So, this jackass in the picture - Pastor Dr. Terry Jones of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla - wants to make a statement by burning the Quran - that Christians/Americans are not going to be bullied into fear by Islam's radical wings. He wants to do this on 9/11. Oy vey!The amount of coverage on this effort is staggering. Had news outlets ignored it, it would've gone relatively unnoticed. Yes, it might have been a bit bigger in this day and age of electronic media, but with so much attention on it that even General Petraeus has to give his thoughts on it, this idiot gets legitimacy and a platform to spread his Christo-fanatical rhetoric. So much has been put out there into the ether that I even wrote a frakin' blog about it!
I have yet to see anyone in my circles show explicit support behind it - even those people I would consider redneck enough to be okay with it (y'all know who you are). I have to wonder how much implicit support there is for this guy's actions.
Which leads me to point out the general hypocrisy behind supporting this from a religious perspective. As a non-practicing Catholic, I have been put to sleep enough times during mass to know that effectively in order for us to be in Gawd's good graces, we need to learn the lessons from all of the biblical allegories and fully integrate their spirit into our daily lives. Living is a lot easier when you truly understand these teachings. therefore what this guy is doing (and what in turn other religious practitioners do towards other peoples) is just basically fundamentally opposite what his religion asks him to do.
Let me give an example. The whole "an eye for an eye" mantra people use to misjustify it being okay to combat extremism with equal extermism. The passage reads:
Book of Matthew, Chapter 5First off, the "eye for eye" passage pertains to compensation not for justification. If you were to damage someone else's eye for any reason, you are to offer you own eye in compensation for the damage you have caused.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Secondly, why don't people ever talk/quote the next 4 verses?! Those are the ones that in my opinion demonstrate true faith! Effectively, the idea is that if you are harmed by someone who does you wrong, you are to continue to show good faith and reverence to that person! My gawd, how awesome is that. You can come at me with sword with the intent to kill me and I should allow it! Why? Because if I truly believe in that I am one with Gawd, the goings on in my existence are rather trivial and inconsequential. Even death ain't a thang! If you slap me, I'll shouldn't retaliate. I'll just turn the other cheek as a gesture to show you that no matter what you do to me, I am one with Gawd, and my grace will show that you that the actions you are committing are wrong.
With that said, shouldn't the Jones Clan be turning the other cheek against Islam and believe in Gawd's power to do right by them even at their own peril? It doesn't look like that's not going to happen. This effort by the Florida church is merely at best a tangent religious publicity stunt and at worst an unecessary religious and social fire starter.
