Non-Christians 'not my brother,' 'not my sister'

[Spring Onion]

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New governor: Non-Christians 'not my brother,' 'not my sister'

By JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
updated 1/19/2011 8:36:18 AM ET 2011-01-19T13:36:18


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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned whether he can be fair to non-Christians.

"Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day, according to The Birmingham News.

The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.

"His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional director.

Speaking at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church after the official inaugural ceremony, Bentley told the crowd that he considered anyone who believed in Jesus to be his brothers and sisters regardless of color, but anyone who isn't a Christian doesn't have that same relationship to him.

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"If the Holy Spirit lives in you that makes you my brothers and sisters. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus, I want to be your brothers and sisters, too," Bentley said.

After his speech, Bentley said he did not mean to insult anyone.

Responding to questions about it, Bentley's office released a statement Tuesday saying he believes "he is the governor of all of Alabama."

"The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all Alabamians — Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black and white, rich and poor. As stated in his (inaugural) address, Gov. Bentley believes his job is to make everyone's lives better," the statement said.

Ashfaq Taufique, president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, told The Birmingham News he wasn't sure how Bentley's remarks were intended.

"Does it mean that those who according to him are not saved are less important than those who are saved?" Taufique said.

"Does he want those of us who do not belong to the Christian faith to adopt his faith? That should be toned down," he added. "That's not what we need. If he means that, I hope he changes it. We don't want evangelical politicians. They can be whatever in their private life."

The official with the Anti-Defamation League, which fights discrimination against Jewish people, said it sounded like Bentley was using the office of governor to advocate for Christian conversion.

"If he does so, he is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government from promoting the establishment of any religion," Nigut said.

New governor: Non-Christians 'not my brother' - Politics - More politics - msnbc.com

[Manas]

God help America!!

[illuzioN]

dont judge all Americans just because of one idiot lol

[Abu Zolfiqar]

another illustration of how intolerance does exist in both 'developed' and 'developing' world among people of all faiths and beliefs

[New Vision]

What an Idiot, but dont forget, the voices of reason and freedom in the West will not let him get away with this so easily.

[Frankenstein]

God help the whole world, I mean what the hell is going on

[JanjaWeed]

So it's not just in our part of the world we find lunatics running the asylum?? so called first world country like amreeka too is suffering from this syndrome.. too bad!!

[Spring Onion]

So it's not just in our part of the world we find lunatics running the asylum?? so called first world country like amreeka too is suffering from this syndrome.. too bad!!

They are as human as we are

[JanjaWeed]

They are as human as we are

considering what part world it's happening & what they always claim that they care about, they make us more human than them!!

[Zaynaa]

New governor: Non-Christians 'not my brother,' 'not my sister'

By JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
updated 1/19/2011 8:36:18 AM ET 2011-01-19T13:36:18


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BIRMINGHAM, [B]Alabama — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd .................
The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.

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ADL??? Pot, kettle, black?

How is it that the anti defamation league and the tea party gets away with a friendly slap on the wrist (sometimes even less) when it comes to crossing the line and a poor witless moron (Bentley) gets the hot oil treatment?

[Spring Onion]

ADL??? Pot, kettle, black?

How is it that the anti defamation league and the tea party gets away with a friendly slap on the wrist (sometimes even less) when it comes to crossing the line and a poor witless moron (Bentley) gets the hot oil treatment?

hands in glove

[BelligerentPacifist]

Don't see intolerance in the governor's that AZ points out. It's totally fine with me if he doesn't consider me his brother, since I'm a Christian who DOES NOT take Jesus AS as my personal saviour.

The only issue is: he's a governor. Will he now treat the citizens he's responsible for differently, since that would be unjust.

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Don't see intolerance in the governor's that AZ points out. It's totally fine with me if he doesn't consider me his brother, since I'm a Christian who DOES NOT take Jesus AS as my personal saviour.

The only issue is: he's a governor. Will he now treat the citizens he's responsible for differently, since that would be unjust.

I dont get it..................... If you are a christian, how could you not believe J.C be savior??

[pmukherjee]

God help America!!

What makes you say that America has anything to do with this. It is religion. All Abrahamic religions have this intolerance built into them.

'My God is the best and yours is a fake'. Isn't this what the Conquistadors say when they massacred entire native populations? Wasn't this the most important tool in the hands of the British East India Company or the Dutch East India Company when they expanded Christian rule to middle and southern Africa and Asia? Isnt't this what the Muslims said when they invaded Persia? or what Muhammad bin Quasim said when he invaded Sindh and Punjab and forcibly converted thousands of Hindus on the point of the sword and what Bakhtiyar Khilji said when he destroyed Nalanda and massacred the Buddhist monks?

Why do you sound so surprised? They have been doing this for more than a millennium. They are still at it.

[unicorn]

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How about calling Robert Bentley a fundamentalist and extremists.He completely satisfies the definition there.