Burning Bibles
It is often said that the opposite of llove is not hate, but indifference. I am just wondering if someone chose to burn Bibles in my neighborhood, or State, or Country how I would react. Somehow I can’t see whipping my friends into a frenzy and setting out to promote “death to Bible burners.”
In fact, I am not sure I wouldn’t rather talk to someone who believes he needs to burn the Bible (burner), than someone who is so unconcerned about the Bible that he is unsure where to find one (indifferent). At least the burner “feels” there is something about the Bible that threatens or damages his well-being. Surely it is at that point of conviction that one could insert the claims of God’s Word with the intervention of God’s Spirit as the arbiter of Truth.
That is why I am always surprised by news like the following –
On Monday about 200 men gathered near a mosque in Kabul to protest against the planned torching, [Florida Church plans to burn Koran on September 11] shouting “Death to America” and “Long live Islam” for about an hour after their midday prayers, witnesses said. (AFP News, Kabul)
It would seem that those folks (and a multitude of others around the World) would disagree with me. Yet – is Islam not the “religion of peace?” Have they forgotten the words and actions of their founder –
The Prophet taught the people to love Allah and to love human beings. He taught them to love even their oppressors. It is known from the hadith that the Prophet used to pray for the good of his Ummah with tears, every day after each of the five obligatory prayers. Even at the time of his death the Prophet wept for his Ummah. And according to Islam all human beings from his time to the last day of the world are the Ummah of Hadrat Muhammad.salli Allahu `alayhi wa sallam The Qur’an declares (2:213): “Mankind is one single nation.” The Holy Prophet’s life was a symbol of love and nonviolence. He was the first among all to protect others’ rights. (Peace is the Basic Spirit in Islam, by Giasuddin Ahmed, February 1996, As-Salamu `Alaykum)
Now I’m confused. . .