After widespread international disapproval, Jones canceled the event. This past March, he decided to stage a mock trial for the Quran. Not surprisingly — given his prior desire to burn a Quran — Jones found the holy book guilty of terrorism and violence and sentenced it to burn.

The news and video of the trial quickly spread across the world, and Jones’ fiery rhetoric set an entire region ablaze. Islamic fundamentalists have used the video to incite crowds, and riots are expected to continue.

Jones’ deplorable act, as well as the sad violent reaction and deaths of seven U.N. workers, expose the extremes and dangers of fundamentalism in any religion.

Jones broke no law when he staged his mock trial of the Quran. Jones’ actions are protected fully by the U.S. Constitution. However, simply because an action is legal doesn’t mean it should be carried out.

Being of age, I could make a choice to binge drink every single day for the rest of my life, but that doesn’t mean it is a good choice. Quite simply, Jones and his small church acted recklessly and selfishly.

Jones wanted to make a statement, and thanks to his statement, people lost their lives. The blame is not on Jones alone. Those who reacted violently also are to blame. No matter how infuriating a Western man laughing at, insulting and burning a holy text might be, seeking to murder individuals completely unconnected with the event merely because they are Western is not a reasonable or just response.

The most ironic thing about this sad case is that Jones is sitting back in his church exclaiming how correct he was. Muslims have reacted violently; therefore, Islam must be a religion of violence.

This rhetoric is particularly dangerous, not only because it assumes the violent action of a few represents an entire religion, but also because it carries the inherent argument that a conflict between these two forces is inevitable.

Although the extremes on both sides espouse nonsensical garbage about new crusades and holy wars, those in the silent majority are caught in the cross fire. There is no holy war brewing between Christians and Muslims. Believing this is the case is to fundamentally misunderstand both religions. The real danger is not religion itself, but small minorities that exist in every religion whose demented interpretations demand violent action.

These minorities speak in constant hyperbole, see the world as two distinct camps because they fail to understand the complexities of the world, justify every action with contextually dishonest references to holy sources and, most importantly, lack the ability to act rationally. Pastor Jones, I’m looking at you.

To call Jones simply an idiotic provocateur is too kind. Jones wanted blood, and now he has his blood. He insulted a religion that has more than 1.5 billion followers and burned their holy book. Congratulations Jones, you are capable of burning an at least 1,200-year-old holy text, but evidently you aren’t capable of making rational, reasonable choices. You have your war of words and plenty of publicity, but what do you do now?

I would like to make a polite suggestion. Instead of continuing to anger and humiliate everyday Americans with your pointless publicity stunts, grandiose statements and overall idiocy, can you please just fall back into obscurity? Thank you.

The loudest voice in the room always attempts to garner attention. But no matter how much attention that voice receives or how loud its volume, it does not make it true.

Religious fundamentalists such as Jones represent a small minority, and no matter how loudly this minority might stomp its feet, the vast majority of people still know it is completely out of its mind. Hopefully that realization won’t change anytime soon.

Matt Manning is a State News guest columnist and an international relations and Russian senior. Reach him at mannin84@msu.edu.