Controversial filmmaker now opposes TN mosque

An outspoken supporter of a planned mosque that has sparked opposition in Murfreesboro has switched sides and joined the anti-Islam movement.

Eric Allen Bell, a documentary filmmaker, was a fixture at court hearings and protests over the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro in 2010.

Back then, he was making a movie called Not Welcome, which depicted mosque critics as Southern Christian bigots.

Now he says the mosque is part of a plot to destroy America. He claimed the mosque is "built on a foundation of lies" in a recent op-ed piece at the anti-Islam site Jihadwatch.com.

"I want to communicate that the biggest threat to human rights is Islam," he said in a recent phone interview.

Mosque supporters feel betrayed by Bell. They wonder if he was a fraud or has been paid off by anti-Muslim groups.

"Only a hired gun would switch sides like this," said Jace Short of Middle Tennesseans for Religious Freedom.

Bell, a 44-year-old California native, moved to Murfreesboro in 2008 after a previous movie project lost its financing. A self-described liberal, he runs a website about spirituality and meditation called globalone.tv.

Continue reading at www.usatoday.com

« Previous Article

Posting Policy

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.

Joeboo

Islam is not a religion: it is a political system that stands in opposition to freedom of religion and it is contrary to all American principles and values. Islam only builds mosque in the areas that they feel they have conquered.
- Mitch
  
  Absolutely Correct. Consider Dearborne, Michigan.
  - Sues
    
    Consider downtown NYC.
- TruthBeTold727
  
  Yupper; just like the Spanish conquistadores built churches (I'm pro-Christianity and support missionaries around the world) on top of Mayan and Aztec temples and pyramides 500 years ago. Some brain-dead libs still don't know why the 9-11 attacks happened.
- Think About It
  
  It is both a "religion" (in there eyes) and a political system. Both tied up in one neat, convenient, bloody and intolerant package. Look around the world at Islamic countries and see their tolerance and acceptance of other religions.
- bighoss
  
  Uh, Joeboo, the last mosque that I personally encountered was in Powder Springs, Georgia, a short distance northwest of Atlanta, in a very dominantly evangelical community. I suggest that you not try to convince the bubbas and bubbettes of Powder Springs that they are anywhere close to being conquered by Islam.
  
  The map in the link below shows a lot of mosques in the U.S.A. If your thesis is correct, the eastern half of this nation has already been "conquered."
  
  Get real, Joebooby!
  
  http://pobloia.blogspot.com/2006/12/mosques-acros…
Texasgal

So true. Islam is a political system ment to conquer an subjugate. People need to wake up and realize that these people ie : men hate what America stands for: Freedom and that women here have Freedom and rights!
- EVERMYRTLE
  
  Islam is a religion, a religion of the Devil and the Mosques are his playhouses. I think, 500+ years ago, when it was begun, it was meant to worship GOD without JESUS CHRIST HIS SON, which makes it a false religion. This false religion is sweeping across America like a wildfire, which is supposed to occur in the end days..
Guest

IT's very obvious what happened: Eric Bell , as a liberal, was pro-mosque before, BEFORE, he learned about Islam and the hideous things it stands for, condones, and promotes. Once he learned the TRUTH about Islam, he could not support such a vile thing.
shams

@joebo I'm surprise that at this age someone can come with public opinion without reference. In fact your argument is illogical and lack bases. I suggest you go and read the history of islam and its teaching you may have a second opinion. God bless.
- Joeboo
  
  I have read the book of hate and my opinion is based upon the teachings of this political system.
- Mitch
  
  Oh, dear. Permit me to say, "Presumption is a barrier to perception of truth." You ('shams') are at exactly the place where the filmmaker was at Before he Stopped Presuming. May I suggest viewing a film? "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", I believe it's called. go to obsessionthemovie.com – and learn.
- mesaman
  
  May allah take you to the harem of 800 ugly, overweight virgins and supply you with a truckload of viagra and cialis.
  - Vladimir
    
    Actually, someone discovered an error in the Hadith. Muslim Jihadists don't get 72 virgins after death, they get one, 72 year old virgin.
    - keyboardshark
      
      Ha ha, darn those typos, eh Vlad?
    - Pauly
      
      I heard it was 72 Virginians and they got the crap beat out of them.
      - http://www.faithfreaks.com/Wolverine Wolf-Spider
        
        I thought it was 72 Coke-bottle-glasses-wearing pizza-faced nerds reading comic books, playing video games, and D&D… All boys.
        
        Wolf-Spider
Kalev

Islam is a political ideology not a religion, like Nazism was a political ideology and we see where that went.
At least this fellow Bell came to his senses.
dragon65

amen to that brother ! With all the liberals now were going to be hard pressed to get rid of them all in the goverment and especialy the white house that wants to turn america's children into the muslims that worship alla.
Randy131

Jace Short is an ignorant liberal who thinks allowing Islamic Mosques to be built in the USA is a sign of 'Religious Freedom', but if he/she would actually read the Quran (Koran), he/she would read that Islam is about anything but 'Religious Freedom', and quite the opposite. Allah, through the Quaran, written by Muhammad, mandates that all Kauffers (non-believers and people of other religions) are to be converted to Islam or killed, so where is the 'Religious Freedom' that Jace Short believes he/she is promoting, by promoting the building of an Islamic Mosque, whose Muslims that will attend it, will teach and be required to convert all non-believers and people of other religions to Islam, or kill them all?
- Randy131
  
  People say that Muslims will never be allowed to do that, but if they over-populate us and take control of our government through their majorities, then Sharia law will be installed, which requires the conversion or killing of unbelievers, and then there will be nothing we can do about it. Muslims are very patient, and this Murfreesboro Mosque is just a beginning step in their plan and goal to take control of America through over-population, and if you think this is nonsense, then look at Europe and investigate what has been going on over there, which is just beginning here in the USA.
ajfrench

That's a convenient excuse to say that this film maker was a hired gun. Is it too unbelievable to recognize the fact that most Americans do not understand this cult. Is is to profound to suggest that given a closer look that one might recognize the atrocity of this cult. The truth is, this religion is a realistic one; the same one that Jesus decried. It time to take your heads out of the sand and recognize these people for their ideology. Love them enough that they should submit to Christ but always beware of the danger of those who reject Jesus.
JazzJive

Islam is a total system that includes rules on economics, social behaviour, faith, politics, health etc.

Islam considers secular law to be secondary to religious laws that is why they feel that there isnt a need to comply with local ordinances if it conflicts with their thinking. There are secular Muslims who are not as intense as the more, lets say, enthusiastic Muslims and have in ways acclimated to the society they live in. But this latest brand is more insistant on strict Quranic laws to the letter. I think this is where the problem may lie.
Sues

Just how many muslims live in Murfreesboro anyway? Murfreesboro, TN – really? There's something more going here with those people than just a mosque. If anything, I thought Mrufreesboro was just another part of the southern Bible belt. Better watch out Tennessee.
- Gordon
  
  Murphreesboro, Tn is a university town(city), the MTSU footprint is huge!
  - bighoss
    
    Gordon–Sues spelled the name of the town correctly. Why then did you misspell it?
- Taquoshi
  
  I live in a city in New England and we're also have trouble with a mosque that the Muslims want to build on the most inappropriate road in the city. It's narrow, it twists and turns and I personally avoid driving it, period. I know police officers who drive carefully on that road and I can't imagine what it would be like getting one of our bigger fire engines through there in the winter.
  
  They want to build a facility for two or three thousand Muslim with a minaret in a AAA residential zone. With a population of approximately 84,000, I find it hard to believe that we have that many Muslims in town. And if they are coming in from other locations, that location is not the place to be.
  
  Of course, now the Muslims are claiming that it's all about being anti-Islam. Guess again. It's called public safety in my book. But we're all going to court. Hopefully the judge will actually listen to the testimony rather than ruling with the Muslims.
joespenthouse

Nobody in my opinion would have to be paid off once they know the real truth behind the islamic movement and the muslim brotherhood,so if someone is feeling betrayed it,s a result of your own stupidity and lack of education regarding these people.The radical islamist label fits any rag head who resides in our country,you just have to wake up and see the violence and hatred that these people commit toward the USA.You can not trust any,anyone from the oil producing countries,there goals are to destroy our way of life and will do anything to get their ideologies to become our way,not no but hell no.Ovomit once again broke the law by giving palestinians 147.000,000 of tax payer money to buy weapons of mass destruction to bring down our country and remove our constitution.
Get the Facts go to Patriots for America!.
- shams
  
  @joespenthouse I think you need to be more current and unbiasely analyse how many muslims (defenseless children and women) that were brutally killed by USA in Afganistan, Palatine, Iraq…..etc. Why did America wage war on many muslim oil reach countries that do not dance to their tunes, is this for economic benefit? Tell me why Iraq was bombarded by US army killing millions of innocent lives, in a war that they can't justify……the truth is,unless America review its foreign policy for good and stop taking a double standard on issues that has to do with Muslim and Islam it will continue to be hate in the Muslim world.
- shams
  
  @joespenthouse I think you need to be more current and unbiasely analyse how many islamic adherant (defenseless children and women) that were brutally killed by USA in Afganistan, Palatine, Iraq…..etc. Why did America wage war on many Arab oil reach countries that do not dance to their tunes, is this for economic benefit? Tell me why Iraq was bombarded by US army killing millions of innocent lives, in a war that they can't justify……the truth is,unless America review its foreign policy for good and stop taking a double standard on issues that has to do with Islam it will continue to be hate in the islamic world.
http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

Isalm IS a religion. It just takes it religion more seriously than does modern-day savorless Christianity (what previously had been Christendom) that has become virtually good for nothing but to be trampled under the foot of man (Matthew 5:13). Islam is here and thriving thanks to Amendment 1's provision for the freedom of religion. Consequently, Islam is here to stay until this polytheistic provision is dumped.
- EVERMYRTLE
  
  I really don't think the 1st amendment makes any difference. Nothing in the constitution has made any difference since Jan 2009 The Kenyan is bent on putting JESUS CHRIST down, constitution or no constitution. He has no inkling how futile his fight is. JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FATHER AND THE HOLY GHOST.ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT IS HERE WHO WILL REMAIN, FOREVER WITH NO CHANGES MADE.
- Vladimir
  
  Give it a rest, Ted R. Weiland. We know you are a puppet of George Soros and the Socia list Left who need to get rid the the U.S. Constitution and its protections in order to seize complete control of this country.
- Joeboo
  
  Are you prepared to die for your beliefs Ted R. Weiland?
  Islam… Thriving here? If so not for long. To those of you who mock God and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. your time will come.
  Once the truth be known that: Islam is not a religion and is a political system and the truth that these muslims are totally about their own take over agenda is uncovered…then a real war will start and I am locked and loaded!
jude456

Hey Folks, we have a muslim in the White House…look what he's been up to. National Day of Prayer GONE! Muslim prayer day in. Better vote the illegal out or we all suffer.
- bighoss
  
  Baloney. The National Day of Prayer is still in place, and has been observed without government interference during the entire term of President Obama. You are either badly mistaken or a noxious liar. Verify stuff before you post and you might not come off like a drooling fool in the future.
bighoss

Latest on this Murfreesboro mosque–A Tennessee judge has ruled that the mosque can not be granted a certificate of occupancy because insufficient notice was given the public concerning a government meeting in which the mosque was approved. The public notice provided was the same kind of notice other proponents of development are required to give. Thus, it appears that this judge is demanding a higher standard than the law itself requires. I predict that the judge will be overruled. Much of the mosque construction has been completed. Murfreesboro is a rat's nest of right wing bigotry.
Buck

I oppose ALL mosques as dens of inequity and trojan horses within our borders , I believe that the only good muslims are those without a heartbeat . No , I do not hate them , I just feel they have been misled and so I feel sorry for them , life cannot be all that great when filled with the hate they carry sround with them .
JojoJpclarksville

Wow. A liberal has awakened….hopefully more will wake up to the fact that world domination is their goal.
aceituna

Your freedom of religion ends where it conflicts with my freedom of religion. According to the constitution I am free to practice my religion, but I am not free to force another person to practice my religion. I am permitted to debate with others the merrits of my religion and they are permitted to debate right back. Sometimes they are persuaded I am right, but sometimes we have to agree to disagree and leave it there. The Muslim religion does not permit this type of debate. When in power they say convert or die. Sometimes in order to appease the world community they will permit a person of another religion to live as a second or third class person in their country. That is the point of where freedom of religion shoule be curtailed. I hope people of this country wake up to this truth.
- Roselover
  
  I have a problem with all aspects of Islam and cannot believe how so many people can be misled. When I hear the term Moderate Islam I think the only Moderate Islamist is one who has not turned radical. A person of the Islam faith cannot remain Moderate if they believe their Koran and the Hadith. When Islam is studied it makes a person wonder if the Islam faith isn't Demon influenced. This is what Mohammed thought at one time and he was going to commit suicide when he was talked out of it by people telling him that he couldn't be under the control of a demon because he was such a "GOOD" man. Islam is the most dangerous threat the West has seen and people need to wake up.
Wayne

@shams – it is impossible to understand exactly to what comment Joeboo made that you are referencing your criticism. Clarify what you mean to critique. I agree with Joeboo that Islam is not (just) a religion, but a political system. It is contrary to American principles in terms of equality for Women and people of all different religious beliefs. Islam does build mosques in the areas they have conquered and has done so throughout their sordid history. I will go a bit further than Joeboo and say that Islam is Evil and has zero redemptive value toward the people of the world. Islam does nothing to bring peace to the world or to its own adherents. What exactly are you suggesting is wrong with Joeboos' post?
Vladimir

Bighoss, claims that "Murfreesboro is a rat's nest of right wing bigotry". Bigotry? Is it bigotry to oppose the presence of a center for anti-American activity in your midst? Islam demands the imposition of shariah law on every man, woman and child in the U.S. For shariah law to be the law of the land, our Constitution would have to be destroyed, for the protections of the Constitution are prohibited by shariah.

The residents of Murfreesboro are behaving like patriotic Americans. Not bigots as bighoss states.
- bighoss
  
  The Muslims of Murfreesboro have not proposed, supported, or demanded the imposition of Sharia law or any other measure that in any way threatens our Constitution. There is nothing in the record or in the past activities of these Muslims in Murfreesboro to lend any credence to your accusation that they have undertaken any anti-American activity.
  
  Your bigoted position on the matter is utterly without substance or merit.
  - aceituna
    
    They are a stelth religion, don't show their political side until they can impliment it.
    - bighoss
      
      Typical kind of attempted rebuttal by those who, like you, have nothing of real substance to offer and thus barf out speculative nonsense. Also, work on your spelling. It is :"stealth" and "implement."
http://www.sargee5.blogspot.com The Watchman

One doesn't have to be a hired gun employed by Mosque opponents. When the truth about Islam is brought into the light, more and more people will change their loyalty from a misguided Liberal Muslim sympathizer, to a patriot who actually cares about what is happening to his country and his community. Congratulations Eric Allen Bell, welcome home to reality.
Betz

Yeah, how dare Muslims want to take over the Tennessee we stole from the Cherokees!
MontieR

Looks like he may have done a little research on islam. Islam is completely based on domination and is the only religion that demands it's adherents to convert or KILL by any means those who won't convert.