Ok, so we all know this guy is crazy, but confirmation comes from Der Speigel Online, in an interview with his daughter.
She says he was formerly a pastor of a sect-like congregation in Germany, where he developed serious religious delusions. He preached an unorthodox "demonology",engaged in "exploitation and psychological abuse", told congregants to beat their children with rods, instituted "forced work" and engaged in shady financial dealings.
His daughter was the church's bookkeeper until she left the church after unsuccessfully trying to get him to change his ways. For her troubles, he told her that God would take her children and kill her! Eventually most of the congregation came to their senses and kicked him out, and the 50 members of the Insane Dove Outreach church are the remaining remnants of "believers."
CBS confirmed the story, Questions Surface in Germany about Terry Jones. His hatred of Islam is relatively recent, since 2008, according to CBS. According to a Protestant official who looked into the sect accusations, he has a reputation for manipulating social issues for attention: "Terry Jones has a talent for finding topical social issues and seizing on them for his own cause."
He's clearly an egotistical liar in search of attention (which we've given him) as well as a master manipulator. Jason Linkins at HuffPost has an excellent essay about the media's epic fail in falling for this nut and his attempt to hijack the Islamic cultural center issue (for even more attention).
As an antidote, many communities across the country are having Qu'ran readings today - if you Google you may well be able to find one in your area. If you're in the SF Bay area, there will be one in Berkeley tomorrow, sponsored by a Jewish organization, see below. Maybe I'll see you there! Best way this atheist can think of to commemorate 9/11...
Qu'ran Reading
On Saturday, September 11, a Florida minister,
Terry Jones, together with 50 of his followers,
is planning an act of religious hatred and
intolerance, the public burning of copies of the
Qur'an (the Muslim holy scriptures containing the
words of the prophet Muhammad). This hateful act
has been widely condemned around the world,
including by General David Petraeus, commander of
the International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan.
In response, Or Hadash USA, a Jewish project
concerned with constitutional issues, is
organizing and sponsoring an interfaith public
reading of the Qur'an on the same day. The event
will take place at Ohlone Park, in Berkeley on
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 at 3:15 PM. Meet at the
corner of Sacramento and Delaware at 3:15. We
shall all symbolically stand with Muslim
Americans and read aloud in English parts of the
Qur'an, affirming that we will not stand by
silently while others perpetrate un-American acts
of hate in the name of patriotism or religion.
All people -- of any faith or no faith -- are
welcome to join us. We will read and discuss the
Qur'an for about 30 - 45 minutes. The official
event will then end, but some of us may choose to
stay and share our thoughts and feelings.
The park has facilities to entertain children
while parents take part in the reading and
discussion.
September 11 this year for Jews is Shabbat
Shuvah, the Sabbath of returning and renewal
between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. September
11th this year is also just after the last day of
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting,
prayer, purification, forgiveness and renewal.
Materials about Ramadan will also be available
for people to learn about this important Muslim
observance. Please join us in standing up for
religious coexistence and for the celebration of
what we all can learn from people of varied
faiths.