot for any significant period of time literally makes me physically ill. Fortunately, AC seems to be pretty standard at this point in time. (I'm old enough to remember when it was an "extra" you had to pay extra for.)