Pastor Terry Jones vows to hold national Koran burning event

[Frost]

American pastor Terry Jones vows to hold national Koran burning event

http://www.news.com.au/world/us-pastor- ... 5915614362

THE pastor of a small Florida church has promised to hold a Koran burning in defiance of a top US commander who warned his actions will spark violent reactions in the Islamic world.

Terry Jones said he had given "serious" consideration to the concerns expressed by US commander General David Petraeus over plans to torch the Koran, but remained adamant the event would proceed anyway.

Pastor Jones, who heads the Dove World Outreach Centre in the town of Gainesville, said the burning would take place to mark the September 11 terror attacks and would send a message to Muslim extremists.

"We are taking the general's words very serious," he said before noting he had "firmly made up his mind" to go ahead with burning the Muslim holy book.

"I mean, how long, when does America stand for truth?" he asked..

Instead of us being blamed for what other people will do or might do, why don't we send a warning to them?

"Why don't we send a warning to radical Islam and say, don't do it. If you attack us, if you attack us, we will attack you," he said.

In a statement, Gen Petraeus, who is the US commander of the Afghan war, expressed concern that the planned torching of the Koran would be a propaganda coup for Islamic extremists.

But the pastor insisted that the Koran torching to be held on Saturday aimed "to remember those who were brutally murdered on September 11th" and to send a warning "to the radical element of Islam".

"We wanted to send a very clear message to them that we are not interested in their Sharia law," he said.

"And we do not tolerate their threats, their fear, their radicalness. We live in the United States of America."

The pastor's words sparked violent protest in the Afghan capital of Kabul where hundreds turned out to burn an effigy of the outspoken Christian during a demonstration.

Protesters railed against the US and called for President Barack Obama's death before denouncing the American church's plans to burn the Islamic holy book.

 

[Pigpen]

Although I think it is not the best thing to do, I'd still let him borrow my lighter fluid to get the fire started.

 

[thebrasilian]

This is dumb. I understand the whole freedom of speech thing but he will be putting live in danger.

 

[Low Branch]

Freedom of speech. Check
Freedom of expression. Check
Religious discrimination. Check
Stupidity. Check
Can a Christian be as intolerant and radical as a Muslim? Yes.

 

[Midnight Raver]

Bad move.

Even though I hate Muslim extremists(and any other extremists too), I would not be disrespectful of anothers religious beliefs, literature, and structures. It's like respecting cemetaries and burial grounds, something that is only proper to abide by.

 

[mcdaniel]

Freedom of speech. Check
Freedom of expression. Check
Religious discrimination. Check
Stupidity. Check
Can a Christian be as intolerant and radical as a Muslim? Yes.

+1

This is kind of like the mosque in NYC, Just because you are within your rights to do it doesn't mean its a good idea.

However, the Constitution protect speech and religion. You want to burn books, you can. You want to build a mosque beside Ground Zero, you can. That said, Having the right to do something doesn't mean that you aren't an asshole.

 

[jmt2566]

Freedom of speech. Check
Freedom of expression. Check
Religious discrimination. Check
Stupidity. Check
Can a Christian be as intolerant and radical as a Muslim? Yes.

+2

This clown is an a--hole!

 

[Midnight Raver]

This guy has received over 100 death threats recently. He now carries a .40 pistol(yeah, right- like he didn't before?) and has armed guards. His parish of a whopping 50+ members is called the Dove World Outreach Center. The only thing he seems to want reach out to the world with is hatred, religious desecration, and the incitement of violence. How do people like this guy and that lunatic Phelps from Arkansas or wherever become religious leaders? Surely they must be self appointed with no actual ordainment, right?

If even one american is harmed due to his irresponsible actions, he should be charged with negligent homicide at the very least. However, I fear that his actions will be a catalyst for a great many deaths. Not good at all...

 

[Pops]

I have thought about this for a couple of days now and I agree 100% he has a right to do it, I think the media is using the event, not to keep the country informed, but rather to find some way to stir up a flame so they'll be able to get their ad revenues up.

I agree that there needs to be some response to radical Islam, but to do the same kind of thing they would do is not going to achieve anything constructive.
They won't "get it".


Pops

 

[Schultz]

I have thought about this for a couple of days now and I agree 100% he has a right to do it, I think the media is using the event, not to keep the country informed, but rather to find some way to stir up a flame so they'll be able to get their ad revenues up.

I agree that there needs to be some response to radical Islam, but to do the same kind of thing they would do is not going to achieve anything constructive.
They won't "get it".


Pops

Pops couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[jjwestbrook]

while i agree with all of the previous post here , how long are we going to tiptoe around because nobody wants to offend the muslims. The radical muslims want All christians dead , that is their belief and that is what they are fighting for . they can kill 3000 innocent americans , but when we say something to offend them we are the bad guy . It doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[DEO VINDICE]

I am a Christian myself, but I have to question how would we feel if people burned our Bible? It happens:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/orthodox-je ... a-1.246153

 

[fordnut]

I have been thinking about this thread ever since it was posted...I have given it much thought....My only answer is...."F%#K them" They can do unspeakable things to their own women and kids, kill Americans and anyone that they want to call a "Jehaid" or what the hell ever they call it...and it is for their Religion....SCREW THAT...

They are killing Americans already....Kill them all...

Now, next...I am going to tell you how I really feel....Sorry for being so plain spoken, but, why are they any better than us...They Behead our people in the name of Alli....

I hope that it doesn't give them cause to do more than they have already done....but. Time to not worry where we tread...

Steve

 

[jjwestbrook]

I have been thinking about this thread ever since it was posted...I have given it much thought....My only answer is...."F%#K them" They can do unspeakable things to their own women and kids, kill Americans and anyone that they want to call a "Jehaid" or what the hell ever they call it...and it is for their Religion....SCREW THAT...

They are killing Americans already....Kill them all...

Now, next...I am going to tell you how I really feel....Sorry for being so plain spoken, but, why are they any better than us...They Behead our people in the name of Alli....

I hope that it doesn't give them cause to do more than they have already done....but. Time to not worry where we tread...

Steve

Don't hold back Steve , tell us how you really feel

 

[Dave29461]

Excellent response, Pops.

 

[fordnut]

Well...guess this is a wasted thread....The Preacher told reporters this afternoon that he would not burn the Corans...

He said that he had been in touch with Muslim leaders and they agreed to not build on the former World Trade Center site....

But, reporters said that they called New York to talk to the Muslim leaders...They said they had no idea what the Preacher was talking about...They had not changed their plans, and, that they had not spoken to the Preacher...

Guess the good Preacher is hearing Voices.....


Steve

 

[Midnight Raver]

Well, the alleged Pastor is still going on with his plans for tomorrow. The blood will be on his hands if anything happens.

 

[Low Branch]

Cultural relativism is what this whole argument boils down to. Although I find what the Muslim Jihadists do in their war upon the infidel to be both immoral and corrupt, I also understand their logic. They are born into a society different from the one in which we were born into and, thus, their experiences are entirely different than ours. Let us look upon another argument and draw a few similarities.

Darius, a king of ancient Persia, was intrigued by the variety of cultures he met in his travels. He had found, for example, that the Callatians, who lived in India, ate the bodies of their dead fathers. The Greeks, of course, did not do that?the Greeks practiced cremation and regarded the funeral pyre as the natural and fitting way to dispose of the dead. Darius thought that a sophisticated outlook should appreciate the differences between cultures. One day, to teach this lesson, he summoned some Greeks who happened to be at his court and asked what it would take for them to eat the bodies of their dead fathers. They were shocked, as Darius knew they would be, and replied that no amount of money could persuade them to do such a thing. Then Darius called in some Callatians and, while the Greeks listened, asked them what it would take for them to burn their dead fathers? bodies. The Callatians were horrified and told Darius not to speak of such things. (Rachels, J., Rachels, S., 2010)

Before we can bash their "culture" we must first understand they have the right to it. We must also resist the idea that it is our "duty" to impose our cultural beliefs upon them. Our morals are just only inside of Western society and they are completely void when we find ourselves in the older Eastern cultures.

This mostly began when the discussion upon the burning of the Qu`ran was broached. That discussion is still valid and attacking the culture of the ones who will be hurt by the burning serves no purpose. We have rights and freedom to do as we wish, but once we cross a line of intentionally inflicting pain upon others than we are lacking in discretion.

References:
Rachels, J., Rachels, S. (2010). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

[Pigpen]

Moral philosophy aside, we can't over look the fact that they(crazy islamic extreamist) have been po'ed about us infidels since before the crusades. They have been burning my bible, flag & people for a long time and seem to have no conscience(at least one that I can recognize) when it come to beheading, treating women like property and imposing a twisted(in my view anyway) religion on millions of people for thousands of years.

They will continue to do it until every last one of them are dead.

Will they keep doing it if some wacked out cult like church burns the koran?
Yes

Will they keep doing it if some wacked out cult like church does not burn the koran?
Yes

You can't really win for losing on this one.

 

[jmt2566]

Cultural relativism is what this whole argument boils down to. Although I find what the Muslim Jihadists do in their war upon the infidel to be both immoral and corrupt, I also understand their logic. They are born into a society different from the one in which we were born into and, thus, their experiences are entirely different than ours. Let us look upon another argument and draw a few similarities.

Darius, a king of ancient Persia, was intrigued by the variety of cultures he met in his travels. He had found, for example, that the Callatians, who lived in India, ate the bodies of their dead fathers. The Greeks, of course, did not do that?the Greeks practiced cremation and regarded the funeral pyre as the natural and fitting way to dispose of the dead. Darius thought that a sophisticated outlook should appreciate the differences between cultures. One day, to teach this lesson, he summoned some Greeks who happened to be at his court and asked what it would take for them to eat the bodies of their dead fathers. They were shocked, as Darius knew they would be, and replied that no amount of money could persuade them to do such a thing. Then Darius called in some Callatians and, while the Greeks listened, asked them what it would take for them to burn their dead fathers? bodies. The Callatians were horrified and told Darius not to speak of such things. (Rachels, J., Rachels, S., 2010)

Before we can bash their "culture" we must first understand they have the right to it. We must also resist the idea that it is our "duty" to impose our cultural beliefs upon them. Our morals are just only inside of Western society and they are completely void when we find ourselves in the older Eastern cultures.

This mostly began when the discussion upon the burning of the Qu`ran was broached. That discussion is still valid and attacking the culture of the ones who will be hurt by the burning serves no purpose. We have rights and freedom to do as we wish, but once we cross a line of intentionally inflicting pain upon others than we are lacking in discretion.

References:
Rachels, J., Rachels, S. (2010). The Elements of Moral Philosophy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

This is all great as an academic exercise, & I actually agree with the premise of respecting other cultures even if I do not understand them. If they want to burn or eat their dead fathers for instance, then I say more power to them.

Where we run into a problem is when their desires are to kill OUR FATHERS, OUR BROTHERS, and OUR SONS. To ask me to sit back and accept that would be akin to expecting me to allow some crazed individual to rob, rape, murder or harm me or my family because he does not share the same principles to which I adhere. I can guarantee that I will not sit idly by and let this happen. I may have an obligation to try to understand his culture & motivations but my DUTY lies in upholding MY belief system.

I am strongly opposed to this plan to burn the Qu'ran - this is a sacred book to far more people than just this radicalized contingent of Islam and accomplishes nothing virtuous. I am vehemently opposed to inflicting pain upon innocents but fully back chasing down every one of the filthy motherf---ers that had any part of the attacks on OUR PEOPLE.

You may think of me as simple minded, and I can live with that. I respect your opinions and love that within our culture we can have a vast array of differing views and hopefully still be friends.

Jeff

P.S. Yes, I understand & appreciate the service & sacrifices of the fairer sex. I have used masculine nouns, pronouns and descriptors only as a convenience and intend no sleight by the exclusion of the feminine forms of these words. How's that for a disclaimer??