( CNN ) -- In protest of what it calls a religion `` of the devil , '' a nondenominational church in Gainesville , Florida , plans to host an `` International Burn a Quran Day '' on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks . The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam . With promotions on its website and Facebook page , it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. `` We believe that Islam is of the devil , that it 's causing billions of people to go to hell , it is a deceptive religion , it is a violent religion and that is proven many , many times , '' Pastor Terry Jones told CNN 's Rick Sanchez earlier this week . Jones wrote a book titled `` Islam is of the Devil , '' and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase . Muslims and many other Christians -- including some evangelicals -- are fighting the initiative . The church launched a YouTube channel to disseminate its messages . `` I mean ask yourself , have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim ? As they 're on the way to Mecca ? As they gather together in the mosque on the floor ? Does it look like a real religion of joy ? '' Jones asks in one of his YouTube posts . `` No , to me it looks like a religion of the devil . '' The Islamic advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations called on Muslims and others to host `` Share the Quran '' dinners to educate the public during the monthlong fast of Ramadan beginning in August . In a news release , the group announced a campaign to give out 100,000 copies of the Quran to local , state and national leaders . `` American Muslims and other people of conscience should support positive educational efforts to prevent the spread of Islamophobia , '' said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper in the release . The National Association of Evangelicals , the nation 's largest umbrella evangelical group , issued a statement urging the church to cancel the event , warning it could cause worldwide tension between the two religions . `` The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths . God created human beings in his image , and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect , '' it said in the statement . Dove 's Facebook page , set up for the September event , has more than 1,600 fans . `` Eternal fire is the only destination the Quran can lead people to , so we want to put the Quran in it 's [ sic ] place -- the fire ! '' the page says . But another Facebook group with more than 3,100 fans says it stands `` against the disrespect and intolerance that these people have for the Muslim people '' and encourages people to report Dove 's page to Facebook . Targeting another group it calls `` godless , '' the Dove center is also hosting a protest against Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe , who is openly gay , on Monday at Gainesville 's City Hall . The group previously fought -- unsuccessfully -- to derail Lowe 's election campaign . `` We protest sexual perversion because the Bible protests it . ... What is acceptable to today 's leadership becomes acceptable to tomorrow 's society , '' the church says in its blog entry about the event . Lowe and other government figures and media outlets received e-mails from the church about the event , The Gainesville Sun reported . Lowe is n't concerned with Monday 's event . `` I 've got other things to do , '' he said , The Sun reports . On the outreach center 's front lawn , alongside a sign reading `` Aug. 2 Protest , No Homo Mayor , City Hall , '' stands not just one , but three signs bearing the slogan `` Islam is of the Devil . '' One of the signs -- one reading `` Islam '' on one side , `` Devil '' on the other -- was vandalized . On its blog last week , the church said the sign will be replaced . `` This is private property and vandalism is a crime here in America , '' the blog says . `` In Islam , many actions that we consider to be crimes are encouraged , condoned or sheltered under Islamic teaching and practice , though . Another reason to burn a Quran . ''
Dove World Outreach Center to host `` International Burn a Quran Day '' In video , pastor says Islam is `` a religion of the devil '' The National Association of Evangelicals is asking the church to call off the event . The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on Muslims to launch education efforts .