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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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US Army Burned Bibles in Afghanistan

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(Newser) – The US military burned bibles sent to Afghanistan by an American church, reports CNN. Officials feared the bibles, sent last year, would cause problems if they were used in a campaign to convert Muslims to Christianity. The unsolicited bibles were printed in the two most popular Afghani languages. Ironically, Taliban supporters burned bibles in an attack on a Pakistani village just last month.

If the American bibles "did get out, it could be perceived by Afghans that the US government or the US military was trying to convert Muslims," a Defense Department spokesman said yesterday. Officials considered returning the bibles to the church, but were concerned they would only be sent back to Afghanistan. War zone troops are required to burn all trash, according to the Defense Department.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai.   (AP Photo/Presidentail Palace, HO)
A man holds a burned page from an Urdu script bible in Karachi, Pakistan, after holy books were burned in a Taliban attack last month. US army officials have admitted burning bibles in Afghanistan.
A man holds a burned page from an Urdu script bible in Karachi, Pakistan, after holy books were burned in a Taliban attack last month. US army officials have admitted burning bibles in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
The good book.
The good book.   (©contemplativechristian)
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15 comments
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ksu92
May 20, 09 4:50 AM CDT
Well, it's a start... Reply
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Robert_Dada
May 20, 09 6:36 AM CDT
"War zone troops are required to burn all trash.." And that's exactly what the Bible is...Trash. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
wwwonderer
May 20, 09 12:17 PM CDT
While I'm an different type of agnostic, I wouldn't say the Bible is complete trash. The Bible contains many stories of honor, sacrifice, forgiveness, courage, and many, many more lessons to be learned. There is value in that. But good stories are just that. I love the Star Wars saga. There are many lessons within those Star Wars stories that deal with honor, sacrifice, forgiveness, courage, etc. Do I take Star Wars LITERALLY? Do I actually believe in Ewoks? No. Jedi Knights? Maybe. ;-) There are other issues with the Bible and literal acceptance. Do i believe virgins have babies? Do I believe flesh walks on water? Do I believe that food was magically multiplied? Only in EXTREME circumstances, or a world of fantasy, can I entertain those thoughts. But that's me.
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paul123
May 20, 09 6:49 AM CDT
So what were the bibles doing there to begin with if the US army didn't intend to distribute them? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
skeptik
May 20, 09 7:54 AM CDT
"Sent unsolicited by a church"-try reading the story guy. Haven't you ever had anyone knock on your door & try to convert you? I'm not surprised that the bibles were sent but glad they weren't distributed by our troops.
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