Last week James-Michael Smith, Methodist Examiner, wrote an open denunciation to Pastor Terry Jones and other members of the Dove World Outreach Center, a Florida Church that has planned an “International Burn a Koran Day” this September 11. (click here for JM’s article)
The Church's Facebook page states:
"On September 11th, 2010, from 6pm - 9pm, we will burn the Koran on the property of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!"
James-Michael also emailed the letter to Pastor Jones, who responded (click here for Pastor Jones’ response). Not surprising, the scheduled Qur’an burning is still on.
I recall a story that I heard after 9/11 that non-Muslim women in Texas wore headscarves to support their Muslim women neighbors and to demonstrate that other American Muslims should not be equated with extremist groups.
History demonstrates that people of conscience will speak out against injustice when they see it, no matter who is targeted and even if they disagree with the targets of injustice on dearly-held beliefs—so many thanks James-Michael.
O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God's claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth], behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do! (4:135)
Comments
Thank you for reporting this, Julie. This is shameful indeed and followers of Jesus need to speak out against it completely. I pray that Pastor Jones repents and does not carry out this foolish and unnecessary display of contempt.
I also ask that Muslims speak out to other Muslims who might be tempted to react violently or with similar anger against Christians in their midst as a result.
Hmmmm, "Christians" are supposed to be followers of Christ.
Can you even imagine Christ doing this sort of thing?
Can you imagine his early, true christian followers doing this sort of thing?
Just because someone claims to be "christian" does not make that person a true christian.
Jesus said to 'love and pray for your enemies'
People like this "pastor" are what have turned "chistianity" into nothing more than a group who use that name.
What so called "christians" today, do any of the things 1st century christians did??
They all preached the word. Did not partake in any war [probably for fear of killing a brother christian elsewhere?] and because Jesus taught peace and love-not war or actions such as this fake pastor is about to perform.
I wonder if he'd do so so flagrantly, if his son was in Afganistan and may become a retaliation target?
He only cares about making a name for himself, not about other human life.
let him try to do it and he will see what will happen to him
I apologize for these so-called Christians. They do not represent those of us that are actually striving to follow Jesus Christ in grace, love, and peace. I also agree with James-Michael "Muslims speak out to other Muslims who might be tempted to react violently or with similar anger against Christians in their midst as a result."
-- Shalom.
Pastor Jones says "Islam is of the devil!" Well, Allah, in the Koran, says: -- The true believers fight for the cause of God, but the infidels fight for the devil." (4:76)
Not a lot of difference, is there? Except that, in one case, it is only Pastor Jones talking, but in the other case, it is Allah, Himself, talking.
Pastor Jones is wrong to burn the Koran. Much more effective would be to display posters with violent verses from the Koran, such as the following, so that the public would learn what Allah really commands Moslems to do:
-- Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
--The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)
-- Fight against them until idolatry is no more and God's religion reigns supreme. (2:193)
-- We will put terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. (3:151)
There are lots more like these in the Koran that Pastor Jones should bring to people's attention.
AbdulAmeer always misquotes verses from the Quran. Only picks up half sentences and never wants to give the full meaning.
Dear JM and Kurt,
Many thanks for your comments. Since 9/11 Muslim organizations, leaders and individuals all over the world have been speaking out against extremists, who misrepresent Islam for their own secular, selfish ends. In January, experts from Duke University and University of North Carolina released a report "Anti-Terror Lessons of Muslim-Americans." The report states,
"Muslim-American organizations and leaders have consistently condemned terrorist violence here and abroad since 9/11, arguing that such violence is strictly condemned by Islam. Our research found that these statements were not just for public consumption, but were supported by local Muslim religious and community leaders, who consistently condemn political violence in public sermons and private conversations."
I am not Christian or for that matter not religious, but I support this..Awesome. Quran is the root of all evil. Burn it.
I would prefer to live under an orthodox Christian rule then to even live a single day in a Muslim country.
I love America. Go USA!!
Dear Legal Immigrant,
I and other Muslims love America too.
We are told by Jesus that there are many false prophets and 'by their fruits/deeds will you know them'. In my experience a long-term lack of compassion equates to a lack of Christ, but as with the Qur'an there are plenty of ancient verses which appear to condone cruelty or violence. It is an act of violence to destroy something held dear and sacred to someone else. And that is the only unforgiveable sin in the Bible, to profane that which is sacred.
I pray Pastor Jones will repent *his* sins before attempting to convert others...
It is sad someone wants to defile someone else's holy book in this way, but thankfully, God works through the Quran, but is not bound by the Quran. I pray that those who participate open their eyes to other ways of expression and that God guides them to the peace the dove symbol of their organization represents.
D says that I always misquote the Koran or leave out parts. O.K., I challenge you, or anyone, to show how the "context" makes those verses mean something other than what they so obviously appear to mean. Take just this one, for example:
-- Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
Which context will change the meaning of this?
Or, what about this one:
-- Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (48:29).
Compare this to the Golden Rule! Which context will change the meaning of this verse?
One can go on and on. Those who complain that I or others are misquoting the Koran or taking it out of context can, somehow, never produce the quotes or contexts which change anything.
They can go ahead and burn all they want, just don't complain about Muslims in other countries hating Americans anymore because this is what they will see. As Muslim Americans that have many Christian and Jewish friends, we know this represents a minority, but others will not see it in that context. Just a little piece of advice to the burners.....why don't you actually read the Book (The Quran) before burning it....you might actually be surprised. Burning something without even knowing what it is or what it REALLY stands for, is a total act of shame and ignorance.
Dear Sister, just to add to what you said, I, as an American Muslim, also love America :)
In fact, I know thousands of American Muslims who love America :)
Jazaka'Allah for speaking out against this! May Allah guide them on the right path.
Islam calls for the dominance and final destruction of Christianity. So Christians need to fight Islam head on, and Sharia Law is one of the greatest threats the West have ever faced. It is time to say no to all Muslim immigration, and Mosque construction.
Islam is a religion of war, that allows lying, and rape.
http: //loganswarning.com/islam-101/
Hey D, then why don't you explain what the verses mean?
@j. samia mair.....show me Muslim movement against Sharia Law.
Here I easily exposed that flawed Duke report.
Flawed Duke U & UNC at Chapel Hill Islamic Study Exposed!
http ://loganswarning.com/2010/01/06/flawed-duke-u-unc-at-chapel-hill-islamic-study-exposed/
Islam breeds terrorism, and Islam encourages Muslims to lie. Your games will not work with me.
They should not be burning other peoples religious books. Its disrespectful. Even if we disagree. They say its evil. As christians its not what others do that count. It IS how we react to them that count. Besides how would they feel if someone started burning the bible? It seems we are hell bent on some sort of big war. If we can't respect others. There sure won't be any for us.
Dear Abdulameer,
I have answered these such "challenges" in other comments and in other articles.
Kudos to "istmede" for recommending that people read the Koran! Indeed, all non-Moslems need to read the Koran to see that Allah requires of His believers. If you want to learn what Islam is all about, go straight to the horse's mouth. You can even stop in at a local mosque and get a copy free. The advantage of that is that you will get a translation that is approved by the Islamic religious authorities.
Dear J. Samia,
It never hurts to repeat your answers to the challenges about verses in the Koran. There are different readers at each site who have never seen your answers before. In fact, I don't recall seeing them, either. So, please give us your take on these two:
-- Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve. (8.55)
--The unbelievers are your inveterate enemy. (4:101)
I would actually like to know your answer to Abdulameer's question. How can verses like: "Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve." be put into context so that they are loving and peaceful words? Violent and unkind words are violent and unkind no matter how you twist them around. The bible has just as many.
thank you Abdulameer...
The answer to hate is not more hate. There are good, bad and ugly in all groups. So if this Church group wants to burn Koran, let them, they are just paper. The word of God does not get destroyed, the Crusaders beat them to Koran burning and it did not work. There were over 3000 people who were killed by hate on 9-11, over 300 were Muslim.
Thank you all those who see, hate injustice and intolerance and speak up. Hate is Anti-American regardless who does it.
I'm a Christian and I also apologize for the actions of the Christians who wish to insult/degrade/be disrespectful to people from other religions. We need more leaders in the world from different backgrounds and different religions engaging in respectful open dialogue. Thank you J. Samia, Kurt and JM for setting an example for others to follow.
It doesn’t matter where we have been but rather where we are going. There is but one in any religion, who will determine that. On that day we will all be forgiven for the ignorance we learned after birth.
From: The 12 Top Reasons To Burn A Qu'ran On 9/11 on Hubpages.com
A quote: You are the lowest form of life on God's Earth, and although you hide behind your claims of Godliness you are nothing more than the true spawn of Satan himself.
Dear Shift:
Islam also teaches that we are born knowing reality and God and that we unlearn it. Religion is to help us to remember.
STOP BUILDING THE MOSQUE BY THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ANDHUMILATE US AND WE WILL STOP BURNING THE KORAN!.
Dear mossabud,
I don't understand at all how building the Islamic Center "humiliates" you; nor do I know whom you are referring to when you write "us". In any event, burning the Holy Book of about 1.3 billion people seems very un-Christian to me. Notably, part of Islamic teachings is to believe in God's Holy Books which includes the Bible. We would never show the same disrespect to the Bible that you show to the Qur'an.
ASA -
Every Holy Book seems to have the parts that the followers would rather forget.
Matthew 10:34 and Luke 12:49-51. Jesus states he came to bring a sword, not peace.
Matthew 10:35 and Luke 12:52-53 Jesus states he intends is to set family members against each other; in Luke 14:26 it is stated that only those who hate their families can be disciples.
Or how about Luke 16:1-9 which contains the parable of the dishonest manager and appears to encourage theft?
Or that all time favorite of Jew bashers, John 10:24-26.
Does this make Christianity and evil religion with an evil Holy Book?
Then there is the Old Testament where God encourages his followers to slaughter all of the people already living there. Joshua 10:40 reiterates that God commanded genocide. Do we attribute modern Israel's starvation and slaughter of indigenous Palestinians to Deuteronomy 20:10-18? Does this mean that Judaism is an evil religion with an evil Holy Book?
Get this message to Rev Terry Jones. Ask him to make this statement.
"I will agree to delay the burning of the Quran; If all Islamic extremist STOP BOMBING THE INNOCENT, STOP MURDERING OUR SOLDIERS and STOP CALLING FOR DEATH TO ISRIAL and to AMERICA. I will burn the Quran however If any Islamic breaks this agreement and then he will be responsible for the Burning of the Quran which I will then personally carry out.
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