September 9, 2010

Terry D. Jones
Dove World Outreach Center
5805 NW 37th St
Gainesville, FL 32653
Phone: 352-371-2487
Fax: 352-371-6511
Email: info@doveworld.org

Re: Burning the Qur’an on September 11, 2010

Dear Mr. Jones,

We are writing to implore you and your congregation to cancel your campaign against Islam. Do not burn copies of the Qur’an on September 11, 2010. As Americans, we support your right to free speech, your right to religious freedom, and your right to freely assemble and protest. As shepherds of inter-faith tolerance, we condemn your choice to pursue a destructive path rather than a peaceful one.

We agree that you cannot control how others will react to your actions. However, you can control your own intentions and behavior. What end goals do you hope to accomplish other than increased hatred and misunderstanding between Christians and Muslims, Americans and the rest of the world? What good can come of promoting intolerance among your followers or intentionally inciting violence? How are desecration and anger the tools of any religion that worships a loving God?

Your website states your desire to burn the Qur’an is motivated by religious differences – because the Qur’an counters beliefs you hold to be true, beliefs supported by the Bible. Does this mean you will continue to burn other texts that do not align with the Bible? Will you next burn copies of the Torah (a holy text for Judaism), or the Rig-Veda (a holy text for Hinduism), or the Tripitaka (a holy text for Buddhism), or the Book of Mormon (a holy text for Mormonism)?

Do you subscribe to the Old Testament or the King James Bible? Will you also burn the version of the Bible you do not follow? How far will you go to eradicate what you consider errant texts? This path of destruction is not sustainable. It is not meritorious. It is not righteous. How can it be Christian?

Do not cast a dark eye down upon those you fear. Cast your gaze upwards and set an example of goodness and light.

In good faith,

Jax and GG
The Pagan Princesses