Muslim Community Speaks Out

WTLV-12 ^ | 06/14/02 | WTLV-12

[tutstar]

JACKSONVILLE, FL - After maintaining silence for several days the local Muslim community is finally speaking out about the controversy created by Reverend Jerry Vines earlier in the week at the Southern Baptist Convention.

Islamic Center President Shakur Bolden addressed the public Friday in an attempt to undo the damage done to the Muslim community. Bolden began by asking his followers "How can one be demon possessed and tell us to live in peace and harmony? Is that a demon possessed person?"

The questions he asked stemmed from the comments made by Reverend Jerry Vines. Said Vines, "Islam was founded by Mohammed, a demon-possessed pedophile who had 12 wives and his last one was a 9 year old girl."

In his sermon before a packed mosque, Bolden took special aim not so much at the words Vines used by Vines but at the ignorance that fueled them. He chastised Vines for speaking about a culture he knows little of and perhaps for knowing even less of his own.

Said Bolden, "If we were even to read the history of our country, the United States of America, we would find that up to a hundred years ago, marriage was legal at the age of ten."

In addition to addressing followers of the Muslim faith on Friday, a full page ad will run in the Florida Times Union on Saturday and will feature a letter from Bolden to the Reverend Vines. The letter talks about how offensive Vines' language was to all Muslims and asks him to clear the air by meeting with Bolden.

Muslims say that they are concerned about the damage that could be done from the comments that the Reverend made. Tahirah Abdullah said, "I wish he had been a little bit more sensitive in the words that he used. I think pedophile is a strong word. I don't know why he did that but I hope he learns." Hafez Assali added, "We hope everyone understands to respect to one another and not to rush to a quick judgment."

In the meantime, Reverend Jerry Vines is preparing to speak to his congregation for the first time since he made the controversial comments, this Sunday. You can watch Vines' sermon live Sunday at 10:30am on WTLV12.

[Map Kernow]

but to call Mohammed a demon possessed pedophile is a subjective comment, incendiary, and achieves no useful purpose

Certainly no political purpose, but a religious purpose? Absolutely. This was a religious conference, and Reverend Vines was contrasting Jesus and Mohammed. Mohammed spoke of himself in the Hadith traditions as "demon possessed," and the speculation is that he had epilepsy. He also married girls at an age that would have him prosecuted for statutory rape in the United States. Reverend Vines should not be excoriated for defending his religion, or pointing out facts garnered from Muslim religious tradition.

[Torie]

There is some issue as to whether the marriage was physically consummated. I don't really want to get dragged into the details. I stand by my comment. The comments were execrable, and served no useful purpose.

[xm177e2]

The questions he asked stemmed from the comments made by Reverend Jerry Vines. Said Vines, "Islam was founded by Mohammed, a demon-possessed pedophile who had 12 wives and his last one was a 9 year old girl."

Once again, I ask anyone to dispute the facts I've emboldened (demons are not something that can be factually proven or disproven, so I'll leave that out)

[xm177e2]

The question is whether Ayesha was six or nine at the time of her marriage. But both accounts say he waited until she was nine to consumate the marriage. There is no controversy over when he molested her, just when he married her.

[Torie]

I don't have much patience for religious leaders that "defend" their religion by bashing another. It seems oppotunistic to me. I want no part of it. If one wants to comment on the merits of Islam's current moral world view as it affects the public square, that is fair comment. Bashing the founder for what happened, or did not happen, long ago, is not. Heck, non believers could start bashing Christ on some matters in theory.

[Kermit]

Mohammed himself said he was demon-possessed. He changed his mind on what should be in the Koran, blamed the devil for possessing him, when he said those verses, now called the Satanic Verses. More Here.

[concerned about politics]

"Ergun Caner observed an element of hypocrisy in the quest to portray Islam as a peaceful religion: “A so-called Christian who bombs an abortion clinic or shoots an abortionist and says God told him to do it does that act against the Bible,” he said. “But the Muslim who commits acts of violence in jihad does so with the approval of Muhammad. … When September 11 happened, we were all shocked. But where was the international outrage when jihad killed three million people (Christian people, I might add) in Sudan?”

This Baptist man is right. God bless him and his church.

[Torie]

But both accounts say he waited until she was nine to consumate the marriage.

That is not what I heard. I don't think the texts reveal when he consummated the marriage, if ever. But maybe what I heard is wrong. My comment above remains applicable however in my view.

[willyone]

Tough shit. They have no problem calling for the death of Jews and Christians. You need to get a clue about what we are up against.

[Torie]

Your quote is fair comment, although not very constructively phrased.

[tutstar]

SBC Meeting Archives

Dr. Vines entire message can be viewed here. Go to Pastors Conference, Monday Evening. He said very little about Islam but boy has it ticked some people off. I'm glad the Caners are also standing by the truth.

The text of the local Islam leaders message that will be in the paper tomorrow isn't posted yet, I'll post as soon as available.

[concerned about politics]

"The Southern Baptist Convention is a denomination of 16 million people who are serious about their calling to be representatives of Jesus Christ. While we do not receive the kind and gentle treatment that most other socially-acceptable denominations enjoy, we are committed to boldly speaking Truth in love to the peoples of this world."

Hooorrray! Bless this church! Pray for their success. Thanks !

[PaImettoHawk]

The Koran(Quaran) plainly states to go forward and kill the infidels. Even if the "enemy" surrenders, it states to kill the infidels for Allah. If anyone questions that, simply search and read it yourself. As far as whatever else is said, it doesn't matter. The so called "peaceful religion" has got some major internal issues.

[tutstar]

If you accept the Bible as truth then there is no question if demons are real or not.

[The Great Satan]

The Reverend Vines deserves kudos for telling it like it is. It seems the facade of the "religion of peace" is crumbling more and more everyday. As long as there are still idiots like Johnelle Bryant in our bureaucracies, the job isn't done -- which means, the job still isn't done, not by a long shot. Islam must be held in universal contempt if we are to move forward in the War on Terrorism, just as moral clarity on its secular alter ego, Nazism, was essential for a successful outcome to Hitler's War. Anyone who publicly speaks out and shines the spotlight on Islam's true nature -- be it Steve Emerson, Bernard Lewis, Ann Coulter, Daniel Pipes, Victor Davis Hanson, V. S. Naipaul, Oriana Fallaci, Salman Rushdie, Andrew Sullivan, Pim Fortuyn, or Rev. Vines, or Alan Keyes on MSNBC tonight, is a hero in the struggle between civilization and barbarism.

[concerned about politics]

"the highest level of Muslim heaven — which has 70 perpetual virgins on couches — is reserved for Muslims who “shed their blood” (Hadith 135). Islam’s inclination toward violence, he added, also is reflected in the Koran: “Slay the enemy where you find him (Surah 9.92)."

[LarryLied]

Vines' comments were execrable. Islam is not above criticism, but to call Mohammed a demon possessed pedophile is a subjective comment, incendiary, and achieves no useful purpose.

I thought so when I first heard the comments but now I don't know. Vines may have begun a flushing out of the crazies. That is a good thing.

[MissAmericanPie]

Since they wouldn't open their mouths on 9-11, they can keep their yaps shut now and forever more as far as I am concerned.

[concerned about politics]

What has the Catholic church said? Have they spoken out yet?
I haven't heard anthing yet.

[Thumper1960]

Hardly.

Muhammad was a pedophile and was demonic in his exhortations to his followers. Any objective reading of the record will show this to be true.

Vines was correct in substance and politically incorrect in voicing it.

Islam is evil. Case closed.