GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- If building an Islamic center near ground zero amounts to the epitome of Muslim insensitivity, as critics of the project have claimed, what should the world make of Terry Jones, the evangelical pastor here who plans to memorialize the Sept. 11 attacks with a bonfire of Qurans?
Jones, 58, a former hotel manager, argues that as an American Christian he has a right to burn Islam's sacred book because "it's full of lies." And in another era, he might have been easily ignored, as he was last year when he posted a sign at his church declaring "Islam is of the devil."
But now the global spotlight has shifted. With the debate in New York putting religious tensions front and center, Jones has suddenly attracted thousands of fans and critics on Facebook, while around the world he is being presented as a symbol of American anti-Islamic sentiment.
Muslim leaders in several countries, including Egypt and Indonesia, have formally condemned him and his church, the Dove World Outreach Center.
An Islamic group in England has also incorporated his efforts into a YouTube video that encourages Muslims to "rise up and act," widening a concern that Jones - though clearly a fringe figure with only 50 members in his church - could spark riots or terrorism.
Jones said he sincerely hoped that his planned Quran-burning would not lead to violence. He dismissed the idea that it could put U.S. troops at greater risk, and he said that his church was being persecuted.
He said his bank recently demanded immediate repayment of the $140,000 balance on the church mortgage; that his property insurance had been canceled since he announced in late July that he intended to burn copies of the Quran; and that death threats now come in regularly.
"We have to be careful," he said. He tapped a holster on his right hip; it held a .40-caliber pistol, which he said he was licensed to carry. "The overall response," he added, "has been much greater than we expected."
Jones appears to be largely oblivious to the potential consequences of his plans.
He said that nothing in particular had set him off. Asked about his knowledge of the Quran, he said plainly: "I have no experience with it whatsoever. I only know what the Bible says."
