As the eleventh of September nears again, some Christians have found a new way to celebrate. That's right kiddies, book burnings are back in fashion! Oft times I wonder what Christendom would do without something to burn. Heretics, crosses, and the books of infidels, pretty much anything that will hold a flame. Now, I've read the Bible a few times and all, but I don't recall the part about pyromania. Well, that is, unless you count hell. But that's more brimstone and less bonfire.
Pastor Terry Jones is steadfast in his resolve to have the biggest bonfire money can buy, despite condemnation from around the world. After some prayer, and probably some of those sanctified saltines they love so much, the Pastor said: "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam". The message is quite clear in fact; burning things is a great way to gain attention.
This little Florida congregation has gained quite a it of attention from this whole escapade. So much so that even the Vatican has shown concern over their plan. That's right, the Vatican. Let that sink in for a moment. The very same Vatican that has no problem with buggering little children, lying about the efficacy of condom usage, and selling Indulgences. Call me crazy if you like, but if the Vatican thinks your plan is a bad idea, maybe you should reevaluate it a tiny bit.
Now this isn't to say that mister Jones here is without his reasons for igniting more than a few Allah loving pages of holy script. He has his reasons. Ten of them actually. I'll save all of you lovely people a little time, and cut to the most hilariously ironic of them.
Two
The Koran does not have an eternal origin. It is not recorded in heaven. The Almighty God, Creator of the World, is NOT it's source. It is not holy. It's writings are human in origin, a concoction of old and new teachings. This has been stated and restated for centuries by scholars since Islam's beginnings, both Moslem and non-Moslem.
. . .
Six
Islamic Law is totalitarian in nature. There is no separation of church and state. It is irrational. It is supposedly immutable and cannot be changed. It must be accepted without criticism. It has many similarities to Nazism, Communism and Fascism. It is not compatible with Western Civilization.
Seven
Islam is not compatible with democracy and human rights. The notion of a moral individual capable of making decisions and taking responsibility for them does not exist in Islam. The attitude towards women in Islam as inferior possessions of men has led to countless cases of mistreatment and abuse for which Moslem men receive little or no punishment, and in many cases are encouraged to commit such acts, and are even praised for them. This is a direct fruit of the teachings of the Koran.
So, the holy teachings of Islam aren't recorded in heaven, but the holy teachings of Christendom are? The Qur'an(or Koran if you like) isn't the eternal word of god, but the King James Bible is? You'll have to forgive my incredulity here, but it seems to me that both books are the products of people. Very twisted and disturbed people, but people all the same. But, that whole thing aside, what proof is there that one should favor Jesus over Muhammad in the whole area of fantastic fairy tales? When you get right down to it, they're both just a rehashing of the same old myths.
Islam has many similarities with fascism, huh? Funny, I was just thinking that about Christianity. Number six here is just further proof for my hypothesis that Christians don't actually read their bibles. They just seem to fill a decorative role on the pews. So we're to believe that Islam is evil because it is totalitarian and doesn't have a separation between church and state? That's amusing, especially considering that Christians have a very hard time not pushing their beliefs into government. Be it the campaign against gay marriage or putting up the Ten Commandments in courthouses.
Historically speaking, Christianity, in the form of the Catholic Church, ruled much of Europe for centuries. They had total power over life and death. If they didn't like you, you can bet you'd have a date with a bonfire. There was no separation of church and state here. None. It was pure and unbridled Theocracy. They waged countless wars against unbelievers, infidels, heretics, and anyone that got in their way. The very notion of implementing a separation of church and state largely came from a little rebellious colony on the outskirts of the late 18th century British Empire. A colony that had the gall to utterly exclude god from its Constitution completely.
Number seven, much like six, is full of an undeserved sense of moral superiority. Talking down about the abuses of Muslim men against women, as if Christianity had never oppressed or abused women in its history. As far as women as possessions go, well let's see what the holy word of the King James Bible has to say about that, shall we?
Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Boy, that sure sounds like women are possessions in Christendom too. Strange, maybe it's just an isolated verse and Christians really are better than Muslims. Let's look a bit more, shall we?
Exodus 21:7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
Exodus 21:8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
I could continue, but I think the point is quite clear by now. Christianity is no better than any of the other Abrahamic faiths. None of them are religions of peace and most certainly, none of them hold any moral ground over the other. At their core is nothing more than teachings of irrational, fervent hatred for anyone that doesn't adhere to your particular creation myth.
The Pastor's plans for a bonfire show the kind of demonizing that goes with most religions. It's the type of irrational, bigoted action that is carried out in the grips of religious hysteria. Certainly, the Pastor is entitled to his freedom to speak as he sees fit, but that doesn't mean that sentiment of his actions is a good one. Especially considering the history that Islam and Christianity have. After all, the line between burning the books of infidels, and burning actual infidels is a thin one.
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