Pastor Terry Jones says Jesus Christ would burn Korans, will go ahead with controversial 9/11 event

BY Sean Alfano
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, September 8th 2010, 9:51 AM

Terry Jones knows his plan to burn Korans on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is radical, and that's exactly what he wants.

He believes it is what Jesus Christ would do.

"Jesus would not run around burning books," Jones told ABC's "Nightline" on Tuesday, "but I think he would burn this one."

The 58-year-old former hotel manager, who spent three decades as a missionary in Germany, cuts a striking figure with his dark suits, neatly trimmed crew cut and handlebar moustache.

Then there is the .40-caliber pistol that hugs his hip. Many of the roughly 50 members of his Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville are also armed, Jones said, because of death threats.

The prospect of a gunfight breaking out during the rally does not faze Jones.

"We are definitely prepared to do this," he told "Nightline." "We are definitely prepared to give our lives for this particular message."

The pastor's daughter from his first marriage, however, thinks her father and his religious group are a "cult."

"They used mental violence," Emma Jones told the Gainesville Sun in an interview last year. "They'd say, ‘If you're not obedient, God will punish you.'"

Emma Jones stayed in Germany after her father relocated the church permanently to Gainesville in 2008.

Jones and his wife, Sylvia, run TS and Company, an online company through eBay that sells furniture.

"We are a Christian company," the website declares, with proceeds from sales going to support the church's food pantry, named after his deceased first wife, Lisa Jones.

Jones' daughter disputed that claim, saying most of the money went back into company.

"It's all about how much did you work, how much profit did you bring in," she said.

In addition, Jones sells his book, "Islam is of the Devil," along with shirts and mugs bearing similar anti-Islamic messages.

At his fiery religious protest, Jones said at least 200 Korans will be incinerated on his church's 20-acre grounds.

"We feel that a radical message is necessary," Jones said.

"We expect Muslims that are here in America to respect, honor, obey, submit to our Constitution."

The Florida pastor has repeated his intention of tossing Islam's holy book into a bonfire, despite condemnations and warnings from the White House and the top commander of the U.S. military in Afghanistan, who fear the event will put soldiers in danger.

For Jones, canceling his "International Burn-a-Koran Day" would be a sign of weakness.

"How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?" Jones told The Associated Press on Tuesday, a question he has posed several times to the media this week.

"Instead of us backing down, maybe it's time to stand up. Maybe it's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior."

From: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/08/2010-09-08_pastor_terry_jones_says_jesus_christ_would_burn_korans_will_go_ahead_with_contro.html