Mark the date — on Jan. 18, 2010, an Alabama politician drew harsh criticism for saying that if someone has not accepted Jesus as his or her savior, he or she was not his brothers and sisters.
The statement followed his inauguration as Alabama’s new governor.
This kind of event isn’t without precedent, though. In 2004, the Salavation Army drew loads of criticism for threatening to pull out of New York altogether if the city enacted legislation giving health benefits to same-sex partners.
The Ten Commandments were removed from many courthouses in 2003.
Now, we see a larger, non-religious crosssection of Americans openly saying they don’t buy it.
It’s a subtle change. So called “anti-theists” like Richard Dawkins actively work against religious thought throughout the world, and the movement’s efforts in the past several decades may have something to do with the change.
Either way, it’s no longer acceptable for a politician to divide those he represents by religion any more than it is for him to divide by nationality.
These days, politicians are openly challenged and scorned for religiously or racially motivated actions.
And I couldn’t be more excited.
For most of human history, the us-and-them, tribalistic mentality has been not only acceptable but openly encouraged.
Consider Bentley’s religion of choice: Christianity. In the Hebrew Bible (Christianity’s Old Testament), the Israelites are routinely commanded by Adonai to slaughter men, women and children because they are not his chosen people.
Or in other words, they’re not Israelites.
It’s racism (or possibly tribalism) — no doubt about it.
Those like the Rev. David Freeman, a senior pastor in Huntsville, Ala., who defend Bentley and claim Jesus implored his followers to love everyone equally may not be embracing the whole of their canon.
In Matthew 15, a woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter. He replies, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel,” the house of Israel” being a designation for Jews. The next verse tells us she continues to beg for his help, and he replies: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
So he’s likening the begging, Gentile woman to a dog.
All things considered, I seriously doubt Alabama’s governor will be any real problem for the non-religious, at least as long as long as he’s not like Matthew’s Jesus.
Devin Graham is a 21-year-old business management senior from Prairieville. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_dgraham.
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Contact Devin Graham @ [email protected]