Comments on: Interview with Pastor Terry Jones, the Man Behind “International Burn A Koran Day”

By: kenny

kenny — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:49:46 +0000

america used to be something now we are a joke.we are a joke because we’re always bragging about our rights and that we are free to think say and believe whatever we want.since 9/11 we are afraid of another attack so what do we do we roll out the red carpet for muslims and do everything in our power not to offend them.in other words we are a country that only believes in freedom but don’t defend or practice it.media,religious,non-religious you name it we all scorn those who do things like this because we don’t want to have another attack.well the way i see it everybody who has died to defend this counrty might have died in vain un less we start practicing our right to free speech and expression there of.i am currently working on a cartoon of muhammad shitting on the koran post it everywhere soon see how that goes.

By: Buddy

Buddy — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:11:16 +0000

I’m a christian too and serving in the U.S. Army and I’m personally offended by this guy. I wonder if he has even read the Koran. I haven’t myself but we receive enough training and information to include talks with actual muslims and practicing islamists to know that it is not a violent religion. People claiming to have been christians have tried to or actually succeeded in blowing up abortion clinics. That would mean christianity is capable of harvesting extremists also. This guy needs to open his eyes and actually study up on something and look at it from all sides before proclaiming something as dumb as this. think about the consequences too. he is putting soldiers overseas in even more harm now too. if he thinks he’s going to get all the heat over here in the states he’s mistaken. take heat from people burning flags and waiving banners while we take heat from extremists with road side bombs waiving ak-47′s and rpg’s. yeah thanks mr jones for being real smart about that one and increasing the danger to us just so you can have a little bonfire party you dumbass.

By: fzn

fzn — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:25:39 +0000

I’m Muslim from Indonesia. Your Prophet Isa (jesus) we respect him so much till the end of this world. This is the order The God told Our Prophet Muhammad to spread this kindness to muslims in Quran the Holy Book. But for us Isa is the Prophet/messenger not the god or god’s son. So, should you guys respect Muhammad though. Be noticed, The followers of both religion who has ‘short antenna on their heads’ will planted hatred based on mis-interpretation of holy books.

By: OY

OY — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:15:59 +0000

Everyone on here is saying that the Pastor has the right to freedom of expression. While it is part of the constitution in America, I have never understood this. Yes by law, he can do what he wants, but in reality if he was to burn the Qurans, he would be DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for increased violence against American troops, and he would be DIRECTLY responsible for increasing violence/tension between Muslims and Christians. Surely, the troops’ right not to get killed outweighs his right of freedom of expression?
I live in the UK, so I have not been bought up with the constitution you Americans have. I most certainly do NOT believe in a universal right of freedom of expression. I believe it is a responsibility, and that if your ‘expression’ abuses someone else’s right (to life, to live in a racist free society etc) then you should not have the right to freedom of expression.

Hence why I think he should be stopped. For me it comes down to: abusing his right to freedom of expression vs. killing troops, world war 3 [a bit OTT but you get my point] etc etc. But hey, I dont know very much about these things, and I am not even sure that my paragraphs made sense to anyone

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:17:46 +0000

I would like to point out that you will not find a Muslim group planning on burning the Bible. Our Bible is sacred to Muslims as well as the Koran, for much of their teachings come from the Bible. Don’t ask such ignorant questions.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:28:20 +0000

There needs to be something set straight here. I believe that at the basic core all religions are true. And in their growth period there is violence, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Baha’i, any time a religion starts to grow there is violence, and it is recorded in the pages of the holy tomes. To burn any book in retaliation (10 years later?!) is pure ignorance. A group of extremist exercised violence to make a point on 9/11, (I do not believe they represent all Muslims) the result was not the one intended. This one will backfire as well, and if conversion is the true intent, which I highly doubt it is, violence/acts that will lead to violence, will not accomplish the goal. I fear this “Pastor” will have people thinking he represents all Christians or all Americans, and I want to say, thankfully, that he does not!!! The Inquisition, the KKK, the battles in North Ireland between Protestants and Catholics were all perpetrated by the Christian religion, terrorism at its worst, yet I don’t recall any one wanting to run about burning bibles. This is a violent act, and violence will only beget more violence. What is sad is that legally the mosque can be built at ground zero, and if one follows legal guidelines, any nut can burn books, because one can do a thing does not mean one should. Consequences have not been considered in either case. I understand that the building of the mosque is to promote peace, understanding and harmony, and I have a hard time understanding why anyone would object to it being built except for the location, but I think it is actually meant as a healing gesture, even Muslims died at the trade center. I perceive one element wanting to offer understanding, peace and tolerance, and the other holding an entire religion hijacked to get his way (first it was objection to Muslims wanting to enforce their legal systems, now it is the mosque, he changes his venue often). We do live in a nation that guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom to force your religion on everyone else. And I am pretty sure we are to love one another. Not only if they agree with us 100% or for the purpose of conversion, but because loving God’s creation is the best way to serve him. Not stirring up hate and anger. I have lived all over the world, had neighbors of many cultures and religions, they never infringed on my beliefes nor I on theirs. We had simple respect for one another even if we were very different. I have always thought that when Christ said in “My Fathers house are many mansions”, he could have been revering to other religions. I mean, as far as I understand it, every religion attempts to honor, love, and worship God. It seems the gray area lies in the messenger. It like arguing over honoring the lamp and ignoring the light. It is my most fervent prayer that God, Allah, Jehovah, the Universe or the Force will show us all how to be tolerant, respect and love each other no matter our differences. We are all human, and while it is notable to love one’s country, is it not better to love one’s own kind? The Ancient of Days will lead people to him in his own time, and in his own way. It is not our job to convert, only to love and serve, and one cannot do that if one indulges in demeaning, disgraceful, hateful thoughts and deeds and words. I think the “Pastor” should re-examine his own faith and leave others to theirs. If it is politics and law he is concerned about, that handle it in a political way and leave religion out of it.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:04:55 +0000

Pastor Jones,

I seriously doubt that Jesus himself would condone your actions. If you live to spread His message and to personify His teachings, then why would an event like this ever even pass the stage of “passing thought” in your mind, let alone reach a point of possibly occurring?

Jesus was a messenger of love and tolerance. We are all brothers and sisters in his eyes, regardless of our differences.

These acts have a real chance of risking the safety, and possibly the lives, of people around the world who you are personally choosing to turn into victims of your cause, which most, if not all, appose.

“Pastor” Jones, I am ashamed of you as a Pastor and as an American. We are a diverse nation who should be celebrating our differences, and you are spitting on this country’s great right to its people (as well as the population of the world) to practice whatever religion they choose. You are abusing your First Amendment Right, and the outcries from all of the Americans in response to this should be a clear message that we are appalled that a church could even consider doing such a thing in the name of God’s love.

You, sir, make me sick.

By: Simple Mann

Simple Mann — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:40:23 +0000

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I read and reflect on what a man who is supposed to be a pastor and, even worse, a Christian–Terry Jones of of the non-denominational “church”, Dove Center in Gainesville, Florida–is preparing to do this weekend. He seems intent on burning several copies of the Koran, the holy book of Islam at his “church” on Sunday under the banner of the Christian faith. What an abomination. If you want my opinion, I think he is breaking at least the first four commandments in this prideful act of intolerance. Please, people… and I am speaking to those of you who may not be Christian believers–know that this abhorrent act and man do not represent true Christianity.

The Apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Tim 1:5)“ And in his second letter to this young pastor, he writes: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2:22-26)”

Certainly the apostles and elders of the early church cared about doctrinal issues and were on their guard against heresies and the dangerous men who brought them–men who like ravenous wolves preyed upon the sheep. But these “heretics” were men who sought to corrupt the message of the gospel and the beauty of Christ from the inside-out, destroying the faith from within. They were not the “pagans” or the “infidels” (or whatever you want to call them) who completely rejected the Christian faith. Not at all.

As I read the news yesterday about this arrogant act of hatred that a man who claims to be a Christian is planning to carry out this weekend on September 11–burning the holy book of another culture’s faith, I could not help but think of the great contrast with this angry man in Gainesville, Florida and one who lived quite some time ago in Serampore, India. I am speaking of the English reformed Baptist missionary, William Carey, a man who did NOT display his zeal toward God by burning the holy books of the Indian people, but demonstrated his zeal toward God by his love for the people–even translating their own spiritual works into languages they could read (since many of them could not read Sanskrit), as well as translating them into English so that his own countrymen could read them and better relate to the Indian people, too! The only books that were burned in Carey’s possession were ones he himself had written and was in the process of translating when an accidental fire destroyed much of his work. But it was William Carey’s fiery love for the people of the Christless culture he was sent to that burned the hottest. Oh that the Lord would raise up more men with a zeal like this, to LOVE those who are perishing and without a Savior, and who would melt the hearts of God’s enemies with good works, rather than hardening them even more with hatred, malice, and anger.

And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

By: sophia

sophia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:25:51 +0000

If Jones submerged a Koran in a jar of urine, what would all the free speech advocates on this site say?

“Muslims will never commit acts, similar to that of Pastor Jones, because insulting someone or their ideas (including their religion) is what Islam forbids us to do.”

You are a bloody liar. You can’t even possess a Bible in Saudi Arabia.

By: ariannex

ariannex — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:09:48 +0000

well i think that the pastor is just trying to get attention, he just LOVES the spotlight. ]x