Book Burning and the Scapegoating of Islam

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/3308/book_burning_and_the_scapegoating_of_islam/

Eric Reitan writes a rich and reflective piece in (A)theologies taking up fascinating patterns to look at 'book burning' in light of religious historical traditions of "scapegoating', sacrifice, and vicarious atonement, including the crucifixion.

Reitan writes:

If Heim is right about this, then Jones and Phelps and their respective congregations are symbolically enacting the very thing that the passion stories central to Christianity were intended to repudiate. Where they are called to see the crucified Christ in those who are being symbolically burned at the stake, they instead see a righteous sacrifice to God. Where they are called to identify with the victim of sacrificial scapegoating, they become the practitioners.