Imagine, for example, that former Rep. Richard Siddoway, pious proponent of mandating “In God We Trust” displays in Utah public schools, were choking uncontrollably on a communion wafer. Riffing on a Lawrence Krauss meme, you give Siddoway the choice between trusting in the Almighty — or the Heimlich maneuver. Verily, even Siddoway would pick Heimlich over Jesus to avoid meeting his Maker.
So too, claiming “In God We Trust” isn’t religiously motivated is a sham. It’s Schrödinger’s motto: Believers promote “In God We Trust” precisely because it’s religious. But when others rightly object to its religiosity, believers claim it’s not really religious after all.