Monday, September 6, 2010

The Upcoming "Burn the Qur'an Day" Has Sparked a "Death to America Day"

Taken from ABC news.

A Florida pastor ignites tensions among Muslims days before 9/11 anniversary.

The crowd in downtown Kabul reached nearly 500 today, with Afghan protesters chanting "Long live Islam " and "Long live the Quran," and burning an effigy of Terry Jones, senior pastor from the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida who is planning the event.

The protesters were well aware of the pastor's inflammatory comments, such as the "Islam is an evil religion," since they have been spread wide on the Internet. Jones has also authored a book, "Islam Is of the Devil."

The protesters' anger wasn't limited to Jones, however. Chants of "Death to America" echoed through the crowd, and U.S. flags were set ablaze alongside the effigy of Jones.

"America cannot eliminate Muslims from the world," one Afghan man told ABC News.

The angry crowd pelted a passing U.S. military convoy with rocks.

Gen. David Petraeus said he is outraged by the pastor's decision to burn the Quran, which he said could "endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort here."

Former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Jack Keane, an adviser to Petraeus, called it "outrageous" and "insulting to Muslims."

"It's also insulting to our soldiers in terms of what they stand for and what their commitment is to this country and to the Muslims in this country," Keane told ABC News.

But late today, Jones vowed he would go ahead with the Quran burning, even knowing the concerns of Petraeus and Keane for the safety of U.S. troops.

"What we are doing is long overdue. We are revealing the violence of Islam that is much, much deeper than we'd like to admit," Jones said in an interview with ABC News.

A Facebook page dedicated to the day, entitled "International Burn A Koran Day" has more than 8,000 fans.

"On September 11th, 2010, from 6pm - 9pm, we will burn the Koran on the property of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!" the page declares.

Over a hundred other pages have sprung up for and against the event on Sept. 11, incidentally the same day as a Muslim holiday called Eid, celebrating the last day of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Some Muslims fear that images of celebration could fuel further tensions with Americans that day. But in the meantime, in Kabul, there is word that a protest planned for Tuesday could be even larger than the one today.




Here's Acts 17's official response to "Burn the Qur'an Day":

29 comments:

Tizita said...

I like what one commenter said on Jihadwatch.com page. He said:

When the media has gathered around on Sep.11 to film the church burning the Quran, what the church should do next is start reading passages from the quran that has been hidden from the public eyes (i.g. all the violent suras).

I thought that was a brilliant idea. In that case not only will more people will be aware of the evilness of islam but also understand that those who are against it aren't bigots or islamaphobes.

I just believe that burning the Quran is like feeding the fire gas.

VJ said...

omg sept 11 is near.
media might broadcast the event live at 6-9 pm US time.
i predict global terrorism that weekend,although not something too hard to predict.
pastors actions might take its toll on innocent Christians worldwide especially in Muslim dominated countries.
With end of ramadan a day before,along with the biggest pagan festivals in India where a billion would invoke their deity,the dark spiritual world would be at its peak this weekend.
Sunday being a church day will give retaliators the chance to attack the people of God.
let the people of god unite with the biggest Armour we have against this evil, i.e the Gospel of the lord Jesus Christ.
God save his people in Jesus name

Traeh said...

As I commented when you posted this video the first time some days ago, brilliant!

I hope you guys keep incorporating comedy, drama, narrative, and acting into your teaching work. I think you are outstanding, and your potential is even greater.

Your facial expressions -- and voices! -- were very funny.

Also funny, and another indication of talent for this sort of thing, was the entertaining and humorous way you two coordinated your reactions throughout much of the skit.

Humor and story have immense power.

Skits have a lot of potential done by talented guys like you. Skits can be funny, serious, sad, poetic, mysterious, visionary, or all at once. And they can sometimes have a bigger impact than straightforward talking.

Keep it coming.

Rafik Responde ao Isla said...

Very interesting ... Are not all these statements a direct admission that ISLAM is VIOLENT?

"Chants of "Death to America" echoed through the crowd..."

"The angry crowd pelted a passing U.S. military convoy with rocks."

"endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort here."

"Some Muslims fear that images of celebration could fuel further tensions with Americans that day".

"in Kabul, there is word that a protest planned for Tuesday could be even larger than the one today."

Anonymous said...

The burning of any book is wrong [including the Qur'an]and serves no purpose. If these people truly want to offend Muslims why not preach Christ crucified the rock of offence. On September 11th why not have a day of fasting and prayer that God would be gracious and grant faith and repentance to those who he has chosen through out the Muslim World. The only effective means of destroying the Qur'an is to preach Christ and Him Crucified.

New York Experience said...

It takes courage to expose the wicked. Job well done.

The Westchester News.Com

getrealman said...

I think the most compelling reason to burn anything, ever, is the threat to not do so, or else. I am certain that if someone in Afghanistan burns a Bible a U.S. Army general will not come forth with earnest pleas to not "offend Christians". I also doubt seriously that this would jeopardize the safety of anyone. If it does, what does that tell you? Peaceful? Tolerant? How about CRAZY! I have a novel idea: let's all get a spine for a change.
GRM

getrealman said...

one other thing: how about freedom of speech, does it not matter anymore? Does it matter that Christians and Jews are the "vilest of creatures"? Should we be offended and sensor Muslim adherents because they espouse such "offensive" beliefs? No way. They certainly have the right to proclaim their beliefs. And burn our Bibles (just stay away from the flag, or get out). I would think that a pastor in Florida burning the Koran could never jeopardize or undermine the US military efforts, anywhere. In fact, the freedom he is exercising is the very freedom the military is protecting. Well, except Christian freedom, or so it seems. Sad.
GRM

GreekAsianPanda said...

I think the "Burn the Quran Day" is awful, unnecessarily offensive, and dangerous to others' lives. Terry Jones is a complete idiot if he thinks this is a good thing. Where is the love of Christ in his actions??

Let's pray that no one gets killed!!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if those who chanted, "Death to America", considered the large number of American citizens, who are Muslim.

I like the video. It was quite entertaining!

Jim Jordan said...

The video is excellent and educational. Everyone should see it. People have to start engaging Muslims instead of the typical head-in-the-sand response to Islam and the Quran.

MotherofQ said...

The violent reaction certainly exposes how Muslims can be, but why would we want to incite violence. What good does it do? We have been reading some of the Quaran at our church lately so that we can know what that Muslims believe, so that we can know how to witness to them about Jesus. That should be our goal--to tell them about Jesus, not offend them so they will totally turn a deaf ear to us.
Also, behavior like this is what makes Christians look TRULY like idiots, and makes NO ONE want anything to do with Jesus!

JesusTheOnlyWay said...

Are there versions of the Qur'an that are not violent as others are? I heard a muslim briefly on Sean Hannity explaining that there are versions that are not interpreted with the violence that some versions are supposedly. Is this true? Sorry I am not familiar with the Qur'an at all.

NickM said...

"Where one burns books, one will soon burn people."

--Heinrich Heine, 100 years before this sequence actually happened in Germany

http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/burnedbooks/

Centurion said...

One person burning a few Quorans is offensive yes, but certainly no more offensive than building a mosque at Ground Zero.

Whether you think this is a good idea or not (I don't)...it's open and it's honest. Not like building a mosque at Ground Zero and claiming it is in the name of peace and understanding.

The muslim reaction to this, nationwide and worldwide should be instructive as to just how peaceful this "religion of peace" really is...or isn't.

Anonymous said...

Burn the Qur'an day is a stupid and inflamatory act that will accomplish nothing.

We allready know how Muslims react when cartoons are published insulting Mohammed. Burning the Qur'an on Setember 11th will only endanger the lives of the Christian minority in Muslim countries.

Yes Islam is a violent religion that calls for the death of those that insult Islam and this has been made clear by recent events in Europe regarding the Mohammed cartoons.

Pastor Jones knows this yet he insists on going ahead with this foolish act.

Let me say this it is not the United States that will stop Islam it is the preaching of the Gospel.

The real way to burn the Qur'an is to preach Christ and him crucified.

Traeh said...

Two things need to be kept separate here: 1) The legal right to freedom of speech and expression, even if that expression is offensive, and 2) the wisdom (or lack thereof) of a particular act of expression.

We should defend the right of the pastor to burn his own Qur'ans as an act of expression. But I don't think one can well defend the pastor's proposed action as wise.

ned said...

Islamists are successful in triggering the backlash against the radical islam. They have now an opportunity to come out as the persecuted ones. Muslims have this cunning trick of ignoring what they do to the non muslims and focusing on what is being done to them, even if it is retaliation to their islamic agenda. At the same time, I do not agree with the physical backlash which in my opinion is against Teachings of Jesus. Our response in any circumstances should be based on what Jesus has commanded us to do. Strengthening ourselves in God is our real defense and offense against all antichrist ideologies. Our victory is not in sword but in God. At this time there is a separation between God and people and that is why ungodly ideologies are winning over west and US. Why do we have to focus on burning quran, same energy can be spent in going some better work for God. The questions we need to answer are that by burning quran will we be following the commands of Jesus and will Gove approve this action.

Centurion said...

Here's a link to James White's Blog. As usual, he is right on the money.

http://aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=4172

Van Grungy said...

Hey guys...

Pandora's box is open. Acceleration has started.

Stay cool.

Traeh said...

David and Nabeel (or anyone else who knows the answer):

There was something I didn't get in your excellent video on the Qur'an.

Around 4:10 and after in the video, we find out that the Qur'an of today is put together by Zaid ibn Thabit. We then hear that Muhammad's top teacher of the Qur'an was Masud. Then you ask,

"what did Muhammad's top teacher of the Qur'an say about today's Qur'an of ibn Thabit?"

Then you open a book and quote from someone named ibn Sa'd, who says Thabit's Qur'an (which is the Qur'an that survives to this day) is deceitful and doesn't go according to Muhammad's recitation.

And now comes the part I don't get. Nabeel, reading that quote from ibn Sa'd, says, more or less, "Wow, Muhammad's top teacher of the Qur'an says Thabit's Qur'an, today's Qur'an, is deceitful!" Here's my problem. I thought you said Masud was the top teacher. But now you seem to be saying ibn Sa'd is the top teacher.

What am I missing here? Is ibn Sa'd another name Masud goes by?

David Wood said...

Traeh,

We didn't make that clear enough. The source was Ibn Sad, but Ibn Masud (Muhammad's top teacher) was the speaker.

Hesed said...

Is there an article about the information shown in the Original Quran Burning video?

I'd like to share the info with others and with a muslim I happened to mention the quran we have is not the original and that there was multiple copies. He didn't believe me.

umar said...

you have given various references to ahadith in your video. now let me give you an overview of the history of compilation of a hadith. hadith were first compiled into a book form by Muhammad al Bukhari. who lived from 194 AH to 256AH. that means that the hadith were first time compiled around 200 years after the death of the holy prophet(PBUH)..

NOW even though Bukhari tried his best to take only those hadith which came from reliable sources HE IS BOUND TO MAKE MISTAKES.. the criteria set for marking a hadith as true was as such:

1 person delivering the hadith should be a good muslim
2 he should have a good reputation
3 the person should be truthful
4 the links(transferors)should be good muslims etc.

so according to such a criteria, even the false hadith can be included in his collections..

umar said...

(contd.)especially when a group called 'kharijites' was boasting that they have disseminated loads of false hadith in order to shake the very foundations of islam..

What i mean to say is that all hadith can not be reliable no matter whether they are from Bukhari or Muslim or Ibn e Majah..

On the other hand, Quran is 100% reliable as evident from the verse 2:2
'This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, WITHOUT DOUBT, to those who fear Allah.'

umar said...

quran was compiled into the book form around 3 yrs after the death of the holy prophet(PBUH) by the caliph Abu Bakr 'Siddiq' (RA) on the insistence of Umar 'Farooq'(RA). subsequently the task of compiling was given to zaid bin sabit(RA). he compiled it from various sources such as palm leaves, bones, wood, memories etc.

There was no problem of arrangement of verses as this task was already done by prophet(PBUH) under the guidance of angel Gabriel. And since there were many companions who had learnt the quran by heart, the verses compiled were given a confirmatory check by them before it was finally approved.

and as indicated in your video that ALL the companions forgot such and such verse, is totally unrealistic..

umar said...

And in the caliphate of Usman 'Ghani' (RA) when islam had spread to various parts of the world including those where arabic was not spoken, people were found reading the quran in different dialects that completely changed the meaning of the verses!

As a consequence uthman RA took the original copy passed to him by Abu Bakr RA and made further copies of it which were distributed throughout the empire. and all the scripts other than the authentic ones were burnt. as a result the authenticity of the quran was preserved thanks to this timely action of Uthman RA and other companions..

And if we still assume that quran sent by God has been tampered with by people then we are going against the following verse of the holy quran:

'We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).' 15:9

Note that this honor was not given to any other book before..

Traeh said...

David,
Thank you for the clarification. An outstanding video.

Umar, the people around Muhammad were not infallible and did not infallibly collect and preserve the Qur'an. They were human beings. Even if the Qur'an is inspired by God -- and I think the evidence goes against that -- the divine inspiration is mediated through imperfect human minds and bodies. So, Umar, you must use your judgment, reason, doubt, questioning, and inner sense of morality, when you read the Qur'an. You mustn't follow it like a mindless drone.

Anonymous said...

To umar:
a)on all 4 posts of your about how the hadiths are not true and what really happen(with out any evidence) is a modern-western adaptation of collecting the Quran.
I CHOOSE THE EVIDENCE.
b)"On the other hand, Quran is 100% reliable as evident from the verse 2:2
'This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, WITHOUT DOUBT, to those who fear Allah.'"
WHY SHOULD BELIEVE THIS ? and not the facts in HADHITS ??
plus IF Allah is the title for God in Arabic then I believe in Allah and I believe that the Injill is the WORD OF GOD and not the Quran.
c)Dr. Bilal Phillips CLEARLY teaches us not to associate atributes of Allah to men.
To say that the Quran was perfectly memorated and collected mean to associate atribute: INFAILABLE to men that collected Quran.
AND BILAL PHILIPS SAY: YOU ARE KUFFAR.

Paul.