Quran-Burning Church Vows To Proceed Without Fire Permit

By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

(RNS) Fire officials in Gainesville, Fla., have denied a permit to a church that wants to burn Qurans on Sept. 11, but church officials said they'll go ahead with the protest that has garnered worldwide attention.

Leaders of the Dove World Outreach Center say "Islam is of the Devil" and plan to burn copies of the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Gene Prince, interim chief of Gainesville Fire Rescue, told The Gainesville Sun that he informed the church on Tuesday (Aug. 17) that the protest violates local fire-prevention laws, which include rules against burning corrugate cardboard or office paper, which includes books.

"It wouldn't matter what the book is they're burning," Deputy Chief Tim Hayes told the newspaper.

Regardless, the church sent out an e-mail vowing to go burn the books anyway. "City of Gainesville denies burn permit -- BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS," The Sun reported.

The church's website includes a list of 10 reasons to burn the Quran, including "Islamic Law is totalitarian in nature," Islamic teaching contains "irrational fear and loathing of the West" and that the Quran teaches that Jesus "was NOT the Son of God."

Comments

[dragonsbane]

08:45 PM on 09/08/2010

When you choose to personally insult an enemy, then you are bound to provoke a physical reaction. The world of Islam turns on the pages of the Koran. A Christian touching a Koran, without first washing his hands, could be under a death sentence in Sharia Moslem nations. Most Christians lost their sense of sacredness for the presence of the Bible itself long ago, however Moslems infuse the Koran with the power of their devotion daily, it is as far as they are concerned, attached to their soul.

The act of burning books or flags are symbolic, can be ignored. But to the emotional, they are a challenge to their power, or lack of it. The Koran is the parent of Islam and commonly, in the street, 'If you attack or insult my mother: I will kill you' is a common enough occurrence and understanding. The responses, or lack of them, will be a scientific measure to gauge the actual strategic and tactical abilities of Moslem terrorists world-wide.

Terrorists may take up Florida as a new point of focus for their efforts to be relevant in a cruel world, a world that is far more cruel for their being in it. In this planet's current electric history, as a new Arc of Earth's peoples, like Noah's Ark floating, awaiting a sign, the Christain dove will clash with the desert raven to decide the fate of the new world.

[HoneyPie]

05:00 PM on 09/07/2010

Burn Your Bibles! September 10th.

[Lostinlifesways]

10:59 PM on 09/06/2010

Sheesh... Next thing we know, churches will be gathering their congregations and heading off for a Crusade to the Holy Land.

[outofyourleague]

01:49 PM on 09/05/2010

They'll be punished for breaking the law. God Bless America!

[UntetheredSteph]

08:42 AM on 09/05/2010

www.PleaseDontBurnTheKoran.com
As you probably know, the Dove World Outreach Center Church in Gainesville is planning an event to burn the Koran on September 11, 2010.
We are asking you to sign an online petition against this event in support of the Gainesville community and others everywhere who respect freedom of religion.
Although the congregation of the Dove World church is very small, the media has caused this planned event to gain both national and international attention.
Many prominent people in Gainesville have spoken out against Dove World’s proposed actions, and we encourage all of you to speak out against the harmful plans of Pastor Terry Jones and his church.
We've included a link to the online petition that specifically requests that the Dove World Outreach Center Church not proceed with their plans to burn the Koran on 9/11.
We are gathering signatures from people throughout Gainesville, as well as nationally and internationally, with the goal of providing a powerful voice for the community.
City and community leaders will deliver the petition to Pastor Terry Jones prior to his 9/11 event. Regardless of what he ultimately does, it is our obligation as a community to be on record that we stood up together and requested that he abandon his plans to burn the Koran. Please sign the petition online and help us to distribute it to others everywhere. You’ll see that the petition includes a button for sharing via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

www.PleaseDontBurnTheKoran.com

[Mustafa Al-Ameriki]

11:33 PM on 09/02/2010

May we take all the versions of the Bible *not* approved by Pastor Jones and burn those as well? After all, I'm sure the good Pastor wants to rid America of any taint of inconsistency in the practice of Christianity on our shores. While he's at it, let's burn every Torah scroll in the mix since it's clear that Judaism doesn't agree eye-to-eye with Christianity. How sharp does the knife have to be when deciding what religion is 'right' or 'wrong'- and who appointed Jones to be the surgeon? Methinks this is simply a case of yet another burn-out with low self-esteem trying to make a name for himself. Unfortunately, he seems to be succeeding instead of being run out of the pulpit and sent packing as he deserves to be. I'm profoundly embarrassed for his congregation's failure to see him for what he is.

[slaxx]

10:40 PM on 09/05/2010

he chooses his targets carefully - muslims and gays.

[amin amdani]

03:40 PM on 08/31/2010

We live in a very peaceful and perhaps one of the most civilized society. Any actions which inspire hatred between the communities should be shunned, period. There are many ills in the world which require attention of the people of earth, like hunger, poverty, illiteracy and the list is long. Followers of all the religions should spend their energies on rectifying these ills. That's what will please our Lord more than anything else.

[tempting]

09:25 PM on 08/28/2010

When you look up statistics try looking up how many were and are killed in the name of "Christianity". You can't come up with an exact number because there are some dying right now as we speak. I personally think the "right-winged" Muslims and the "right-winged" Christians are working together to bring about their own versions of "the end of days" Look at the religious nuts at Fox who are working hand in hand with the Saudis.

http://reformation.org/inquisit.html”

[tempting]

08:28 PM on 08/28/2010

“““Our Christian "crusader" leader G.W Bush invaded and allowed the killing of millions of Muslims and thousands of our troops (who continue to be killed), based on greed and lies. And yet people here are enraged about there being a community center for the Muslim community here.

Our troops are still in these dominantly Muslim countries, while some of our leaders and other ignorant people continue to propagate hate and discrimination against Muslims and immigrants. Our troops are less safe with this type of climate. The MSM is refusing to play "reasonable voices" too much. They continue to play the hate clips over and over.

We should all reflect and call or write these media outlets and complain about them not allowing clips of reason to play. For example, Congressman Ron Paul's clip and the clip of the Jewish community leader who spoke on behalf of Muslims with Christiane A on Sunday morning did not get any real replays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE_XnmQRDPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRBYmhjKTI4

To all my friends and fans please forward these and please ask your friends & FANS to call or write these tv or radio stations and complain. Our troops are in danger with this hate rhetoric.”””

[Muslimhumanist]

07:30 PM on 08/26/2010

I refuse to commit the same crimes as those who would slander innocent folks like Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan. It seems I was taken in by a webscam about Pastor Jones. He was NOT arrested on child porn charges. To whoever started this thing, it does not help the discourse to run hoaxes that make it look like NBC ran with a story that is clearly false.

I sincerely apologize for spreading the lie in a comment on this article.

His decision to burn Qur'ans is still vile and speaks for itself.

Mea Culpa

[ancientmarinader]

06:29 PM on 08/27/2010

That's nasty, eh?

[outofyourleague]

01:52 PM on 09/05/2010

Thank you for admitting you are, like the rest of us, human. A good Muslim has integrity.

[Muslimhumanist]

02:37 PM on 08/26/2010

www.nbc.com/.../pastor-terry-jones-arrested-for-child-pornography/ - Cached

Is everyone aware that Pastor Terry Jones who started Burn a Qur'an Day has been arrested on child porn charges?

Irony upon irony....

[Hontas Farmer]

07:34 PM on 08/26/2010

"page not found"

[Muslimhumanist]

08:37 PM on 08/26/2010

As I mentioned above I was scammed on this. I deeply apologize for spreading false slanderous information. It will teach me to be more careful in the future.

What Pastor Jones is doing with Burn a Qur'an Day is still disgusting.

Peace...

[tempting]

08:32 PM on 08/28/2010

Really. I hope this puts a damper on their hate-fest.

It seems like all Muslims are being blamed for the actions of a few. From the knowledge of these haters and religious nuts because our country has kooks who are Christians

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=98

http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/04/22/faith-based-treatment-ordered-for-christian-cult-mother-who-killed-her-son/

http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/03/03/christian-cult-leaders-face-lengthy-jail-sentences-for-starving-toddler-to-death/

Does that mean the whole of Christianity has to be devalued and Christians made to feel unwelcome and afraid to worship and be who they are?

Because the Bible says to stone your wife when she cheats on you, does that mean all Christians are evil murderers? Do we have to start burning the Bible too?
JUST STOP THE HATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

[MalleusMaleficarum]

12:29 PM on 08/26/2010

It is all too easy to ignore this forthcoming tragedy. What will the repercussions be? How may American soldiers will die? How many Americans well die in future acts of terror perpetrated by Muslims incensed by this outrageous desecration of their sacred text? When will we be rid of book-burners like Dr. Terry Jones and his ilk?

[Elizabeth Hauck]

11:46 AM on 08/26/2010

I live in Gainesville where this church is. It is a fringe group. We should really just ignore them.

[Richard Abbott]

08:38 AM on 08/26/2010

Isn't this a freedom of speech issue just like the ground zero mosque? We may not agree with it, and it may be offensive to some people but it is their right.

@ RockyMissouri
Jesus is not mentioned more times than Mohammed in the Koran

Personally I think it is good that they are able to do this - in many countries this act would be punishable by death under sharia law. It makes a good point about the inherent freedoms in American Society.

Interesting that they have received death threats from sharia compliant 'other religious groups'.

[jwcmass]

01:01 AM on 08/27/2010

But they are breaking the law.

There is a reason for fire regulations like these. They can easily get out of control and spread, causing greater damage.

I don't know what the weather has been like this summer in that region, but despite the fact that we (in MA) received a lot of rain in the past couple of days, it has been a VERY dry summer.

A fire like this could EASILY get out of control. And cause a great deal more destruction than this church wants.

Personally, I think the FD should be there to douse the flames as soon as they are lit.

[ancientmarinader]

06:32 PM on 08/27/2010

Probably a civil penalty. A small fine.

[Johaely]

09:10 PM on 09/03/2010

Maybe if their church building burns up they would see it as a sign of God's anger for their hate.

[RockyMissouri]

03:19 PM on 09/05/2010

That Jesus is mentioned AT ALL in the Qu'ran is shocking--which he is--it is the curious fact that his mother is also in it...also in one of the branches of Islam, young married women hoping to concieve a child, go and pray to an image of Mary and the baby Jesus...BIG SHOCKER..! National Geographic has a beautiful documentary on Islam and it is stunning to learn that ALL of my pre-concieved notions were pretty much wrong...! NatGeo. has been doing a fabulous job of educating the world about the the things we ALL have in common.

[oldpol2]

12:34 AM on 08/26/2010

Farenheit 451 for the righteous.Sheesh, tro//z for gawd