Notoriety given Koran-burning pastor misplaced

[FSogol]

Friday, September 10, 2010

For the past few weeks, the media have treated us to live theater of the absurd: The Rev. Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., proposed to burn Korans on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, before backing down Thursday.

Mr. Jones's church has fewer than 50 members. He belongs to no denomination, has held no regional or national office for any church organization and has never held an academic position at a seminary or Bible college. His only book is self-published.

Yet, because of a single posting on Facebook, he is treated as a major spokesman and representative of the Christian faith by every news organization on the planet. Heads of state, military commanders, diplomats and even the Vatican have responded to a man whose credibility is no more than that of a person walking the street with a sign saying "Repent: The world is coming to an end." On second thought, the world of credible sourcing and journalism standards has come to an end.

The Rev. Earl D. Trent Jr., Washington
The writer is pastor of Florida Avenue Baptist Church

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/09/AR2010090906498.html

[SomeGuynTexas]

1. Sounds like a familar story about a carpenter...

"Mr. Jones's church has fewer than 50 members. He belongs to no denomination, has held no regional or national office for any church organization and has never held an academic position at a seminary or Bible college. His only book is self-published."

Many years ago there was a carpenter with those same qualifications.

[katsy]

4. Are you comparing the pastor to jesus?

Really? His story inspires a comparison to you?

:wtf:

[COLGATE4]

5. Tell me you're joking! (PLEASE !!!!!!!)

Certainly Pastor Jones is clearly demonstrating those same qualities - love thy neighbor as thyself - as Jesus of Galilee. I don't know how we could have missed the similarity.:dunce:

[FSogol]

6. A carpenter who used his tax exempt status to grift his "followers" and promoted

hate? I don't see the similarities.

[BootinUp]

10. zing!

[yellowcanine]

7. Except that carpenter wasn't running around burning holy books of other religions.

And the only people he even spoke harshly about or got rough with were hypocrites and greedy money changers. He also said to love your enemies, not burn their holy books. The comparison is weak indeed.

[saltpoint]

2. Rev. Jones may just be trying to get his name out there

so he'll become the logical choice to replace Larry King.

God, would that be a lousy hour of television.

[yellowcanine]

8. Ya think? Don't know about Larry King but he clearly wants his 15 minutes and we have all

willingly enabled him in his outrageous behavior.

[saltpoint]

9. He was outflanked at just about every turn so far.

On one hand he got all kinds of publicity.

On the other, he's also in way, way, way over his head.

Now he is blaming the New York City imam for "lying" to him and may have to backtrack on his public hatred in burning the texts.

There's also a major creep factor in play here. A huge majority of self-identified Christians will never want anything to do with Rev. Terry Jones. Having now heard of him loud and clear, I think most people who consider themselves Christian are appalled by his ignorance and bigotry and egomania.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Ironic.