Sacramento doctor files federal suit to remove God from U.S. currency

A Sacramento emergency doctor has filed a federal lawsuit calling for the removal of all references to God on the United States currency.

According to a report by The Daily Beast, Dr. Michael Newdow claimed that the statement "In God We Trust", found on the back of every U.S. dollar bill, places "substantial burden" to atheists who do not believe in God.

Newdow further stated that the references to God on the American currency was difficult to uphold for someone whose belief system did not include a supreme being. 

This is not the first time he has attempted to push for atheists' religious freedom in cases involving American icons. In 2004, the doctor filed a lawsuit to take out the words 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance. 

About 10 years ago, the doctor also tried to argue that the use of the U.S. currency is an act of affirming religion. However, in both cases the lawsuits were thrown out by the Federal Court.

The phrase "In God We Trust" appeared on the U.S. currency for the first time in 1864. However, its use was spread to dollar bills at the height of the Cold War, simply as political propaganda. Communism was considered as a heartless and godless system in society, and so the inclusion of 'God' in the American currency meant that America was actively fighting for what is right.

The use of religious imagery and slogans has been included in the currency for centuries. Greek and Roman coins routinely include portraits or emblems of their God. It was believed that during the time of the Roman Empire, the head of the emperor, who was considered as god at that time, was included in coins and for that reason Jews prohibited its use in the Temple.