Andrew Tallman Show Topics: Wacky Wednesday--Churches Should Have Quran-Burnings

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~We have an example for us set in the Bible of burning evil books.
~People need to know that Islam is not just another harmless religion.
~The problem with most people is they don’t take their own positions seriously. If you believe Islam is a false religion, why not do this to emphasize the point?
~This is the most vivid way to show that Islam is not something we can coexist with.
~It would be a great opportunity to burn all sorts of evil material.
~We must not be afraid of provoking an outcry. The Bible is full of people doing what’s right regardless of the consequences
~If it does incite a violent response, that will only further prove what is so different between us and them.
~If Islam is leading people to hell, what better way to symbolize that than by showing the Quran in flames?
~How is the world worse off with less Qurans?
~If you supported the Danish Mohammed cartoons, why not this?

Response:
1. The National Association of Evangelicals has denounced this. "The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," it said in the statement.
2. You should also know about this group that they seem to hang out with the Westboro Baptist cult people, you know the ones who say GI's being killed is God's punishment for allowing homosexuality? That should tell you all you need to know about their credibility. They actually sell coffee mugs and T-shirts in their gift shop with the message "Islam is of the Devil" on them.
3. Only those with the weakest ideas (fascists, communists, etc.) have historically felt the need to censor viewpoints they want to suppress. When you burn books, you display weakness and fear rather than confidence and strength.
4. The book-burning in Acts 19 was by the people who had previously been into sorcery and they burned their own books. That's completely different from going out and buying someone else's books and burning them as a way of declaring your opposition to them.
5. Practical objection: How do you acquire thebooks? Are you giving someone money for them?
6. Evangelisma broad. How does it make Christianity look to Muslims? If you wanted to design a behavior which is perfectly offensive to Muslims, you could hardly invent a better one. If Muslims are your target evangelism group, would you ever consider this strategy? Of course not.
7. Evangelism at home. How does it make Christianslook to this culture? What is the popular association with book burning? Nazis. Who do the most radical anti-Christians say we are? Nazis. Who do more moderate anti-Christians or non-Christians at least fear we are? Nazis. So, it would seem like a tremendously incompetent cultural read to deliberately behave like Nazis in burning books.
8. Foreign policy. If there is video of this on the Internet, I guarantee it will be on Al Jezeera and in numerous Al Queda recruiting films. The biggest problem with the Islamic world is convincing them that we aren't against Islam, just that small slice of the most radical elements who call themselves Muslims. Burning the holy book of all of them is a fantastic way to give the radicals leverage with the moderates, thereby doing exactly what the radicals want. You really couldn't invent a worse foreign policy act than this.
9. "But this is how they treat us in Muslim countries." Yes. And how better to demonstrate how different we are than by not doing what they do?
10. Most of all, it's cowardly. Where are you going to burn these Qurans? In Florida and probably with police protection? Oooh, you're very brave. You want to impress me? Go to Riyadh and try this. If you're really convinced God wants you to burn Qurans to denounce false religion and prove the truth of Christianity, take your show to the Middle East and try it there. At least Elijah actually put his life on the line in confronting the prophets of Baal.
11. Romans 12:14-21 is abundantly clear.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.