Ethical values in Religious & Modern America?

They do not represent "America" (thank goodness!). They represent themselves.

US religious leaders denounce 'anti-Muslim frenzy'
Simon Mann, Washington
September 9, 2010/the AGE

Terry Jones plans to burn copies of the Koran to mark the September 11 attacks. Photo: AP

AMERICAN religious leaders have condemned the plans of a small evangelical Christian church in Florida to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday's ninth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.

The leaders also denounced what they said was a gathering ''anti-Muslim frenzy'' in America, describing recent protests against the building of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York as the result of ''misinformation and outright bigotry'' against American Muslims.

The interfaith group of evangelical, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders meeting in Washington condemned the call by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville to burn copies of the Muslim holy book to ''expose Islam'' as a ''violent and oppressive religion''.
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The leaders said the plan was a violation of American values.

''This is not the America that we all have grown to love and care about,'' said Rabbi Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. ''We have to stand up for our Muslim brothers and sisters and say, 'This is not OK'.''

Pastor Jones's plans were also condemned by the White House and by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who described them as a disrespectful and disgraceful act. The US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, warned earlier that the act would endanger the lives of US troops overseas, claims supported by White House press spokesman Robert Gibbs: ''Obviously any type of activity like that, that puts our troops in harm's way, would be a concern to this administration.''

The 58-year-old preacher, whose congregation numbers about 30, said he and church members planned to burn about 200 copies of the Koran to send a message to al-Qaeda, the group that carried out the terror attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon that killed almost 3000 people.

''That led us to 'International Burn a Koran Day' to honour those who were murdered at that time,'' said Pastor Jones. ''And to put a real clear message out to Islam that we will not tolerate, we do not want them trying to push their agenda on us, in other words, Sharia law.''

Later, he qualified his remarks, saying they were not directed towards moderate Muslims. ''We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia.''

Pastor Jones was dismissed as a fringe figure by locals who regretted his growing worldwide notoriety. ''He represents only 30 people in this town,'' said Larry Reimer, one local pastor trying to counter Pastor Jones's message. ''It needs to get out somehow to the rest of the world that this isn't the face of Christianity.''

Pastor Jones has previously called for a ban on new mosques being built in America and a stop to the immigration of Muslims. He has also campaigned against a local mayor who is gay, erecting signs in the church grounds that read: ''No homo mayor at city hall.''

The pastor has said that church members carry guns because of threats the church has received.

The Dove World Outreach Centre is not linked to any particular denomination, but follows a Pentecostal tradition.

While the tiny church's actions are testing the bounds of religious tolerance, authorities are powerless to stop the protest because the first amendment of the US constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

Fire officials are believed to have denied the church a fire permit for Saturday.

The planned burning has triggered emotions across the world, fuelling protests in Muslim nations and calls for restraint from Christians.

The Vatican newspaper yesterday published an article in which Catholic bishops criticised Pastor Jones's plan. ''No one should burn the Koran,'' Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said in a commentary.

The leaders meeting in Washington said they were appalled at ''such disrespect for a sacred text that for centuries has shaped many of the great cultures of our world''.

Pastor Jones has resisted calls to abandon his protest, although yesterday evening he indicated he might be willing to reconsider.

With AGENCIES

There are many American Christians (I'm searching for current statistics) who believe that radical elements of Islam are representative of the faith. But they feel justified in stating that radical elements of Christianity don't represent them or their faith.

I understand that the instigators of this Koran burning event are in fact a tiny "church", or religious group. With something like 50 members.
There has been widespread public condemnation of this intended book burning by prominent religious & political leaders in the US. If you had been following the news at all recently you would have been aware of this.
I think it's inappropriate for you to be lecturing the whole of "America" about the wrongness of this planned action by a handful of extremists. They do not represent "America" (thank goodness!). They represent themselves.

''That led us to 'International Burn a Koran Day' to honour those who were murdered at that time,'' said Pastor Jones. ''And to put a real clear message out to Islam that we will not tolerate, we do not want them trying to push their agenda on us, in other words, Sharia law.''

Later, he qualified his remarks, saying they were not directed towards moderate Muslims. ''We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia.''

Yes, I definitely would be, Irishk. Thanks.

(Now I'll just have to figure out how to access it. )

First there is a sustained opposition to a Mosque - to be build near WTC land - a distance of couple of hundred meters away, now we get a church leader who wants to burn a holy book.

Should the first amendment need a serious relook?

How will America cope with such situations primarily motivated by religious sentimentsand conservative values.

Also, a political issue that springs is whether inter religious competition, and intra faith community centres and churchs competiting to get attention? Is it direct marketing?

First there is a sustained opposition to a Mosque - to be build near WTC land - a distance of couple of hundred meters away, now we get a church leader who wants to burn a holy book.

Should the first amendment need a serious relook? How will America cope with such situations primarily motivated by religious sentimentsand conservative values. I think, two freedoms are being challenged 1) the freedom for practising own religion, and 2) the freedom of speech and expression.

Also, a political issue that springs is whether inter religious competition, and intra faith community centres and churchs competiting to get attention? Is it direct marketing?

Please let us see it from a moral angle, and discuss the ethics of such political and religious posturing.

But are you serious, in the last part of your comments when you ask whether it is political or not. It is deeply political, thomas. Burning of a 'Holy' Book is deeply deeply political. Thanks.

I understand that the instigators of this Koran burning event are in fact a tiny "church", or religious group. With something like 50 members.
There has been widespread public condemnation of this intended book burning by prominent religious & political leaders in the US. If you had been following the news at all recently you would have been aware of this.
I think it's inappropriate for you to be lecturing the whole of "America" about the wrongness of this planned action by a handful of extremists. They do not represent "America" (thank goodness!). They represent themselves.