What did Terry Jones burn? (Part 1)

[Note from Kathie Malley-Morrison: Today we welcome another contribution by our guest author, Dr. Majed Ashy.]

Book burning illustration
Book Burning by Hartmann Schedel, 1440-1514. Image in public domain; from Wikimedia Commons

Jones burned a book that requires every Muslim to believe, as part of the Islamic faith, that Jesus was the messenger of God and the Messiah, born to Mary as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event that occurred by the decree of God. Muslims also learn that Jesus spoke while he was only a baby, restored sight to the blind, healed lepers, revived the dead, was resurrected and raised, and will return to earth near the day of judgment to bring justice and defeat the Antichrist.

Jones burned a book that says the following about the Old and New Testaments:  “He has sent down to thee the Book containing the truth and fulfilling that which precedes it; and He has sent down the Torah (Law of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guidance to the people”—Qur’an, passage 3:3-4

Jones burned a book that says: “When the angels said, ‘O Mary, God gives thee glad tidings of a son through a word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honored in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God… She said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son, when no man has touched me? He said, ‘Such is the way of God. He creates what He pleases.”—Qur’an, passage 3:38-48

Jesus teaches us: “There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven.” (TLB, Matthew 5:43-48).

It is better to talk to each other and learn than to set the books to burn.

Majed Ashy, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Merrimack College and research fellow in psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School