Florida Church Plans to Burn the Quran on the Anniversary of the Terrorist Attacks Burning like the Victims of the Terrorists in the Twin Towers

As many may have heard there is a lot of controversy surrounding Islam right now. Part of it is the rather unenlightened idea to put as mosque close enough to ground zero that many Americans of all races and faiths fell is a slap in the face of the victims. Iman Feisal Abdul Fauf (religious leader) of the mosque is considered to be a moderate Muslim, but has made very controversial statements after 9/11 occurred. There is also a wide variety of concern that some of the financing is coming from groups with ties to terrorist organizations. Now Muslims were killed by the terrorists on September 11, 2001. In fact many Muslims are killed by the extremists in addition to westerners and Jews.

Part of the problem is the image and misunderstanding that occur with Islam. I will say I am not a Muslim as I am a Christian and don't understand Islam, but make an effort to live and let live. The brutality associated with Islam throughout history does not help. Students of history can make a fair argument that Islam was spread by the sword. I have heard several examples were Muslims make it out to be a normal everyday event when a father and son murder their daughter in an "honor killing" because she was raped and they can based on to Islamic law. In Iran a woman was supposed to be stoned for the crime of adultery. I believe she was a widow, so I am not sure how it was adultery, but she was sentenced to be stoned to death and instead got fifty lashes. This is once again a barbaric widespread display of the religion. I am not sure how widespread it is, but I know Islam will also let a man take more than one wife. With the exception of early Mormonism and radical Mormonism now I am not aware of Christians and Jews doing that. This makes people think of Islam being pretty barbaric.

Women also seem to be relatively pushed behind in Islam. I will often see an Islam couple in the store and the guy will basically be dressed in a western style, but the woman will be in rags. I am all for people practicing their religion but there are countries they can chose to live in where that is more acceptable. I am not aware of any current Christian society that has similar brutality and I am aware of the history of the Christian church. Many people find it hard to forget on the news seeing women wearing rags in Muslim countries singing "praise to Allah" and little children clapping and smiling when all those Americans lost their lives. After we lit up their "world like the fourth of July" they may have reconsider the wisdom of that approach. In fairness Muslims have tried to reach out to Americans to understand the faith as many don't. Some have handed out cards with some references to Islam on it. Many people don't know this, but Muslims believe in Jesus Christ. They do not view him as the son of God though but a prophet less important than Mohammed. The Quran is also supposed to have various references to Jesus Christ in it. There are also mosques that host events that people of all faiths are encouraged to come as a way to reach out. The thing I hear more and more is that Muslims need to be on TV and places denouncing the actions of the extremists. Many Americans feel by not seeing that it is almost like sanctioning it. I don't go that far, but I do see that school of though. As a Christian I will explain in a bit why I don't think the Quran should be burned.

With issues as noted above and the misunderstandings of Islam in separating the radials from the majority that are good people there have been some problems. Various agencies have reported that harassment of Muslims is up. There have also been protests in many places around mosques. One lady mentioned on CBS News that people were blocking people from going into the Mosque. The peak of this is that now the pastor of a Florida church has decided that on September 11, 2010 that they are going to burn the Quran, which is the Muslim version of the bible. Terry Jones of The Dove World Outreach Center church has not listened to any requests to not do this. As of late there has been some talk that things can change, but the Quran BBQ is still set to go on. People having been sending copies of the Quran to the church from all over the world to be burned, but most have been from the United States. The church views "Islam is of the Devil". This is based on religious scripture that man needs Christ for salvation. In (John 14:6) that Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Islam denies the deity of Christ being the son of God. Muslims do believe he was a prophet of God though. Jones' group sees that as the road to hell. Many have told Jones this is not the way. Various religious leaders including other evangelical Christians have condemned the act. General Prataeus, commander of the United States military forces in Afghanistan, has actually said that it could cost American lives. I really don't care about angering terrorists, but I do see and agree with his point. You also could alienate Muslims who might be friendly to us thinking all westerners don't appreciate their right to worship and coexist.

There are a couple schools of thought to look at here. Since the proposed Mosque at Ground Zero is also causing controversy I will discuss both as both have identical principles behind them. First off in America you do have a right to freedom of speech. The Muslims have a legal right to build a mosque at ground zero just like Reverend Jones group has a right to burn Quran. On a side note if people can burn old glory then surely can burn a book that could be considered to promote blasphemy.

Now just because you can do something does not mean you should. I am a proud decent of several Confederate soldiers (and some Union) and I would have the decency to know that building a monument to Confederate General and former slave trader Nathan Bedford Forrest. This would be common decency not because I am ashamed of my heritage or the fact that the war was not fought over slavery as a soul reason as many have been misled to believe. It would just be common decency. I would put it someplace else as it is a part of our heritage. Being a slave trader was wrong as we all know, but to it was legal at the time of Forrest so it would be wrong to condemn the man for something legally done during his life. It is similar with the Muslims. Common decency is that they know most Americans do not understand and are suspicious of their faith. Forcing this mosque does not do that but creates further division. It would be nice if it could be some type of understanding center were Jews, Christians, and Muslims could discuss their faiths as all three have lots in common. Much of the problems people perceive with Islam are based on radical interpretation as opposed to it being a horrible religion. The bible mentions killing sexual deviants, disobedient children and stoning but we don't go around doing it.

As far as the actual burning of the Quran goes I don't believe in the book as the word of God as I see the Bible as having the monopoly on that, but I do respect the rights of Muslims and Jews to use their holy books. I know I would be very offended if Muslims wanted to burn bibles and would consider that almost fighting actions. I would figure the same courtesy should be given to Muslims as long as it's shown to us. One thing though I don't think many Muslims ever think of though is this. Americans Christians don't go falling all over ourselves to go to predominately Muslim nations, but Muslim do fall all over themselves to come to America. While America is not a Christian nation, it is predominantly and I have no doubt the founders did not plan for the first amendment to result in people walking around with towels on their heads. Sometimes you go along to get along may be the best way to go.

Sources

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39048161/ns/us_news-security

http://msnbc.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2010/09/07/5061342-should-the-florida-church-heed-the-advice-of-gen-petraeus-and-cancel-its-controversial-demonstration

http://www.doveworld.org/