Fla. Church Plans 'Burn a Quran' Day to Mark 9/11

[Cindy]

Fla. Church Plans 'Burn a Quran' Day to Mark 9/11

A controversial Florida church known for publicly condemning what it considers sins plans to burn copies of Islam's holy book on the upcoming ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The non-denominational Dove World Outreach Center, which has in the past joined the extremist Westboro Baptist Church in protesting homosexuality, is organizing the “International Burn A Quran Day” to oppose Islam, which it sees as a “violent and oppressive religion.”

“We only did it because we felt there needed to be an outcry against Islam, because Islam is presenting itself as a religion of peace,” explained Dr. Terry Jones, senior pastor of Dove World Outreach Center, to The Christian Post on Tuesday.

“We see the effects of Islam on Europe. As it has done nothing, Islam is beginning to take over there,” he added.

Participants of the burning plan to light up Qurans on the church property to remember the victims of 9/11 and to “stand against the evil of Islam,” according to the group’s Facebook.

The Council on American-Islam Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy group, has responded to news of the “International Burn A Quran Day” by announcing an educational “Share the Quran” dinner on Sept. 11, which falls during Ramadan.

"American Muslims and other people of conscience should support positive educational efforts to prevent the spread of Islamophobia," remarked Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director of CAIR.

Last year, the Gainesville, Fla.-based Dove World Outreach Center put up a sign on its property that read “Islam is of the Devil.” Not surprisingly, the sign triggered an uproar in the neighborhood, with residents calling the sign hateful. Jones said there were threats to burn down the church and death threats against the church leaders as a result.

When asked if he has ever participated in interfaith dialogues, Jones said “of course” and said he has talked to the CAIR director in Tampa, Fla. He also said he has invited Muslims to come to the 9/11 Quran burning event and is willing to dialogue with them during the activity.

Jones emphasizes that his church does not just speak out about Islam but also homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and abortion.

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[Cheryl]

Sure, anything against the Muslim religion would cause a public outcry, saying it would cause Islamophobia, but when the cards are reversed there is nothing BUT Christianityophobia and they don't have a problem with that!

"American Muslims and other people of conscience should support positive educational efforts to prevent the spread of Islamophobia,"

Yeah, other people of conscience. Those refer to the atheists, agnostics, and just plain Christ-haters, but they are "people of conscience".

[Brad]

While I agree with them in principle, I think they're going about it all wrong. Burning a Quran in our society today is like painting one big target on your back.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Brad

While I agree with them in principle, I think they're going about it all wrong. Burning a Quran in our society today is like painting one big target on your back.

I agree with you Brad on both points. On the other hand we shouldn't let their terror tactics work, it's how they win. Its a fine line between stupidity and bravery. Not sure which one this is at this time.

[Lauren]

Westboro....it figures.

Aren't these the guys that were involved in picketing a funeral of a deceased armed forces man? And then they pressed charges against the father for assault? Or am I thinking of a different church?

Either way, this is not the way to make a point. How would we feel if someone burned a Bible? Not that we should respect their "holy book", but this won't do anything but alienate people and reinforce people's idea about them "crazy" Christians.

[Cheryl]

Originally Posted by Lauren

Westboro....it figures.

Aren't these the guys that were involved in picketing a funeral of a deceased armed forces man? And then they pressed charges against the father for assault? Or am I thinking of a different church?

Either way, this is not the way to make a point. How would we feel if someone burned a Bible? Not that we should respect their "holy book", but this won't do anything but alienate people and reinforce people's idea about them "crazy" Christians.

Yes, you are correct on Westboro.
I also agree with you that this would spark retribution against all Christians. But, with us staying low key, aren't we allowing the muslims to run all over us, and our country? Remember when the Japanese couldn't get our Hawaiian State by bombing it..............so they started buying it instead. Well that's exactly what the left wing muslim is doing. They couldn't have their way when they bombed us, so now they are attacking us through our weaknesses. And one of the major weaknesses in our country is a long history of discrimination in all areas. So, now they will use that very thing against us using their muslim religion and at the same time elbowing out Christianity through the back door.
By the time this country realizes it, it'll be too late for them.

In meantime, it is a Christian's job to open as many eyes as we can to this atrocity. If it means stepping outside our comfort zone, and bringing Christianity to the forefront, then that's what it's going to have to take.

I don't like the fact that they were in cahoots with that cult (Westboro). That's the bad part. I agree with you, Lauren, that type of reputation is not necessarily the one I'd want projected by them with their affiliation.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Lauren

Westboro....it figures.

Aren't these the guys that were involved in picketing a funeral of a deceased armed forces man? And then they pressed charges against the father for assault? Or am I thinking of a different church?

Either way, this is not the way to make a point. How would we feel if someone burned a Bible? Not that we should respect their "holy book", but this won't do anything but alienate people and reinforce people's idea about them "crazy" Christians.

This. An idiotic stunt like this will do as much good as trying to fight a forest fire with a flame thrower. This is not standing up to a perceived Islamic aggression. This is nothing but pure antagonism. And nothing good ever comes from pure antagonism. You know what good comes out of calling someone else's belief system "the devil?" Absolutely nothing. All it does it tick the people off and immediately puts them on the defensive. Once that happens, any chance you had to have any meaningful dialog with them goes out the window. Things like these are all extremely counterproductive.

And the very fact that these people willingly teamed up with the WBC before, perhaps one of the most hateful, unGodly groups on the planet currently, should send you running and screaming in the opposite direction.

[Cheryl]

Originally Posted by Jason

This. An idiotic stunt like this will do as much good as trying to fight a forest fire with a flame thrower. This is not standing up to a perceived Islamic aggression. This is nothing but pure antagonism. And nothing good ever comes from pure antagonism. You know what good comes out of calling someone else's belief system "the devil?" Absolutely nothing. All it does it tick the people off and immediately puts them on the defensive. Once that happens, any chance you had to have any meaningful dialog with them goes out the window. Things like these are all extremely counterproductive.

And the very fact that these people willingly teamed up with the WBC before, perhaps one of the most hateful, unGodly groups on the planet currently, should send you running and screaming in the opposite direction.

I stand corrected, Jason. Excellent point. And right on target! That's what Lauren was saying too, but I guess I needed a two-by-four to hit me in the head to see the whole picture. Thank you.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Jason

This. An idiotic stunt like this will do as much good as trying to fight a forest fire with a flame thrower. This is not standing up to a perceived Islamic aggression. This is nothing but pure antagonism. And nothing good ever comes from pure antagonism. You know what good comes out of calling someone else's belief system "the devil?" Absolutely nothing. All it does it tick the people off and immediately puts them on the defensive. Once that happens, any chance you had to have any meaningful dialog with them goes out the window. Things like these are all extremely counterproductive.

And the very fact that these people willingly teamed up with the WBC before, perhaps one of the most hateful, unGodly groups on the planet currently, should send you running and screaming in the opposite direction.

I understand your viewpoint however how much would dialogue work with the nazi's? Simple fact is no matter how different we may wish it is, there are some who simply will not listen to reason. Sometimes the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him and let him know his bullying tactics aren't going to work. They can burn our flag which is our symbol, stand on our street corners with signs declaring their intention to kill the infidel while burning and stomping on our flag, but we are supposed to have dialogue with them and do nothing to antagonize them. A people who's "holy" book tells them its okay to lie to their enemy. Sure is a winning tactic used by Israel isn't it? I don't like this group and their association with westboro either BUT I'm not sure they are entirely wrong in this particular situation.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Lee

I understand your viewpoint however how much would dialogue work with the nazi's? Simple fact is no matter how different we may wish it is, there are some who simply will not listen to reason. Sometimes the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him and let him know his bullying tactics aren't going to work. They can burn our flag which is our symbol, stand on our street corners with signs declaring their intention to kill the infidel while burning and stomping on our flag, but we are supposed to have dialogue with them and do nothing to antagonize them. A people who's "holy" book tells them its okay to lie to their enemy. Sure is a winning tactic used by Israel isn't it? I don't like this group and their association with westboro either BUT I'm not sure they are entirely wrong in this particular situation.

There are definitely people you can't reason with. But tell me this, how exactly does burning the Quaran help? How does burning the Quaran stop Islamic terrorists from killing more people? How do you think it makes Muslims who are not terrorists feel about us? Nothing good can come from this.

I'm not saying we should be a bunch of pansies and never do anything that will offend other people ever. I despise political correctness. But there's a really big difference between doing something constructive that ends up offending people as a side effect, and doing something that accomplishes nothing but antagonizing people. And burning the Quaran certainly falls into the latter group.

The Bible says we can know them by their fruits. What Godly fruit will come from burning the Quaran?

[Marianne]

The Bible says we can know them by their fruits. What Godly fruit will come from burning the Quaran?

There is NO Godly fruit in it.. if anything, it will only make matters worse..

[Lauren]

Originally Posted by Cheryl

Yes, you are correct on Westboro.
I also agree with you that this would spark retribution against all Christians. But, with us staying low key, aren't we allowing the muslims to run all over us, and our country?

I was definitely not saying to stay low key, I guess my point was that this was the most antagonist thing you could do when there are a million other options available. The Holy Spirit can work through anything, even this, but only if people are given the gospel in conjunction with whatever they do. Burning it won't do anything if the other side of the coin isn't presented too. And after you've burned their holy book, who would stick around long enough to listen to the message anyways?

Be ye wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

[Cheryl]

Lauren, did you read my subsequent post?