Working Through A Moral Dilemma

Issue: Dove Christian Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida plans on burning Korans (Qurans) on September 11 as a protest against the influence of Islam in the United States.  Their desire is to wake up Christians and the United States to the mounting evil threat posed by Islam.   

STEP 1: DEFINE THE ISSUE COMPLETELY

Who?

Who?

What?

What?

When?

Where?

How?

Why?

Why?

STEP 2: DEFINE THE MORALS OR ETHICS AT STAKE?

STEP 3: RECOGNIZE YOUR PRECONCIEVED NOTIONS AND BELIEFS

Emotional	Spiritual	Cultural	Background	Intuition

STEP 4: WHAT ARE THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS?

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called plans by a small Florida evangelical church to burn copies of the Koran on September 11 a "disrespectful, disgraceful act."

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen have warned that the planned torching of the Muslim holy book by the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center could endanger Western troops.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday he defends the church's right to burn the books. He said that while he finds it distasteful, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects even unpopular speech.

Iran has warned the planned Koran burning could lead to uncontrolled emotions in Muslim countries.

'The Gainesville plan is idiotic and dangerous,'" said Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates.

"We believe strongly this is something God has called us to do," said Wayne, associate pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, where a large police presence is powerless to stop the event. A spokeswoman for the Gainesville police department and Alachua County sheriffs office voiced concerns for safety as tensions mounted ahead of the planned weekend burning.

Reverend Larry Reimer of The United Church of Gainesville said it was important to know that Jones and his followers represent virtually no one. "I believe they had 30 people at their service last week," he said. Reimer said he has gathered 25 clergy from Gainesville, including Jews, Christians and Muslims, who will be reading Jewish, Muslim and Christian texts this Sunday in a show of inter-faith solidarity.

STEP 5: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Is there a command or verse that matches the exact circumstances and informs God’s will?

Is there a story about the exact circumstances that explains through action about God’s will?

Is there a command or verse that informs God’s will based on an eternal principle that transcends circumstances?

Is there a story that explains an eternal principle that informs God’s will?

STEP 6: BASED ON THE BIBLE, WHAT IS THE MORAL COMMAND(S) THAT RELATE TO THIS DILEMMA?

STEP 7: PRAY, MAKE A DECISION, CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE, OBEY.