Book burners prove nothing but narrow-mindedness

The members of the Harvest Assembly of God Church in Penn Township, Pa., who believe they were showing their devotion to God by burning books, CDs and tapes, have said far more about themselves than they have about Pearl Jam, Harry Potter and guitarist Joe Walsh. The Rev. George Bender said he would have liked to have seen more than the 30 visitors and church members who showed up for the Sunday morning event. "I hope people understand our intentions," he said, "though I know some won't." Inasmuch as book burnings have long been associated with those who would suppress the beliefs of others, it is he and his congregants who should understand how abhorrent their acts are to others, though we doubt they will.
They say they were inspired by the biblical Book of Acts (19:19) which talks of those "which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men."
'Curious arts:' If, in fact, the churchgoers believed they had been practicing "curious arts" by listening to rock groups which extol drugs and alcohol or reading Harry Potter books, their destructive acts may have cleansed their consciences but they also betrayed the narrowness of their horizons.
Do the Penn Township burners know that the very words -- biblical verse in English, translated from the original Greek -- they use to rationalize destroying ideas they oppose were considered heresy by English church leaders? Not only were the first English-language Bibles consigned to flames, but their translator William Tyndale was strangled at the stake and his body burned.
We would hardly suggest that the Harry Potter books of J.K. Rowling are lofty literature, despite their popularity, nor that certain rock groups and performers will be remembered for great contributions to music. But the destruction of their works is no less troublesome than the destruction of any elements of culture. Whether it's English bishops burning English Bibles in 1526, the Nazis cleansing Germany of un-German thoughts by burning thousands of un-German books in the 1930s and '40s or the Taliban destroying ancient statues of Buddha in 2001, the principle is the same.
Faith: If the faith of the Rev. Bender's flock can be sorely tested by Seattle grunge or children's books, then perhaps he has a far greater challenge than he imagines.
The Bible instructs that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." (Galatians 5:22) There is neither love nor peace nor gentleness in the burning of books.