Post #6 – The Burning Question

Okay, so a church in Gainesville, FL wants to burn the holy book from another religion and has started a firestorm (pun intended and no apologies) of controversy that’s gone as high as the White House. Leaders both political and religious worldwide have condemned the plan, and some have promised retaliatory actions against Americans and American troops. Not bad for a tiny church of less than 100 members.

The pastor of the church continues to say that they believe that God has told them to do this, and that their message can be pinpointed to a very select few from a global religion that reveres the book to be burned. I don’t know why we’re even trying to talk to him. Religious fervor never listens to reason. It never has no matter what religion is being discussed, or what wisdom is being imparted.

Why are we trying to reason with him? In the slim hope that at some point before the bonfire, he’ll understand that the message he’s sending from a church dedicated to “love” is all about “hate.” Also, so the rest of the world will know that in our country, individuals are allowed to express themselves in peaceful ways, don’t need their country’s permission, and that the elected officials do not stand behind that expression. America is truly free.

One thing that I read today on CNN.com is worth noting. The municipality where this church resides did not issue a burn permit for the bonfire. I don’t know the reasons for it, but the fact stands. If they persist in the book burning, they will be breaking the ordinance and can be stopped. Unfortunately, the law can’t act until the law is broken, so they must wait until the bonfire takes place. I anticipate that the church will claim religious persecution, but with the total record of facts being in the public eye, I don’t think that will earn them any points, if they decide to raise it.

Saturday will certainly be an interesting day.


9/9/10 5:10pm  UPDATE
CNN just reported that the leader of this church has cancelled the event.  Everyone from the Pope on down (including the head of Interpol and several more political world leaders) had issued statements repudiating the event.  Maybe that had an impact.  Who knows?