I’d be really annoyed. Not because copies of the BoM themselves are too holy to be burned but because it is a completely scummy/weasely thing to do.

I’d think they were idiots; I’d be annoyed that they were doing something that was obviously meant to provoke me and my church. And I’d be annoyed by their ignorance. But the actual act would be meaningless. In other words, they could have the same effect on me if they announced that they were protesting my religion by pouring melted crayons into empty Coke bottles. Meaningless.

@Jota G: I’m pretty sure that certain contingents of “California Mormons” and “French Mormons” would also be upset. And let’s not forget those certain contingents of “Isles of the Sea Mormons.”

I can sorta see both sides to it–why is it protected speech to burn the American flag, but nearly a capital offense (to read some commentators) to burn the Koran? Shouldn’t they both be protected speech? Or is burning the American flag protected because it is just a political expression, while burning the Koran is also a religious expression?

On the other hand, what is the point? All it does is prove you are a mean-spirited, petty man. Aren’t Christians supposed to be bigger than that? Actions like this guy are just another point where the US gives up the moral high ground to thugs who have hijacked their religion.

Meh.That’s pretty much all I would think.

I’d be somewhat offended if someone decided to do a Book of Mormon burning, but it would probably be a good thing. Americans in general wouldn’t accept that, there would be people speaking out on our behalf, and that could only help the church’s image.

Kari, if only they made more money on each copy, aren’t they dirt cheap?

A more apt comparison (to the Koran-burning controversy) would be burning temple clothing or garments – something we Mormons have a much stronger sense of reverence for. If people were talking about desecrating the temple, or temple clothes, I think Mormons would be pretty offended.

I’m not offended by anyone burning any symbol or “thing” associated with my religion or my country. Burn away! I assume that by doing such an act they are expressing some extreme frustration or annoyance with my church or country and I’m happy to allow them the freedom to express their feelings. Maybe it will even start a productive dialogue. If I get upset or offended and start hating back, I’m just part of the problem.

I’m basically going to “me too” to #1.

anti-Mormons did with temple garments during conference a few years ago.

I would be so offended I would issue a call for the BoM-burners to be killed, including descriptions of the glory that awaits the killers.

Oh, wait. No I wouldn’t. This is yet another reason why I wouldn’t make a very good extreme Islamist cleric.

On the other hand, the fact that I think this burning of the Qu’ran is an inconceivably stupid stunt is yet another reason why I wouldn’t make a very good podunk, nominally-Christian pastor.

The best way to get people interested in something is to “ban” it. A Naziesque Book of Mormon book burning might be the best thing for missionary work.

The book itself isn’t sacred, the principles and concepts therein are. They can burn the pages, but they can’t extinguish the ideas.

I think the only thing I would be upset if the BOMs being burned weren’t purchased by the people during burning and were just cases that had been sent to them from the Church (thus paid for by my tithing). But then again, by ordering the books from the Church they will forever be in the missionaries’ area books and therefore subject to having their door knocked by the elders more than the average door. That might be justice enough.

Oops, that was Andres Serrano who received taxpayer dollars from the NEA to create/display a desecrated a crucifix as “art” back in 1987, not Mapplethorpe.

I wonder if those who are denouncing the hillbilly pastor, if they’re old enough, also denounced Serrano.

Is there a reason why we’re not afraid of bands of murderous Catholics seeking revenge for the desecration of their religious icon, but we are afraid of Muslims in this matter? Yes, there is a reason or two.

For the record, I disagree with this pastor making a public burning of the Quran. I’m using my right of freedom of speech to say “I don’t think he should do that.” And I would also like to ask people to step back and see the bigger picture (in both historical context and current context) of what’s going on: Insult the Christians all you want, but don’t mess with the Muslims.

I’m not calling for any disrespect or maltreatment of Muslims. I’m calling for a dose of similar respect towards Christians.

I’m also trying to point out the disgusting hypocrisy of the progressives who have for decades told Christians to suck it up and take the insults, yet who have called for pandering to the apologists for violent radical Muslim jihadis and other terrorists.

It’s like Orwell’s 1984. Some groups are more equal than others.

And I believe that eventually it’s going to be like Neville Chamberlain and Hitler: Appeasement of those bent on evil doesn’t work.

If we can tolerate Bookslinger…what can we not really tolerate. More nutters the better.

#22 Ben- I’m holding a seminar next weekend on how to be a successful podunk, backwoods, nominally-Christian preacher. You should attend.

Please forgive me, but aren’t new copies of the BoM supposedly “flame proof” (local rumor heard in the Midwest)? If so, I’d love to see to what extent people would go to try to get them to burn. If not, no I would not be offended. I would however be interested to know if any of the book burners read more than just the front cover.

Back in the 90s (I think) I heard that Marilyn Manson, who was at the time performing as the opening act for Nine Inch Nails, had torn apart a copy of the Book of Mormon while onstage. I didn’t see this happen – but I was told by the proprietor of a used cd store that this was the reason why there were so many used NIN compact discs available. I guess some Utahns had decided, as a reponse to this act, to purge their personal music collections.

For some perspective on the idea of burning books of scripture a quick google search reveals that burning bibles and other Christian religious materials is a pretty common occurance in Muslim countries. For example the Saudi Government regularly seizes and burns the bibles of its Christian workers. You can easily find other examples in Pakistan, Gaza etc.

This does not excuse the idiot in Florida but it does offer some real world perspective on this topic. Thank goodness for the 1st Amendment!

My understanding is that the true Koran only exists in Arabic, and a translation has the sort of relation to it that a snapshot of a sculpture has to a sculpture. So I hope the Koran burners won’t offend Muslims by piling translations to be burnt, but will only use original Arabic printings for their infidel blasphemy.

Let’s be perfectly honest: if an active Mormon burnt a Book of Mormon, it wouldn’t even make her a bad Mormon.

For my part, I object to the very notion that it even matters whether anyone burns books, provided that they own them and they’re complying with local ordinances concerning controlled fires. Grow up, people. It’s just paper and ink. They can always print more.

Back before the printing press allowed books to be mass produced, books were expensive and rare, and book burning was an awful thing. Nowadays, it’s a stupid and utterly futile gesture — like the Delta House’s disruption of the town parade, only without the laughs.

The worst thing about book burnings is that they’re no fun — There’s nothing more boring than a book burning, and anyone who’s is genuinely offended that someone’s setting fire to any mass-produced book of any language or of any content is a retard.

exactly!

I just heard on the news that the minister is neeting with the Imam–is that the right term? Gives me hope.

One huge problem is the tit-for-tat mindset differences. If somebody in Iraq burns the flag, we might consider burning theirs. But if this guy burns the Koran, people are going to die. Muslims are crazy that way.

I’m pretty sure that if a Baptist minister announced burning the Book of Mormon, at least here in Cedar City, he’d be mostly ignored. Which is what needs to happen in this case.

Maybe the difference is that Americans (going back to Koran burning) are pretty secure, as a people and while offended, would just blow off somebody burning the flag. Well, we do, all the time. But many Muslim peoples have fragile egos and an insult is taken as a death blow instead iof a completely meaningles gesture.

DKL is way off base with his comment.

How dare you say Delta House’s actions were futile?

As long as they aren’t burning my Blackberry’s copy, I’m on board. :)

IMHO, anyone starting fires to prove a point has some issues to deal with. (Not that I didn’t consider burning every shred of my husband’s belongings a few years back when we went through a rough patch, but that was a completely different point I was considering making.) I guess if you decide to burn a BOM because of some great hurt it’s caused you and it makes you feel better, knock yourself out!

Wasn’t it once common practice among church members to burn garment markings???

I have previously opined that if anti-prop-8 demonstrators ever came and protested at our ward on a cold day, our Relief Society sisters would serve them cookies and hot chocolate. (We have some professional bakers, caterers, and cake decorators in the two wards that occupy our chapel.)

And ditto on the Gov. Boggs remark. African Americans and Jews would probably agree, that while book burning isn’t nice, it’s nothing more than foot-stomping and hanky-waving compared to real persecution.