Pastor Passes on Petraeus's Plee

UPDATE: This post still has relevant opinions, but I feel obligated to acknowledge that Terry Jones did not follow through on his plan to burn the Qu'ran and promised never to do so in the future either. However, some I read some where that another idiot did in fact burn some pages from said holy book. I apologize for not having a link to that story, but I'm sure you can find it on Google. The original post follows:

A growing theme for this blog is identifying the frightful way our nation fosters a gather fascist storm. I this light, it is difficult deciding what to make of news that a Florida church led by pastor Terry Jones has plans to burn Qu'rans "in memory" of September 11, and that General Petreaus has condemned this event. You see, it is great to have a figure of authority, a military man no less, speak out against such an act of ignorance and hate, but this particular church will still proceed, and it shows such an utter lack of tolerance, and such a perversion of Christianity that one begins to lose all hope in anything.

I tend to be mistrustful of organized religion for precisely the reason that it is so easily co-opted and misused, but I recognized at the heart of Christian doctrine teachings that have intrinsic value. But this only makes it that much more frustrating to see the evil perpetrated in this country by so-called Christian leaders.

To put it unoriginally, we are living in a difficult time and difficult situation (as if that status was any different from all of human history). Decent people derive something of value from Islam and if it provides what they need to cope with the world, feeds a spiritual inclination, then it is worth protecting. Yet the struggle remains because most of the other dominant religions are able to co-exist with secular governments, while Islam is more geared towards theocracy.

This is not a religious blog, and I am a strong proponent for keeping religion out of politics at all turns, but we find ourselves in an era when our leaders have sought to instigate a Christian vs. Muslim struggle, and in so doing, send our civilization back to the Dark Ages. And so I am inclined to comment on religious matters in a political context. I may have certain sympathies with one religion or another, but I promote none and discourage none. Instead, what I have to say is that Christianity is supposed to be based on the teachings of Christ, and having encountered those teachings in my formal education, I can say that one of his primary concerns was tolerance and love for all. Love thy neighbor, love thy enemy. Ergo, you cannot be a proselytizer of Christainity and preach hatred of other religions and people. I also believe in free speech, and would not ask to prevent Terry Jones from speaking his mind or even from burning whatever books he chooses. But he cannot do so in the name of Jesus. To do so makes him a hypocrite, a deceiver, a manipulative war-monger, and a messenger of hate.