tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721270362873334495.post2626855567623177108..comments2023-06-17T02:29:12.629-07:00Comments on DEREK MAUL: When is a preacher a "nincompoop"? When he burns the Koran....Derek Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758330108721667313noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721270362873334495.post-47261878800418430942010-09-11T04:59:36.349-07:002010-09-11T04:59:36.349-07:00I'm not aware of anyone - liberal, conservativ...I'm not aware of anyone - liberal, conservative, progressive, reactionary... - who fails to understand the pastor's right to free speech. And the abuse of freedom under Islam is - as you say - well documented. The problem is the effect of such behavior (irrespective of if the Quran actually gets burned) both in steering the conversation away from reasoned dialog... and perpetuating a false picture regarding what it means to follow Jesus. Jones' behavior misrepresents the Gospel, abuses the privilege of free speech, and effectively blinds people to very evils he purposes to expose!Derek Maulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17758330108721667313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721270362873334495.post-20442009431439618862010-09-11T02:22:52.344-07:002010-09-11T02:22:52.344-07:00Derek, I agree with your thrust about the pastor&#...Derek, I agree with your thrust about the pastor's actions. However, let me play the devil's advocate with you (as I sometimes do.) First of all, I still believe the world (and the Christian world included) needs to open its eyes as to the reality of Islam in relation to Christianity. You are aware as the information is plentiful, that the Bible can not be burned in Saudi Arabia, for example, because possession of the Bible is highly illegal and is destroyed upon discovery and the possessor stands a good chance of meeting his end prematurely. And anyone who names the name of Jesus is taking the path of martyrdom in the real sense of that word. Elsewhere, any Christian work, often purely humanitarian, in the name of Christ is muzzled and His followers generally risk economic, social and even bodily threat. (Anyone wishing accurate information about the Islamic situation can go to the Open Doors web site and get the real scoop.) So in the name of balance, do an article on what our brothers and sisters in Christ endure in the Moslem world. <br />Secondly, the inherent tension in Western liberalism (broader than political) is apparent. One advocates freedom of speech and behavior in the name of liberty yet it is a selective one. The pastor of a tiny church has been assailed by even the president of the nation for...voicing his belief. (The only consistent one is Mayor Bloomberg who says the pastor has the right to do this.) Not that I agree with the action of the pastor for the same reason as you but it is interesting watching the rest of the supporting actors of this very interesting and revealing theater.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05616239528005522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721270362873334495.post-63802970953902276872010-09-09T13:24:03.731-07:002010-09-09T13:24:03.731-07:00Well, Derek, it's hard to know what to say in ...Well, Derek, it's hard to know what to say in the face of such off the wall actions ... OK, proposed actions. Surely the Burning Pastor must remember the most notorious bibliographic firebug. Surely, he must recognize that he has done enough damage already so that when missionaries are beaten and lives are lost thanks to the incitement his announced intentions have already generated ... he can give up his fiery proposal and disclaim responsibility for the consequences of what he has already done.<br />CharlesCharleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01085132183562891425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721270362873334495.post-36037768963660145362010-09-09T07:47:26.973-07:002010-09-09T07:47:26.973-07:00Well put. You are right: the plan deserves to be ...Well put. You are right: the plan deserves to be ignored, but with this media firestorm, we simply cannot. I encourage you to publish this piece through other outlets.<br /><br />John Ragsdale<br />Presbytery of St. AugustineJohn Ragsdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825645738533897375noreply@blogger.com