Quran burning condemned, but Springfield minister to burn copy, too

BY BOB SMIETANA • THE TENNESSEAN

Conservative Christian leaders condemned a Florida pastor who plans to burn 200 copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, saying Wednesday that Christians don’t burn other religions’ holy books.

It’s as simple as the “separation of church and hate,” said the Rev. Rick Warren, a California megachurch pastor who prayed at President Obama’s inauguration.

The National Association of Evangelicals, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Southern Baptist leaders all issued similar statements leading up to Saturday’s anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history.

“Book burning is a cowardly act by those afraid that their beliefs aren’t strong enough to attract people if they are allowed a choice,” said Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life.

The Rev. Bob Old of Springfield, Tenn., doesn’t care what they think.

The longtime Baptist minister says the Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Center Outreach in Gainesville, Fla., is doing the right thing by burning the Quran. So he’s going to do likewise.

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I think this begs the question: Who’s crazier? The man who comes up with the crazy idea or the one hears about it, thinks its a great idea despite worldwide outcry, and decides “You know what? I should probably get in on this.”