City of Gainesville (photo by Ebyabe)
The Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida, has been denied a burn permit on September 11th for its “International Burn a Quran Day,” planned to remember victims of the infamous event in 2001.
The controversial church sent out a newsletter email on Wednesday to its faithful saying, “City of Gainesville denies burn permit – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS.”
Apart from the Church’s apparent confusion about how to spell the name of the Muslim holy book, Terry Jones, pastor of the church, seems to harbor a vehement hatred for the faith:
“We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it’s causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times.”
Jones, like many cult leaders, makes wild claims that are not usually founded or proven. It has been pointed out by many opposing his koran burning proposal that it is a wholly irresponsible suggestion that will most likely lead to people being killed. That can hardly be considered a Christian act.
In Gainesville, Florida where the church is located, religious leaders have come together to oppose the planned koran burning. They are planning a Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope as their response to Jones’ International Burn a Quran Day.
“We feel compelled to raise our voices to proclaim that the action the Dove World Outreach Center is proposing is absolutely wrong and counter to the life and teaching of the Jesus whom we love, follow and call savior and Lord,” said Dan Johnson, senior minister of Trinity United Methodist Church.
The Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope, to be hosted by Trinity Church on September 11th, will include Muslims, Jews and Hindus, as well as Christians.
“Our goal is to foster understanding, mutual respect and peace, while recognizing and appreciating our own particular faith understandings,” Johnson said.
Speaking of the Dove World Outreach Center being denied a burn permit for their proposed International Burn a Quran Day event, Bob Woods, spokesman for the City of Gainsville said, “It was a question of public safety. The Gainesville Fire Department has notified the center through a letter.”
The Dove World Outreach Center’s website has a section entitled, Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran. A careful reading of the “reasons” suggest that they are more a rant by Jones than a reason.
Book burning has taken place throughout history. The Nazis famously had one in Germany in 1933, and while the Dove Outreach Center says on its website, “We are not, like the Nazis, stealing books, destroying properties or harming any people,” they unfortunately are likely to be wrong.
Heinrich Heine, a nineteenth century German Jewish poet wrote: “Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.”
It translates into English as: “Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.”
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