11th August, 2010
For whatever reason The Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, USA, is setting out to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 dubbed 9/11 terror attacks by burning the Quâ€
The church pastor, Terry Jones, was quoted as saying by the CNN: “We believe that Islam is of the devil, that itâ€
The Facebook page that has more than 1,600 fans also has a very inciting message. “Eternal fire is the only destination the Quran can lead people to, so we want to put the Quran in its place – the fire!†the page says.
The church also launched a YouTube video to disseminate the message. “I mean ask yourself, have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim? As theyâ€
Jones also said he has written a book titled “Islam is of the Devilâ€, and that the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.
The stance of the church can only breed hatred among Muslim and Christians. It is worthwhile that already, Muslim and Christian groups in America have launched a protest against the planned event, which, if allowed to take place, will breed violence..
The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a statement urging the church to cancel the event, warning it could exacerbate worldwide tension between the two religions.
“The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbours of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect,†it said.
Another Facebook group with more than 3,100 fans said it stands “against the disrespect and intolerance that these people have for the Muslim peopleâ€.
An Islamic advocacy group – Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – has said it would give out 100,000 copies of the Quran to local, state and national leaders, in a bid to educate the public during the month-long fast of Ramadan, which begins today.
“American Muslims and other people of conscience should support positive educational efforts to prevent the spread of Islamophobia,†CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.
Though reactions trailing the protest is that of condemnation, with claims that it would only escalate more tensions between the two faiths, the church is determined to continue with the religious protest as it claims it gained a lot of endorsements on its Facebook page.
The organisers of the planned September 11 bonfire must call it off in the name and love of Jesus Christ. Itâ€
Reprisal attacks by an aggrieved group always follow violence perpetrated by another group. Recall the violent consequences that trailed the publication of a comical representation of Prophet Mohammed by a Danish newspaper, Jyllands Posten, the world over.
The point here is not for Christians to be seen as a body that incites any form of religious upheaval that would, most frequently, spread beyond control and in the end claim innocent lives, but a group of people that devoutly represents love and, by choice, co-exist in peace amidst religious provocations.
The Dove World Outreach Centre should obey the biblical injunction of not rendering evil for evil or rage for rage. The church should heed this biblical injunction. For the Christian to align to this biblical truth is proof of his total submission and commitment to God, which in the real sense is not easy, humanly speaking. The holy Bible charges that whatever battle the Christian is involved in, itâ€
In this light, I join fellow christians across the world who share the same view, and appeal to Pastor Terry Jones to sheath their swords and let peace reign.
•Sylvanus Nwafor, writes from Ofada, Ogun State.