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
6 comments
GG says:
Sep 10, 2010
We emailed this to the Dove World Outreach Center yesterday.
It looks like this situation *may* resolve peacefully, http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/09/129757882/quran-burning-cancelled-preacher.
Eliseo Linnear says:
Sep 16, 2010
Any success starts along with the decision to try
GG says:
Sep 16, 2010
Welcome to the site, Eliseo! And thanks for your comment.
We are glad that Terry Jones did not host a mass Qur’an burning ceremony. And saddened that someone protesting at Ground Zero took up that mantle, http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/11/protester-burns-koran-pages-at-ground-zero-mosque-protest/.
This protester lost his job as a result of his actions: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/14/2010-09-14_koran_burner_derek_fenton_fired_from_his_job_at_nj_transit.html. His agency said he violated their code of ethics by burning the Qur’an.
chun li costume says:
Sep 29, 2010
I follow your web site for quite a extended time and need tell that your articles always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.
GG says:
Apr 1, 2011
I’m so disappointed. Terry Jones promised he would not burn the Qur’an after this controversy garnered public attention last fall. Early last week, he broke that promise:
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2011/03/21/pastor-terry-jones-oversees-quran-burning-in-florida-church/
And incited violence in Afghanistan:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/01/afghanistan-united-nations-killings
Granted, Jones and his followers cannot be blamed for the violence, but they must accept responsibility for their role in contributing to International religious tensions.
WRT 301 | Ben's Blog says:
May 6, 2011
[…] +Michael Moore’s Open Letter to President Obama On Healthcare +Pagan Princess Blog’s Open Letter to Terry Jones about Qur’an Burning +Letter to Chancellor Cantor from Foundation for Individual Rights and Education +Letters to Obama […]