Quran-Burning Pastor Terry Jones Plans 9/11 Visit To Ground Zero

By Angela Wittrock
Religion News Service

(RNS) Controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones, who sparked international outrage for plans to burn a pile of Qurans, will visit Ground Zero on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Jones told MLive.com he will hold a rally Sept. 10 at a yet-to-be announced location in the middle of the city, where he will speak to the dangers of radical Islam.

It's a pet subject for Jones, who made national headlines last year for declaring Sept. 11 "International Burn a Koran Day," encouraging Americans to burn the Islamic holy book.

Jones said the event was a one-off occasion, and he sees no reason to advocate another Quran burning. "It's not something we're looking to repeat," he said.

After the Sept. 10 rally, Jones and his associate, Pastor Wayne Sapp, are planning several events, including a stop at the site of the proposed Park51 Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero, and an appearance at Ground Zero.

Jones said he doesn't believe all followers of Islam are radicalized, but does draw a link between strict interpretations of the Quran and violence.

"I personally believe there are moderate, peace-abiding, peace-loving, constitution-respecting Muslims," Jones said. "We're definitely not aiming at them in any form, even though I understand that some of the things we do can be insulting to them."

(Angela Wittrock writes for MLive.com.)

Comments

[graceaustin]

12:14 PM on 08/15/2011

And the reason he's given publicity is.....what?

[pg4awhile]

12:03 AM on 09/04/2011

Because he's right !!!!!!!!!!!! ...It sounds like Most American are scared of the islam .well I'm not I'll burn the book if i want its my country .They want to kill us either way .if we burn it or dont burn it .They hate us when will we understand this ? Then we want to call him radical ..?? he's burning a book ? it might offend some relegions,but i wont back down from a relegion and who in America has the righ to tell him what book to burn and not burn...I honestly think I'll burn one myself .In fack I'll throw a party and have friends over and BURN several .That book teaches nothing but hate .I would maybe feel diffrent if I heard peaceful Muslim's speak out against radical Islam ,but I dont ..They would turn on us in a second because thats what their Books says do and they take every and I mean every word to hear .I though you know maybe he should not burn the book,but you knwo what WERE AMERICAN .BURN IT IF YOU WANT ITS YOUR RIGHT !!!!!! to Hell WHAT THEY THINK ANYMORE i'M TIRED OF TRYING TO MAKE THEM HAPPY .( YOU CANT )

[MmeFlutterbye]

06:49 PM on 08/14/2011

There is a place for Terry Jones, and it is not among sane human beings. He belongs on the campaign staff of either Bachmann, Perry, or Santorum.

[jessikins]

05:11 PM on 08/14/2011

The nut doesn't fall far from the tree. Radical Christianity is a threat too.

[IMOPINIONH8D]

09:08 AM on 08/14/2011

He burned a koran last year anyhow, but he's still breathing. Whats up??

[Bobbi2664]

03:45 AM on 08/14/2011

Has'nt this man caused enough damage?

[Allen2Saint]

11:39 PM on 08/13/2011

Keep on walkin' buddy. We don't want you here.

[We 6]

10:27 PM on 08/13/2011

I'm not Islamic. I do disagree with their believes. Even though I don't believe in their ways I sure wouldn't burn or desecrate their book of practice (Qua ran). That is wrong and disrespectful of this guy to do those things. I wouldn't like it if they burned my Bible. This guy isn't fit for the office of a pastor if he is bashing other churches. Don't do unto others what you do not want done unto you.

[SkreetGil1]

04:17 PM on 08/13/2011

In Jesus' name I pray away the hate!...

Oh, wait...

[Moose Luck 99]

11:28 AM on 08/13/2011

Pastor Terry Jones' Satanic Plan to disrespect the Holy Qur'an
Posted by Naeem Ilyas
Thursday, September 9, 2010

I think the Cursed Pastor is mentally upset on the fastest growth of Islam as a religion in America and the building on new Mosques there. He shows his anger by these shameful acts.
The Holy Qur'aan is the word of Allah and Millions of people accept Islam after reading it, .
Such shameful and disgusting acts are against all the human and international laws and Religions.

http://naeemilyas.blogspot.com/2010/09/pastor-terry-jones-satanic-plan-to.html

http://www.sandersforpresident.org/tag/draft-bernie-sanders-petition/

[Lorelei340]

02:14 PM on 08/13/2011

It is not the word of 'Allah': it is the word of God. I cannot fathom why translators do not translate the word God. It creates leverage for hate and maybe creates a sense of separation in the Muslim countries that somehow benefits someone.

[Doug Sandlin]

07:24 PM on 08/13/2011

Yep.

Allah is just the word God, in Arabic.

Arabic Christians and Jews also pray to Allah (God).

[Oblongato]

04:54 AM on 08/14/2011

Actually, since the different religions' concepts of God are so different, perhaps we should refer specifically to the sect: the Methodist God, the Shia God etc.

Come to think of it, the characteristics attributed by individuals to God are so different that here, too, we are not really talking about the same God, and are therefore not being specific enough. How about Bob J. Smith's God, Mohammad Hussein's God etc.?

[George Genung]

10:10 AM on 08/13/2011

Isn't Michelle Bachman searching for a new church ?

[norepublicanleftbehind]

03:34 AM on 08/13/2011

It's bad enough this hick almost created an international incident with his rhetoric but why are you giving him any press? His 15 minutes of fame are over.

[pg4awhile]

12:11 AM on 09/04/2011

Sens when did America care what The Middle East though ??? what has happned to our country .I do not hate Islam .I just dont beleive in it at all .If i want to burn the book its freedom of speach ...Let me ask you this .WOuld they and do they burn the bible ? YES and do we want to kill them NO ..Thats why I choose The bible that teaches to love one another and not kills all jews and Christians ..It says that in the Koran over 86 or 186 time to kill the one's who do not beleive in Islam ...Thats not a relegion people that a huge CULT .SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS .you knwo it says in the last days that even the very elect will be deceived

[pnllsprkf]

02:50 AM on 08/13/2011

I wouldn't trust a thing this guy says-I think he's just talking nicey nice so he won't be held back from his intended purpose-whatever that may be

[jdl51]

01:52 AM on 08/13/2011

Just another money hungry, publicity hounding pseudo-christian. Don't we have enough of them already? Take the money out of religion and these charlatans would disappear overnight.

[1jdgriff]

12:04 PM on 08/13/2011

The government should look into taking the tax breaks away from people like this, it is their only source of income and they all play the game to put cash in their pockets and pay no taxes.

[We 6]

10:32 PM on 08/13/2011

My church pays taxes. My church is self supporting.

[ReelX]

01:26 AM on 08/13/2011

ISLAM is a beautiful religion that teaches us to respect other religions unlike what TERRY THE TERRORISTS imaginative religion teaches! O YEA by the way...way ta go citing the QURAN verses out of context!!! FAIL!!! also ur one to talk about religion and the holy book more than half of your holy bible has been altered!!! NOW THAT IS A HUGE FAIL!!!

CHECK OUT THE BIGGEST FAIL IN HISTORY @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv25BMT7kr8

[HaleemK]

06:35 AM on 08/13/2011

#ISLAM is a beautiful religion that teaches us to respect other religions#

-Minoritets in mslm countrys disagree strongly with you.

[Oblongato]

03:58 PM on 08/13/2011

You are apparently suggesting that nothing in the Quran has been altered. But there are plenty of things in it that should be altered: the passages denying the equality of women, or the dozens of places where disbelievers are condemned, for example.

Not excising these passages is a HUGE FAIL, to use your words.

[Doug Sandlin]

07:31 PM on 08/13/2011

There doesn't seem to be the same focus on excising similar passages in the Bible.

Any idea why that is?

Personally, I don't think that's a viable option in any religion; most religions are fairly adamant about their holy books staying exactly as they are.

The good news, I'd say, is: a good majority of people in all religions are willing to ignore aspects of their scriptures that are incompatible with modern cultural values. This includes Christians, Muslims, Jews and members of all major religions.

Obviously, ultra-dogmatic people in all religions may try to live by the literal letter of their law, which causes unspeakable suffering. Thankfully, they're always a tiny percentage of the religion's total members, but that doesn't mean the problems they cause shouldn't be addressed.

It does mean, in my opinion, that changing the scripture probably isn't the answer. Even if somebody did that, the people who need the changes the most would just ignore the changes as heretical, and keep on going as they had been.

Individual people have to come to see that those kinds of interpretations are wrong, where they literally see it for themselves. Nothing else will work.

When have any of us ever seen someone whose religion is criticized, especially from outside their religion, say, "Hey, y'know - good point; we'll change immediately!"

[ReelX]

01:13 AM on 08/13/2011

TO HELL WITH THIS GUY!! "We're definitely not aiming at them in any form, even though I understand that some of the things we do can be insulting to them." UR not aiming at Muslims are u freakn stupid!!! If ur not aiming at us then why did u burn the wonderful holy Quran!! SUCH A STUPID COMMENT FROM A PIG!! Also u say some things may be insulting to them but we dont take that as an insult!!! We take that as a SIN that U have commited!!! wat ur doing is a crime!! A UNFORGIVABLE CRIME!!! TERRY THE TERRORIST IS A STAIN TO ALL HUMANITY!! Also burn all the Qurans that u want u Terrorist but u can never reach the love of the Quran and its teachings in our hearts!!!

[Oblongato]

04:30 AM on 08/13/2011

Why get so upset just because someone disagrees with you?

[We 6]

10:43 PM on 08/13/2011

It's OK to disagree, it's wrong to sit there and burn their stuff. If we went out and destroyed everything we disagreed with, We would have nothing because everyone has something they disagree with.

[1jdgriff]

12:10 PM on 08/13/2011

Although I agree with your statements regarding this horrible person, I believe as hard as it is, you should ignore him. He is one little person looking for attention, and unfortunately you and HP are giving him what he wants. I know it is hard to take a deep breath and step away from this issue, but it would ultimately be worth it.