Amerikaanse kerk houdt Koran verbranding

quote:

Following in the tradition of bigots everywhere, a Florida church is preparing to hold a book-burning. Not just any book; the Quran.

Dove World Outreach Center is a non-denominational evangelical church in Gainesville, Florida. They have announced a special celebration of the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks . . . something that will show Christian love, reduce hatred between people of different religions, and lead toward greater understanding around the world. Or not.

Dove will host “International Burn a Quran Day” on September 11, 2010. Pastor Terry Jones says the idea came, in part, from the recent success of “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day”. He comments that “We feel, as Christians, one of our jobs is to warn,” and that burning the holy books of another religion will provide Muslims an opportunity to convert.

Jones missed the point of Everybody Draw. That event, in response to the irrational attacks (including physical assaults, attempted murder, attempted arson, and successful murder) on Western cartoonists, authors, and filmmakers who drew or otherwise criticized Muhammad, Islam’s prophet, was intended to communicate to radical Islamists that Westerners would not cave to their demands of censorship.

International Burn is not about freedom of expression. It is about hatred of Islam, not just the radical actions of some Muslims.

Jones is author of a book, Islam Is of the Devil. The book’s title reflects a sign placed outside Dove World Outreach, and explains Jones’s history working to “free souls from Islam”. He further explains how his church uses the congregation’s children as political pawns, sending them to school wearing shirts saying “Jesus is the Way” on the front, and “Islam is of the Devil” in the back.

Jones and his congregation have chosen to take an action that will not convert Muslims to Christianity. It will only serve to fan the flames of hatred, enraging even moderate Muslims.