The Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to burn copies of the Koran (Islam's holy book) on September 11 of this year. This is a protest of Islam as "a religion of the devil" and its part in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and its citizens.
My opinion.
The church has every right to do so if they wish (except for possible burning ordinances in Gainesville). That does not mean it is a good idea, but I defend their freedom to do so. I believe Islam is a false religion, but feel this is more of a publicity stunt than something of actual worth.
I remember one occasion of book burning in the book of Acts. But it was a burning of real substance -- people who had converted to Christianity burning their own books and leaving their past behind. This burning is one of symbolism that will probably do three things: 1. Gain publicity or notoriety for the Dove World Outreach Center and its pastor; 2. Anger Muslims; and 3. Increase sales of the Koran (I assume that the 50 some-odd members don't just have a lot of previous Korans laying around and went out and bought books for the occasion; but that is an assumption on my part).
7 comments:
Good day sir! Of course you are entitled to your opinion but to see Islam as a false religion would just invite more resentment. There is a possibility that extremists think of us as heathens -- people who mistakenly believes that Jesus is God -- a God who came down from heavens and became mortal. Other Muslims probably see our eating of the host or flesh of Jesus during mass as a strange and disgusting act. Let us open our minds and accept each other. This I believe is the right path. Peace be with you. Good day!
Sir, evidently you do not understand the teachings of Christianity, or Islam either.
Good day sir! Please forgive me for giving unsolicited advice. But one of the basic rules in debates is that you do not attack the speaker. In this case, please don't attack me in saying that I lack understanding when it comes to teachings in Christianity. I am also a Christian and if that is the case then please enlighten me if my argument is wrong. In mass, the priest holds the consecrated host and says that it's the body of Christ. Symbolically, we eat Christ's body in order to attain forgiveness. This is what I mean that outsiders might view this act as strange and repulsive. Also, I believe Islam is not a false religion. It has roots way back before the common era (BCE, we're in the BC era now). Thank you for your time and peace be with you. :)
I would adjure both of you to stay with the topic and not get into complaining about one another.
To the first anonymous poster, thanks for stopping by and giving your opinion. That is one of the great things about freedom of religion and freedom of speech in America. You may view Islam as a fine religion and say so, and I may view Islam as a false religion and also say so. If my mind is closed it is closed because that is what I believe. I cannot profess to believe what I do not.
Extremists have every right to think of us as heathens and worse. They do not have the right in this country to fly airplanes into buildings, behead, bomb and kill people because they think they are heathens.
To Mr.Anonymous # 1, I have trouble trying to reconcile your stance. First of all, Christianity is grounded in toleration of others, regardless of their beliefs. We are taught to love and pray for those, even our enemies. To my understanding of Islam and the Quran, this is quite the opposite. Islam is all about conquering by any means necessary. Things such as lying, stealing, murder, etc. are justified according to the Islamic religion if it brings glory to Allah. Anyone not with them are viewed as the enemy. We certainly should accept and love all people as Christians, but not all philosophies. I would certainly surmise that ordinances that seem peculiar during mass and flying planes into buildings are not even comparable. For a Christian to accept Islam as a justifiable religion would be akin to a doctor promoting smoking.
There is something else I detect after reading your post. It is the disturbing fact that we no longer live in a world of absolutes. It used to be that it was left or right, black or white, up or down. Now everything seems to be drifting somewhere out in limbo.
Mr. Anonymous (who posted most recently), I've read the Koran and the Idiot's Guide to the Koran. It seems this book was given by oral tradition. As Muhammud saw a need arise, his genius mind gave forth some solution which worked at the time, thus building up his nation/army of Mulsim and Muslima. Often this caused contradictions so he said "from Allah" none should question contradictions since Muhammud would not know the answers, for he is only the prophet.
Anyway, I said all that to say this. In many places, the Koran says to basically leave alone "the People of the Book". The People of the Book include both Jewish and Christian men/women. In some places, there are writings about killing and destroying all the Christians men, women, and children (much like the Old Testament commands by God to Israel concerning certain wars).
It seems these commands were given during certain wars, not as commands for all time. The destruction of "People of the Book" is prohibited, for Allah says that Allah will judge them, and therefore the Muslim and Muslima should not. So it does teach tolerance.
The extremist takes every passage of murder, destruction, etc. that was given during war, and applies it to a lifestyle.
I do not defend the Islamic faith. It is not of God, since it denies Messiah. I believe the same of the present Jewish faith. However, Islam DOES teach tolerance if one studies the Koran in its proper context.
The reason this is difficult is the oral tradition passed down for years was later written and compiled, so the history of when each command was given becomes convoluted. I hope I helped enlighten your understanding. Whether you believe me or not, I encourage you to read the Idiot's Guide to the Koran, and an English translation of the Koran itself.
Brother Vaughn... I wonder if the were going to burn the Koran in its original language, or the Koran in English (which one will find in most American bookstores). If so, they should be informed the Muslim and Muslimah does not consider an English (or any other) translation to be the Koran, but rather like a commentary.
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