“First they came for the communists, but I was not a communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unions, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And then they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the few brave Christian leaders to take a stand and speak out against Nazism during World War II. For that he gave his life. He was executed while in a concentration camp in 1945.
He was one of my heroes in college.
Today, I feel compelled to speak out. You’ve probably read in the news about the Pentecostal pastor in Gainesville, Florida who espouses anti-Islamic philosophy and plans to burn copies of the Quran on Saturday, September 11th.
Try as I might to understand what is planned, I cannot, yet I know I must. I was raised a Baptist – I’m the daughter of a Baptist minister and my religious and spiritual roots grow deep.
Just yesterday as I accompanied my elderly father, The Reverend John Buczynski to his doctor’s appointment, I thought we might talk about this protest, but he couldn’t. In sadness, he simply shook his head.
Have we lost our compassion for others who hold beliefs different from our own? Have we forgotten that the Holocaust was perpetrated by wrong-headed Christians?
Intolerance and prejudice, if repeated enough, can become “truth.” While the intentions of this Florida pastor seem to reflect “his truth,” such a protest can only stir up hatred and anger.
An incendiary event such as the one planned for this coming Saturday can easily lead to violence. And I fear this is only the beginning.
Gen Petraeus has indicated that such an event that associates Islam with the Devil is only going to create a backlash in Afghanistan and bring harm to our own troops.
We need to stand up for what is morally right. We need to ask Pastor Terry Jones not to hold this demonstration that can only incite more harm and intensify religious intolerance.
As health and mental health care practitioners, we need to be agents for understanding and compassion in our communities and to reach out globally.
We need to help defuse the hatred and the anger that fuels extremist talk and belief – it can only play into the hands of those who want to do us harm.
In closing, I can’t help but remember back to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and think: “They’re coming for the Muslims” and where will I be?
Let us not find ourselves standing alone.
This is an important issue. Please leave a comment and tell us what you think. Include your full name, profession, city and state and country.
Look at the reports on this… Bloomberg, Clinton, Obama and many other talking heads speak out about this upcoming event and chastise the reverend for believing something different than they do. The Constitution gives this man the right to do as he pleases in this case. But the question really should be, however, is this the right thing to do? The answer is an emphatic NO.
That is why I find it so hypocritical that these same talking heads support the mosque being built at Ground Zero. Does the imam have the right under the Constitution to build at this now sacred sight? Of course he does. But it is the right thing to do? The answer is another emphatic NO.
What gives. There is no consistency in their point of view. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Such a thoughtful blog.Love the Bonheoffer quote and that you are coming from a Christian background & speaking up against a dangerous, even KKK-like trend in our own religious “ranks”…
I just posted this blog on my facebook page, breaking my own “do not discuss politics” rule for all the same reasons you are speaking out. This time we must.
It is the extremists in every religion who cause terror and horror whether that religion is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian. This pastor in Florida may have a “right” to do what he is doing; but I’m thankful there will be thousands of Christians protesting his actions. Ultimately, I believe this pastor is going to provoke the exact opposite of his intent… as Christians are going to realize that things have moved beyond “normal generic anger/outrage from feeling victimized by 9/11” to becoming more like the terrorists themselves. If we become like the “enemy” …what’s the point?
While it is true we have the right to freedom of speach and expression in our country I think we forget that with that freedom comes responsbility. I believe, part of that responsiblity is to be mindful about the more global issues of the consequences of our expression. We know that words are powerful and they have an energy. That energy is one that can lead to triggering the fear-based beliefs of others or create an energy of tolerance for beliefs different than one’s own. We need to be judged and held accountable for ACTS not beleifs. I feel very saddened that someone calling themselves a Christian in a leadership position is energizing intolerance and hate for those who believe differently. He is locked in his fear-based amygdala and rigidly holding on in the face of multidues of feedback from others that this ACT he is about to do will put others at severe risk, support the beliefs of the radicals and lead others to intolerance, ridgidity and violence. He is coming from a reactive place of fear and not one of respons-ability. Pastor Jones fear only begets more fear. Violence more violence. Pastor Jones could it be that God is sending you a message to cease and desist through the multidude of voices of others? Or are you using our voices to prove to yourself that you are right? Wake up to your own terrorism and violence.
I recently had a house guest, a devout Muslim man I had never met. He was my husband’s Iraqi interpreter during his tour there from 2003-4. My husband is deployed to Afgh. right now and “Ali” had only been in the USA for 30 days, so I invited him to come stay with me for a week to work on a resume, and untangle the ways of America. I spoke to his family, and they expressed their gratitude that I was “taking care of him.” His parents declared me their daughter. That week was a stunning revelation in how the human condition connects us all, regardless of culture, religion or geography. The pastor in Gainsville should hook up with those nutcases in Kansas who hate gays and protest at soldiers funerals.
As a therapist who is a practicing Christian and a retired Army Reserve Chaplain I do agree with your article. I hope he will refrain, and I wish the media would drop the story. Thanks for sharing your. As someone out of a Baptist heritage, thanks for sharing that part of your journey.
It’s very, very wrong. I think perhaps a play for media attention. This man has very few followers! And yet he is on the national news – Why? The media is addicted to sensationalism. This event should not be covered. This man is an ethical sociopath. And yet we have the right here in the US to express ourselves! I believe the media should turn away – Then no Muslims would know about it. I’m very frustrated with our media right now. It’s an out of control toddler with the power. I like what Linda Lombardo, above, says.
How can burning any holy book–no matter the faith of origin– be ok? The say the want to send a message to extremists, but what about the millions of just regular Muslims??
Evidently the media is not the message and certainly not the truth. I listened to the press conference with the three major Abrahamaic religious leaders yesterday on C-Span. They represented millions more than the 50-member Gainesville Evangelical Church. They are working on projects and events that they hope will lead to positive relations among the three faiths. Also, how much do you hear about the fact that the plans for the Islamic Center in New York would include separate prayer spaces for Muslims, Christians, Jews, and people of other faiths? The press converage should be concentrated on events such as this rather than on a tiny group that does not represent most of the people.
It’s not only wrong – it’s stupid. Here’s an idea: why doesn’t the media agree to ignore the “protest” altogether and report on all the positive memorials people of ALL faiths are sharing on September 11th?
I strive for loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity, which I believe are basic to the spiritual path, and I don’t see any of these in the proposed burning of a Quaran. I do see arrogance, self-rightousness, and even hate in this and I don’t believe those are traits that Christ exhibited. I also see the potential, in Ruth’s initiative and others like it, for the many of us of all faiths who participate in the very challenging practice of be-ing on a spiritual path, to express our beliefs!
Ruth,
I so appreciate you speaking out. I have had similar concerns and outrage with the anti-Muslim sentiment brewing in our country.
It’s so easy to sit on the sidelines and feel the discouragement, the worry and upset, but also feel helpless to speak out or influence history. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to say that not every American has ill feelings or ill will toward Muslims. The America that I am proud of, that I would stake my life for, is the America that embraces differences, that encourages tolerance and acceptance, that strives to be a model of diplomatic peace and respectful coexistence.
Let’s not turn Christianity into the religion of hate and bigotry. Isn’t that what this Pentecostal minister finds so offensive in his perception of Muslims?
Even though we have “freedom of speech” we are not innocent when we falsely cry “Fire” in a crowed movie theater.
I completely agree with the sentiment of this blog post and appreciate your posting it. However, the quote was not Bonhoeffer. It was Martin Niemöller (who collaborated with Bonhoeffer), and that’s worth mentioning for two reasons other than mere factual accuracy. One, Martin Niemöller didn’t just regret his mistakes, he took action. Two, this lesser known German pastor, unlike Bonhoeffer, survived the war and lived to see Nazism defeated, but it wasn’t just one battle, or two, or three.
Thank you, Ruth.
Is there a way these wonderful comments, or a petetion could be sent to President Obama, the Supreme Court, or someone? Could we write a petition to this person of evil in Fla. expressing the seriousness of this act? Can we take a stand as a profession, dedicated to the healing of our planet? Do you have an email address for this inhuman being? Can we all focus our energy in prayer or mindfulness or whatever one may call efforts of distant intervention, to prevent this? Will look to hear.
Thank you for speaking about this topic. I myself am outraged. I am proud that many politicians from Canada (my home country) have made statements against this atrocity
I propose that September 11 be: “Hug a Muslim day” or better yet “Hug a person from a different race, religion, etc., than you day” rather than “Burn a Koran day”
In protest I will be attending my Islamic Center on September 11, 2010.
10 reasons not to burn the Qur’an
1) He who has not sinned cast the first stone
2) The Qur’an does not condone terrorism, adultery, etc. The Qur’an is just like the bible or other faith literature. It is up to the reader to distort the message for it to be a weapon. Sects or individuals of each religion has distorted messages and misbehaved.
3) Burning the Qur’an is equivalent to ridding the baby with the bath water. There are some great Muslims as people who will be negatively affected by this act.
4) Separate the deed from the doer. Nobody is bad or good rather people are spirit and whole who do immoral acts. No person or faith is free from this.
5) Christianity and all faiths teach forgiveness, love and peace. To burn the Qur’an is acting against Christianity. To burn the Qur’an is itself evil, racist, bigotry, hateful, terrorism.
6) The Qur’an is an extension of the Jewish and Christian faith. They are not different or opposed to other religions, but built on it. The Jews believe Jesus was a false messiah, the Jews and Christians believe Mohammed was a false messiah.
7) To burn the Qur’an in retaliation to September 11, 2001 keeps a person stuck in the past rather than developing spiritually. The behavior is retarded as it retards spiritual development. It is a backwards step.
8) Burning the Qur’an will not provide any positive outcome rather it creates more distance. Hate begets hate. Love thy neighbor. It is better to use honey than vinegar.
9) An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. There is nothing positive that can come of this.
10) Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Dalai Lama, Popes, or any other significant person of faith would never condone this behavior.
Julie Quesnel, M.A. Val Caron, Ontario, Canada
THIS IS A TRAVESTY. He has the right to speak what he believes to be the truth, but he does not have the right to burn books that are sacred to any of the world’s religions!!!! There is a world of difference between the two.
Unfortunately, this is a good example of how our country has gone astray. The intolerance that has taken over much political speech has done nothing except create more bigots.
On such short notice, what can we do to mitigate the effect that this will have on our psyches and how we are viewed in the world? This is not how most of us are, even though a few can tarnish the image of many.
I agree–the Quran burning is simply wrong! Have we not learned anything over the years?
There may be some organized responses in larger cities and so on. If there are none where you live, or even if there are, I would urge that we all reach out to our Muslim friends, colleagues and acquaintances individually and express our concen and sorrow, let them know we stand in solidarity with them and against prejudice and intolerance.
I am actually speechless when it comes to the hubris of allegedly God-fearing people to do such a despicable act. Ruth, your quote this morning is so very appropriate on the eve of Rosh Hashannah. If we are to condemn anyone (and I truly believe we only condemn what we fear), it should be Pastor Jones. It is impossible to meet anyone who spreads such venom from a place of love because truly “who will they come for next”? Pastor Jones is a terrorist; I’m not sure that he truly realizes that and he claims to be doing this in the name of religion.
Thank you, Ruth for your courage to speak out.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for sharing with us. Like your father, I shake my head in sadness and hope that a new, emerging consciousness will begin to shift some old and hard ways of being.
Blessings
I’m in total agreement with all who disagree with this pastor in Florida. I can only view him, and his followers, as representations of humanity’s flaw in the past, present, and future. It’s the stance of victimization. It’s perpetuation of psychological drugging, the drug being: “think as I think, not for yourself.”
There was mention of the local government intervening due to a hazard of toxic smoke within the ink of burning books.
One might hope so.
One might pray for sagacious reasoning too.
Marci Shimoff tells the story of a wheelchair bound woman who healed herself by praying this prayer not only for herself, but for everyone she met during the year of her recovery. The prayer went like this…
May you be safe.
May you be happy.
May you be healthy.
May you live with ease.
May we offer such a prayer for this pastor who must surely be suffering his own kind of personal hell somehow.
What we must come to know is that we are all connected beings who only influence others for good when we toss out the adversarial words, replacing them with love.
Retired RN
Thanks for your lead in speaking out against intolerance. You’re spot on!
and a role model for the rest of us.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for speaking out about this action which might take place on Sept. 11. As a person of deep faith, I know that there is only one God, and that God is honored in all the major religions of the world. This minister’s behavior is a sad, shake your head in disblief kind of behavior. Perhaps the best approach is for all of us to band together in love and allow that love to radiate understanding and compassion into the hearts of all those who would insight such hatred in the name of Christianity.
I totally agree and I am equally disturbed. However, I believe this zealot is only copycatting and expanding what numerous politicians and other intolerant people have openly expressed about the opening of a Muslim community center two blocks away from ground zero. As well as the domestic terrorists who have painted graffiti and burned construction equipment in Murfreesboro TN to protest the expansion of a mosque. Let’s hold Palin, Gullianni and Gringrich responsible for inciting terrorist attacks, instead of a pastor of congregation of 50.
I agree with you, Ruth.
Thanks for pointing this out. It is an action of grave concern.
Isn’t there a hospital for the criminally insane nearby? Chattahoochie, I think it’s called.
Jean Morris, MA
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Florida
I agree with Ruth that our country is founded on the belief of separation of church and state. Our bill of rights however grant us the right to speak out and say whatever we choose.
It is interesting to me to contemplate the role that internet access and media have played in this situation. I imagine that in days before the internet (and perhaps Fox News), this man would have had difficulty accessing the publicity that is feeding the furor over this event.
On the other hand, the internet allows me to access insightful articles such as this, by a Rabbi.
I wonder too about the apparent absence of ‘hate laws’ in the USA – we do have some on the books in Canada now, and although rarely used, do offer guidance.
This is an abhorrent event and I feel very sad about it for many, many reasons.
It is a very slippery slope we walk on. On one hand it is our constitutional right for freedom of expression and speech. On the other hand the act will fan the flames of hatred. Extremism in any shape or form is usually hatred and intolerance. Unfortunately organized Religion has become a battle field. The true meaning of is striped out and the competitive nature of who’s religion is best surfaces. Isn’t that how Jesus was turned in. The jealousy of some preacher teachers? I say there are better ways to remember 9/11. Let’s not let religion create another battle field
I agree with you and as 76 year old lady who was raised in the Southern Baptist Church, I can not believe how the devil works with some of these people who call themselves Christian. He and the ones who beleive as he does make my Lord cry.
My son is currently serving in Afghanistan, so I’m concerned about the impact if this is done. However, it is protected by freedom of speech. Can this reverend do this? Yes. Should he? No. I agree this will only hurt peaceful Muslims and give the terrorists something to grab on to. However, I wonder where all the people who are so outraged about this planned activity were when “artists” were putting crucifixes in urine.
Thank you, Ruth.
Thank you for publishing this thoughtful article. It is more than distressing that increasingly this country is anchoring its “moral meaning” in fear, hatred, and cynicism. My hope is to join with others on September 11th to not simply decry this so-called “Christian” demagoguery, but to speak the love that is at the core of the Christian tradition.
Thank you, Ruth, for helping to bring this to light. If there is such a thing as “evil,” it is manifested in hatred and hateful acts. In the spirit of love, we must speak out and stop the violence.
Blanche Williams, Ph.D.
Clinical psychologist
Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA
Dear Ruth,
I agree with your article and I thank you for bringing up the issue.
Sincerely Irene Savarese, Marriage & Family Therapist in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Recently, in our household we’ve been watching Netflix films that relate to WWII – to the suffering and the survival. No-one should ever suffer and survive this. I agree Ruth that we must be vigilant and responsive to any statements and acts that stand for inequality. Perhaps the most effective way to respond is to do the opposite. To gather in circles of mixed spiritual belief holding hands in solidarity. To create artworks that show this. Whatever each can do – big and small to demonstrate a different way.
Yesterday a local radio talk show host, said anyone with a camera can video anything these days and it will be picked up on the internet. This paster with only 50 members has captured the world’s attention.
I am BOLDLY suggesting that you can get together all your Father’s congretation and town’s peolpe and video a PRAY VIGIL and put it out for everyone who calls in to NICABM to watch. Call your local TV stations and ask if they would cover this event.Choose whatever spin you feel is right in your heart.
After 9/11 here in Syracuse New York, A MUSLUM & A CHRISTIAN WOMEN DECIDED THEY WANTED TO HELP AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. These 2 WOMEN CREATED A GROUP CALLED WOMEN TRANSENDING BOUNDERIES. This weekend in Syracuse they are hosting a KINDNESS EVENT. They also have strong Alumni connections to SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
NICABM has as muchof an audience and more. Thank you for your commitment to fairness, true and GOD…Cindy McCaffrey
Ruth, I do not agree with the pastor in Florida, however I do agree with his right to do it. We cannot deny someone their rights as long as it does not harm someone else. I correct something that you said as it is language used daily as part of the moral decline of America. The Holocaust was not perpetrated by “wrong headed Christians.” Just as many Muslims woudl argue 9/11 was not perpetrated by those who follow true Islam. A “wrong headed Christian” such as Hitler is in fact not a Christian at all.
One more point: think about this, if a “wrong headed liberal” was on the steps of the capitol burning an American flag, it would garner no media attention at all.
What this pastor is doing is truly awful … old religious intolerance and righteousness rearing it’s ugly head!
The real question is … how to deal with this level of DENIAL? How is it possible to get through to this level of faulty premise? Not through violence and not through reason for sure!
As Christians we are called to be bold (in the Spirit of God) and certainly live out His righteousness. WWJD is a great acronym for this situation…What would Jesus do? I believe He would do the Father’s will which is living Love and Truth and speaking righteously, God’s Word to the situation…as Proverbs states, “Speak the truth in love.” Except for throwing over the moneychangers tables the types of actions Jesus took were to pray, to heal, to feed, to love, to teach, to deliver, to serve. He never started a war, or operated to even defend Himself, only the Word of the Father in Him. My fervert prayer is this demonstration will be transformed to “Pray for our “enemies”…” not for their harm, but to be taken captive in the love and truth of Jesus…enemies meaning those who mean to do us harm, wrong including dominating, taking over, forcing their ways of being…culturaly, political, religiously on anyone, not just us! It is written we “perish for lack of knowledge”, in this case the spiritual knowledge of how to take a stand righterously. God help us all and man made ideas in His name, the most dangerous of all. And may we consider anew the life of Dietrich Bonhoffer…and his writings…
I agree with Ruth that this is a terrible idea and was deeply saddened to hear this news. I realize that it comes from a place of fear and anger, but ignores the reality that the Quaran does not represent the beliefs of the radicals nor the vast majority of Muslims. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Not only does this act not make rational sense, it plays right into the hands of the very individuals who they most fear and puts all of us at greater risk. How can this group ignore the very teachings of the Bible or spiritual essence of the worlds great religions that teaches us that we must show compassion and that we are truly one despite differences in religion or culture. How can this group justify the burning of a Quaran a sacred text of this religion. Would it be acceptable if members of another religion burn the Bible in protest of a small radical or terrorist group of Christians or Jews, which clearly does not represent the vast majority of those religions nor the message that the Bible communicates to humanity.
Now more than ever do we need to step back and work together to see the common humanity that we share and to reject intolerance and hatred no matter where it comes from. This is the only hope to defeat the terrorist and radicals, otherwise we are playing right into their hands no matter where they live. Their beliefs are not ours and we must speak up and come together.
Keith Rafal
Physician
Thank you Ruth – I feel so badly about this issue – I want to walk into the nearest mosque and apologize…
What kind of country is this ? First we tried to kill all the Native Americans – then we hung the “negroes”, then the Chinese immigrants out west were decimated, now it’s Muslims? As A Native American I am totally disgusted with the white man thinking he is so much better than those of other colors and therefore he can do away with whoever he pleases!!
I am saddened by what passes for Christianity today. The love of money, the hatred of Mexicans and Muslums, homosexuals and women who make their own choices about pregnancy. Jesus would never have done these things. Last I knew, Christianity was supposed to follow Christ’s teachings but I see little of it in our world today. Jesus would even have forgiven those radicals who bombed the Trade Towers. Do people understand that Jews, Christians and Muslims (yes Muslims)all share the Old Testament? Their Abraham is our Abraham.
I pray that this devil’s advocate in Florida sees the error of his ways before he ignites WWIII or that the Muslims see him for what he is–a radical who is on the same plane as the radicals who bombed the Trade Towers and the Murrah Building–though were of different beliefs, they were all radicals working as the devil’s advocates.
And let us not forget–most of us are descendents of those with blood on their hands. How many Indian grave sites were the Twin Towetrs built on? Look what the colonists did to the inhabinants of North, Middle and South America. In some cases, they wiped out whole nations–often in the name of Christianity. Should all Christians be blamed for the actions of their priests who sexually abused children? How many innocents did Americans kill in Japan, Iraq, Afganistan? Christian Germans killed how may people that, they felt, were not of the Arian race? Should we, as their descendants be blamed for their horrible deed? I think not. Neither should innocent Muslims be blamed for the acts of a radical few.
Ruth,
This blog is so thoughtful and accurate. I would like to say as a christian am disappointed that Pastor Jones is hiding his ignorance under the guise of his religious convictions. He is totally misguided. As our biblical teachings remind us that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Destruction of their sacred book is not showing love. Blessing others as Greg Mortenson has done by building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan is Christian.
Thanks Ruth for speaking out about this.
I am a member on the listserv of a US group that works for human rights that wrote to me about this on the 31st August inviting me to contribute 10 reasons why we should NOT burn a Koran.
I hope it’s OK, I’ve cut and pasted the email I received in case others on this list want to participate and contribute their/ your reasons for not burning a Koran.
You’re right Ruth: it’s just wrong!
Marie-Pierre Cleret,
Sydney, Australia.
Tad Stahnke, Human Rights First [communications@humanrightsfirst.org]
Director of Policy and Programs
Dear Marie-Pierre,
As September 11th approaches, a wave of anti-Muslim bigotry is sweeping the country.
Speak out against bigotry and hate!
The religion “of the Devil” … practiced by “animals of Allah” … worshipping a “monkey-god”…
Messages of hatred and discrimination are polluting our public discourse as we approach the anniversary of 9/11.
This Muslim-bashing follows on the heels of a debate about the “Ground Zero Mosque.” Comments from fearmongers have been deeply discriminatory-and completely disregard what’s really at stake: our Constitutional values, fundamental rights, and national security.
Cynically using the 9/11 anniversary to vilify Islam and Muslims trivializes the real tragedy of 9/11-the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians.
We’ve gotten to the point that a small group in Florida is supporting a “Burn a Koran” event on September 11th-sponsored by a church, of all places. Left unchallenged, their message of hatred is heard loud and clear across the globe.
Where is the sense in this situation?
The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville Florida has posted on its website “10 Reasons to Burn a Koran.” We’re making our own list. Send us your top reason NOT to burn a Koran-we’ll select the top 10 answers, post them on our website, and distribute them near and far to make sure that your voice is heard in this debate.
This misguided and violent rhetoric only harms us by alienating the communities whose cooperation is essential to effectively combat terrorism. Let’s show the fearmongers and the world that Americans don’t support this kind of hatred!
Human Rights First has been fighting discrimination and intolerance wherever it occurs, monitoring situations all over the world where bias turns into violence and finding ways to combat it. Help us push back on those who are delivering messages of hate.
Sincerely,
Tad Stahnke
Human Rights First,
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10001-5004
Join us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter
This minister in Florida is very, very dangerous to our society. I would hope that U.S. citizens realize that this county was founded on the principals of religious freedom. I wish to have freedom from his bigoted beliefs. I have trouble with religions that promote bigotry and intolerance. I will speak out with you, Ruth. However we can, we must take a stand as well to speak to the truth of our constitutional values.
It is interesting that this pastor is so blinded by fear or hate that he does not see that his actions are showing just as much intolerance and disrepect as what he is accusing the Koran of inciting.
The best way to defend our own beloved country is to stand up for its principles, like freedom of religion absolutely!
(I am LICSW of 50 years experience in US and Japan.)
Religion gone Wild ! ! Does anyone seriously see this as a “positive” stand for Chrisitanity? I have yet to see someone defend this bigot’s position in a manner that makes sense. Frankly, I think it’s a ploy to get ANY attention to his church in Gainesville for whatever reason. Perhaps the extremely Right Reverend uses this as a means to have money sent to him by the radical Christians and this was his intention. Any “book burning” that I have heard about always reminds me of closed minded, intolerant, dangerously ignorant people who foment hatred, very much akin to the “book burning days” that are reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Absolutely disgusting ! And extremely dangerous !
I agree completely and would remind the Irreverend that book burning was a Nazi practice!
Grace!
*
Thank you Ruth for Stepping up and Sharing your Mind to this
I can’t say it with the power imbued by Bonheoffer’s personal experience but the perverted drivel that flows from the mind and mouth of Terry Jones is, ironically, exactly what Jones himself preaches against–the voice of the devil. Of course, his narcissistic blathering attempts to gather attention and followers to his misguided cult of thinking. He reminds me of another sick cult leader by the name of Jones. Remember Jim? God have mercy on them and us.