A Thanksgiving Dose of Intolerance - The Baptist Way

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AUSTIN — Organizers of an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration scrambled to find a new location after an evangelical Baptist megachurch objected to Muslims worshipping on its property.

Hyde Park Baptist Church notified Austin Area Interreligious Ministries last week that it wouldn't allow the event scheduled for today at Hyde Park's sports complex.

The Thanksgiving event is in its 23rd year and invites Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Bahais and others to worship together. Austin's largest synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, has offered to host the celebration, organizers said.

Now, that's classy.

What part of INTERFAITH was not clear to Hyde Park Baptist?

According to the article, Hyde Park's gymnasium was booked by organizers of Interreligious Organizers back in July and the interfaith aspect was always clear. After all, the interfaith event is in its 23rd year....

Kent Jennings, an associate pastor at Hyde Park, released the following statement:

"Although individuals from all faiths are welcome to worship with us at Hyde Park the church cannot provide space for the practice of these non-Christian religions on church property. Hyde Park hopes that the AAIM and the community of faith will understand and be tolerant of our church's beliefs that have resulted in this decision."

Tolerance for their intolerance. Sad.

And from the often irreverent John Kelso of the Austin American-Statesman....

But last week, Hyde Park Baptist told the group they couldn't use the Quarries, mostly because of the Muslims. So the prayer gathering took place Sunday at Temple Beth Israel instead. You had Jews and Muslims in the same place and no barbed wire. So in a sense, the Baptists performed a miracle.

Why did Hyde Park Baptist decide to give the mixed prayer group the old heave-ho? Simple. They don't want non-Christian stuff going on on their land. I didn't realize telling people to get lost was Christian, but you learn something every day....So they're pleading for tolerance while being intolerant. In these situations, people often ask the question I mentioned earlier, "What would Jesus do?" If Jesus ran the Quarries, I don't think he'd charge rent. I also don't think he'd turn anyone away. And, from what little I've read of the Bible, he'd probably provide free grub, although probably seafood.