Terry Jones, The Man Behind "Burn A Quran Day"

By: Emily Rand
Topics: News

Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, September 7, 2010.

Pastor Terry Jones was little known outside Gainesville, Florida until his Koran burning plan went international with groups from the VFW to the State Department protesting, and General David Petraeus warning that the images of burning the Quran could endanger U.S. troops.

But a deposition obtained by CBS News from a court case last month raises question about how much Pastor Jones even knows about his controversial cause.

According to the deposition, Jones and his wife learned much of what they know about Sharia Law - the sacred law of the Muslim religion - by watching videos on YouTube.

"Do you know where Sharia law came from?" Jones is asked.

"Not really, no," he replies, "I think there's experts that say it came from the old Mosaic law. But no."

Attorneys also asked Jones how many Muslims he knows personally.

"I don't think I know any personally," he says, "I haven't interviewed any." Jones also says he has not attended any interfaith discussions and that he believes that such discussions are part of "our problem."

Learn More About Pastor Terry Jones, from CBS News Investigates

Quran Burning Pastor: Judaism, Other Religions "Of The Devil"

Dove World Outreach Center: Where Does the Money Go?

When asked if his church, Dove World Outreach Center has a mission statement, Jones said that it did but when questioned further, Jones told the attorney he did not know what the mission statement was.

Jones refers to himself as "Doctor," and says in the deposition he was awarded an honorary doctorate of theology degree from the California Graduate School of Theology in Rosemead, CA in 1983. The school, which is unaccredited, was unable to immediately confirm whether or not it awarded Jones the degree.

In his deposition, Jones acknowledged that his congregation has decreased in recent years, telling attorneys that he currently has a congregation of about 50 people - whereas he had 100 people when his congregation was at its largest.

"I think mainly just because the things we're involved in are just really way too hot for your normal Christian and your normal person."

More Quran Burning Coverage

White House Laments Quran Burning Plan

Petraeus: Burning Qurans Could Endanger Troops

Afghans Protest Fla. Church's Plan to Burn Quran

Fla. Church Denied Permit to Burn Qurans

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by naushee May 26, 2011 11:37 AM EDT: I did the research on Jones and frankly, it's shocking ... http://considerreconsider.com/2011/koran-burning-pastor-may-actually-be-a-muslim/; Reply to this comment


by GreenTiger63 May 15, 2011 10:39 PM EDT: I wouldn't burn a Koran or a Bahava Gitta or Torah are any book of faith as a matter of form, however we don't operate under Sharia Law. Freedom of speech still exists here. While Rev Jones is a jerk he is operating under the law.; Reply to this comment


by widesmilinsonny April 5, 2011 9:15 AM EDT: This is disgusting. God didn't want us to all be the same for a reason. This is by no means Christian behavior.

I have read the Koran and obviously a lot of the people on this website or his followers don't understand it. The abrahamic faiths should stick together.; Reply to this comment


by wazdan April 5, 2011 5:10 AM EDT: Be charged with murder because 3 NATO killed in Afghanistan because of this mental paster.Taliban who are fighting USA for the last 10 years & not defeated has said they will take revenge of another type ?.; Reply to this comment


by wazdan April 5, 2011 4:57 AM EDT: As you have cut your mustache for not to be identified but very soon you will be captured not for killing but to cut your hands,feet,nose,ears,one eye for making you a sample for the others to take lesson from you.you are a shame for Christianity.; Reply to this comment


by zedrb April 5, 2011 12:55 AM EDT: I believe that this 'man of god ' should be charged with manslaughter and sentenced to the longest jail term possible under the law. Because of his ignorance, he has and will continue to get innocent people around the world, muslims and christians alike murdered. He has warped sense of right and wrong, this 'man'could be the one that starts world war three. I hope that the America Justice system has the balls to charge this BIGOT. Then lock him up with the families of those innocent's he helped to murder; Reply to this comment


by jtaylor13 April 4, 2011 10:56 PM EDT: Ol i heard a rumor.You can now buy designer suicide vest at your local mosque gift shop?
They come in 2 tone.with do it your self patches.Hope not.; Reply to this comment


by jtaylor13 April 4, 2011 10:52 PM EDT: Are you sure? I was told muslims were peaceful.And to riot and kill over a book burning isn't peaceful.
I guess Nick Berg's family was right when they said muslims are savages.Sitting in a chair, Berg made the following statement: "My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan," the man said on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in & Philadelphia."The video then changes to a scene of masked men, with Berg sitting in front of them. After reading a statement, the masked men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" - "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.I guess the definition of peace is different for muslims.In this case, just as it has happened so many times before, it seems that the executioners used a dull knife again. These guys really left the man take the imminent death with all of its worst. The knife wielding masked man slowly cut through the neck of the victim as if to take in the joy of causing slow and painful death. He cut through man's trachea and esophagus which detached victim's mouth from the rest of the body, yet he's still making desperate attempts to scream and all the noise is coming out of his neck. It's brutal.As carotid arteries got cut, the blood started gushing out in volume you have never seen before. The massive blood loss along with horrific sound this beheaded man lets out make this easily the most brutal beheading video you will have ever seen. Also notice how just before the beheading starts, the camera focuses on victims bruised arms. That man was heavily beaten prior to his painful execution; Reply to this comment

by NeoNonNeo April 4, 2011 9:31 PM EDT

Have any of you Terry Jones haters ever read the Koran? Maybe some books should be burned.

If there is a book out there that condones slavery, that condones polygamy, that condones primogeniture, that demands the death penalty for women who engage in pre-marital sex, that requires you to murder anyone who tries to get you to convert to another religion, that instructs its followers to slaughter entire cities--men, women, children, and even cattle, and if this book is considered sacred and divine and adhered to by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, isn't it your duty as a human to stand up and condemn it?

If so, then Terry Jones isn't evil, he's just terribly confused. He burned the wrong book. All of the above is from the book of Deuteronomy, part of the Old Testament, considered sacred by Jews and, inexplicably, still lugged back and forth to church every Sunday by Christians, including, presumably, by the good Pastor Jones of Gainesville.

For cites, see http://craignelsen.com/fundamentalator/index.php

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by sobashir April 24, 2011 2:01 AM EDT: Please go back and see what Islam say, Quran never mentioned killing as you say, so be honest please.


by jakeinthewoods April 2, 2011 8:08 PM EDT: The man of god????? That went out of his way to help the extremest who see our country as evel. Do harm to people in another country that have no control over the things this man of god$ ??? Dose is only made more of a problem by the media coverage. RELIGION IS THE PROBLEM. !!! Jesus said be cool to everyone. Treat. Them as you would want to be treated. Mohammad jesus gandi pick one. Just don't kill someone because their is not the same pick. RELIGION IS FULL OF LAZY OLD MEN THAT WANT THINGS THEIR. WAY and don't care who gets hurt in the process!!!!!; Reply to this comment