BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A new sign outside the Crossroads Assembly of God Church in the town of Wilder equates Islam with evil. The sign, posted in block capital letters, reads: "The spirit of Islam is the spirit of the Antichrist."
The church's pastor, who put up the sign Monday, said the message reflects not hatred, but the Gospel.
But most of the town's residents, including the mayor, say the sign is inappropriate and passers-by re complaining about the anti-Muslim sentiment.
Wilder Mayor Steve Rhodes said he finds the sign offensive, but the city cannot censor the opinion reflected on the sign.
"It is inappropriate. It doesn't reflect the community, and it sure doesn't reflect myself or my council," Rhodes said.
The sign was put up by Pastor Geoff Cole, who has led the church for three years.
"It is not a hate crime against Islam," Cole said.
Cole, who said he has read the Qur'an and the Bible extensively, said he draws the sign's statements from the Bible: 1 John, 4:2-3. The quotation reads, in part, "...every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist."
"Why in the world would I keep my mouth shut?" Cole said. "I am responsible
to sound the alarm to God's people."
One of those who complained to Cole was Brenda Paxton of Wilder, who said she felt sick when she passed the sign while driving to work.
"It really disturbed me," Paxton said. "I'm a religious person, but to put something like that up, you are over the top."
Boise resident Azam Houle, who was born in Iran and comes from a Muslim family, had to catch her breath before responding to news of the sign.
"To use such terms, especially during this time, is not promoting peace," Houle said.
Those who are alarmed by the sign's message can complain, Rhodes said, but the sign is not a violation of any law.
"What makes this country great is our freedom of speech," Rhodes said.
Cole said the sign will eventually come down as part of his standard message-rotating routine.