# Alabama Gov Says Non-Christians Not His Brothers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 19, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227 "2011-01-19T18:19:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/61 "2011-01-19T22:33:14Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > He’s entitled to say it, he’s allowed to say it, it’s protected for him to say it, but it makes him an asshole when he does say it. So anyone who expresses a wish that others agree with him is an asshole and should be condemned. I look forward to all the threads in which you condemn pretty much every politician in America. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/62 "2011-01-19T22:35:16Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > I am entitled to say that people who like NASCAR more than F1 are not my brothers and sisters, but would be divisive and a poor choice of words. You and \*\*Kolga \*\*really don’t understand about fundamentalist Christian dogma. What he said is no more controversial than a Catholic saying that the wine and the wafer are the blood and body of Christ. Fundamentalists truly believe that it is their job to convert everyone to their religion; to make everyone their “brothers and sisters” as it were. That’s what he was saying. Not that everyone else is a second class citizen, or that everyone else would be treated differently by him in his role as governor. Ya’ll are conveniently forgetting the " I want to be your brother" quote. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/63 "2011-01-19T22:35:49Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > But they should at some point recognize that it’s not necessary or appropriate to mention a deity in the course of their duties as an elected public official. Addressing church groups is not a duty of the governor, as far as I know. > [@](#): > > And we should call them out on that shit when they do it, and continuously communicate that it’s NOT OKAY when you’re an elected official to admit publicly that you consider people with differing beliefs second-class citizens. Again, could you please provide a cite where this governor admitted that he considered anyone to be a second-class citizen? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/64 "2011-01-19T22:36:18Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > And we should call them out on that shit when they do it, and continuously communicate that it’s NOT OKAY when you’re an elected official to admit publicly that you consider people with differing beliefs second-class citizens. Again, where did he say that? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/65 "2011-01-19T22:36:25Z")
Alabama. Sweet home of the 10th lowest GDP per capita of any state in the union. Birds of a feather… ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/66 "2011-01-19T22:37:44Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > You and \*\*Kolga \*\*really don’t understand about fundamentalist Christian dogma. What he said is no more controversial than a Catholic saying that the wine and the wafer are the blood and body of Christ. Fundamentalists truly believe that it is their job to convert everyone to their religion; to make everyone their “brothers and sisters” as it were. That’s what he was saying. Not that everyone else is a second class citizen, or that everyone else would be treated differently by him in his role as governor. > > Ya’ll are conveniently forgetting the " I want to be your brother" quote. LOL. I grew up in South Carolina. I understand fundamentalist Christian dogma quite well. And I’m saying I don’t, and neither should we as a country, care whether or not this is a core belief. When elected officials begin to express in public situations core beliefs that basically call people with differing belief systems names, or assign them to a lesser status, we as a secular society should say “um, no, that’s unacceptable.” He wants to be “our brother” when and only when we agree with him. That’s not acceptable coming from a public official in a secular society. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/67 "2011-01-19T22:38:44Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > My personal opinion is that yes, they should refrain from mentioning God. Should they be legally contrained? No, again because of the First Amendment. But they should at some point recognize that it’s not necessary or appropriate to mention a deity in the course of their duties as an elected public official. > > And we should call them out on that shit when they do it, Have you ever done that? On this board for example? Have you ever called any other politician out the way you are calling the Governor out simply for invoking God? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/68 "2011-01-19T22:39:43Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Again, where did he say that? Why even bother saying it if he didn’t intend to stratify? The words have absolutely no meaning otherwise. They sure as shit aren’t to be construed literall… well, then again it is Alabama, so perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/69 "2011-01-19T22:39:46Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > When elected officials begin to express in public situations core beliefs that basically call people with differing belief systems names, or assign them to a lesser status, we as a secular society should say “um, no, that’s unacceptable.” I thoroughly agree. My only caveat would be to wait until it actually begins. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/70 "2011-01-19T22:40:29Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > When elected officials begin to express in public situations core beliefs that basically call people with differing belief systems names, or assign them to a lesser status, we as a secular society should say “um, no, that’s unacceptable.” You keep saying this. We keep asking for a cite. Why are you unable to provide one? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/71 "2011-01-19T22:40:43Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > When did he say that he considered anyone a second-class citizen? My Jewish relatives living in Alabama took it pretty much that way. It’s not clear that this would influence any legislative moves or appointments he makes, but it would certainly put me on edge. None of my relatives will ever support him again, nor, it seems, will many of the people who attend their synagogue. It’s not clear exactly what it means when your governor tells you that he won’t consider you a brother or a sister unless you convert to Christianity, but it’s not a good sign no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/72 "2011-01-19T22:41:35Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Why even bother saying it if he didn’t intend to stratify? The words have absolutely no meaning otherwise. See my explanation of fundamentalist dogma above. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/73 "2011-01-19T22:43:19Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > See my explanation of fundamentalist dogma above. oh, great. so he’s not a prejudiced bigot. he’s just a fucking run-of-the-mill crackpot. makes me feel all warm n’ fuzzy inside now that I know everything’s a-ok in 'bama. by-the-by: in this dogma, what happens to those who haven’t been converted into the siblinghood of the righteous when the Rapture comes? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/74 "2011-01-19T22:48:55Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So anyone who expresses a wish that others agree with him is an asshole and should be condemned. > > I look forward to all the threads in which you condemn pretty much every politician in America. I think everyone wants people to agree with them. If he had said I want everyone to know God like I do and receive his grace and forgiveness, it would be one thing, but to say that people whose religious beliefs are different than your own are not your brothers and sisters goes well beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/75 "2011-01-19T22:51:08Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Have you ever done that? On this board for example? Have you ever called any other politician out the way you are calling the Governor out simply for invoking God? Bearing false witness is a sin, so I am sure you just made a mistake when you say that I called him out just for invoking God, and not for saying that those who do not accept his religion are not his brothers and sisters. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/76 "2011-01-19T22:51:14Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > oh, great. so he’s not a prejudiced bigot. he’s just a fucking run-of-the-mill crackpot. > > makes me feel all warm n’ fuzzy inside now that I know everything’s a-ok in 'bama. > > by-the-by: in this dogma, what happens to those who haven’t been converted into the siblinghood of the righteous when the Rapture comes? You have to eat at the little kids table. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/77 "2011-01-19T22:53:37Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Have you ever done that? On this board for example? Have you ever called any other politician out the way you are calling the Governor out simply for invoking God? Yes. On this message board, and on emails to politicians’ offices when it hits my radar. > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > You keep saying this. We keep asking for a cite. Why are you unable to provide one? Obviously (as you know), the governor did not say the words “I believe that Christians are better than non-Christians.” However, there really isn’t any other way to take his statement, even if, or perhaps ESPECIALLY if, it’s part of his core belief. Fundamentalist dogma does indeed require conversion of non-believers, and that requirement is based on the assumption that fundamentalists are BETTER than non-believers. This wasn’t an innocent statement. It was meant to send a clear, if unspoken, message about the worth of Christians and non-Christians. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/78 "2011-01-19T22:56:16Z")
Is this brother/sister stuff really part of fundamentalist canon? I know there is an obligation to convert, but did Jesus or the NT really say that people who do not accept him are not brothers and sisters of the converted? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/79 "2011-01-19T22:58:51Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Fundamentalist dogma does indeed require conversion of non-believers, and that requirement is based on the assumption that fundamentalists are BETTER than non-believers. well, let’s be fair now. they don’t assume that they’re better per se - they just assume that you’re going to spend your eternity with a rather severe suntan while they each get 40 virgins to themselves or something. i mean, you know, that’s not them thinking they’re better than you. just different. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227/80 "2011-01-19T22:59:24Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > i mean, you know, that’s not them thinking they’re better than you. just different. In a better way. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-gov-says-non-christians-not-his-brothers/568227.md?page=5)