Whether books are sacred or sinful, burning them has yet to rid society of their contents.
The more the flames go up, the more the content has historically endured through the ages.
Still, a Florida ministry plans to burn the Quran to mark the upcoming Sept. 11 anniversary.
Jewish, Christian and interfaith organizations have denounced it, as they should.
Can you imagine the outcry if a mosque here in the U.S. announced it was going to exercise its constitutional right to free expression and burn the Bible or Torah?
Probably and hopefully, after the burning at this church, little will be remembered of the event.
Still, it’s an important reminder for society, especially the religious community, to work for civil, decent friendships outside their circles and create environments where disagreement and mutual respect can work hand in hand.
As Sept.11 approaches, here’s a better idea to mark that day.
If a non-Muslim disagrees with Islam, why not invite Muslims over to talk about it and present the ideas of your faith group?
Different religious groups disagree a lot about all kinds of topics. Groups within the same faith groups disagree a lot. People in the same pew disagree a lot despite reading and revering the same sacred texts.
The reality is that such constructive conversations take place probably daily if not weekly — by neighbors, business owners and religiously diverse people who don’t agree on much but do agree on civility and the marketplace of ideas.
But the reality is also that interfaith groups and events, while well-intended, often struggle to get many people interested.
Often, it’s only after a 9-11 event, that those groups gain any traction.
Makes a lot more sense than burning the Quran.