Should the Westboro Baptist Church be allowed to preach that "God Hates F@gs"?

Question

There was a TV documentary in the UK recently about the Westboro Baptist Church,based in Kansas. They preach that "God hates F@gs", they picket the funerals of US soldiers killed in Iraq, claiming that soldiers and their government are "F@g enablers" and that basically everyone is going to hell (especially homosexuals) except them. Should groups with this EXTREME anti-gay hate message be allowed to preach freely? Would the US stop being a democracy if the church was banned?

Answer 1

They have the right to teach and preach what they want to within the walls of their church. Once they step outside onto public property or someone else's property, then that is a different matter. If they are being a public nuisance, then a court can order them to stop their public rantings, but they are still free to practice what they want to inside the church so long as they do not break any laws. We do not want government to get involved in the spiritual affairs of our citizens----this is not England where there is a state-run church. Heaven forbid that American Christianity should ever come to that.

Answer 2

I'm Queer and still I totally think they should have the right to preach their silly message for a multitude of reasons. First, it shows how whacked out religion can get and why it's so important that we maintain (or I guess in our case now, reinstate) a separation of church and state. Additionally, while they have the right to say what the will, we have the right to oppose and protest it. If enough people feel they are wrong, their group will eventually dwindle away and "starve to death" from a lack of membership. If you ban things like this, they often go under ground and become more powerful. I like them where I can see what they're up to, thank you very much. Mind you, they need to be limited and restricted from certain situations. For example, I believe the current restrictions in some states requiring a 300 ft. berth is reasonable.

Answer 3

No, they shouldn't. Actually my new gay roommate brought up a good point yesterday, and I like it, and feel it is appropriate for this question.

His father is an ex minister, and claims that homosexuals in the world today are for the reason of society. He is creating more homosexual beings in order to control the population. We already can't feed the existing children and there are SO many without homes and food and are constantly hunger. It's simply God's way of being unselfish and saying "we need help", which is why he is creating homosexual human beings. Population control.

As far as everyone is going to hell, that's not true, because gay people can be some of the most sincere, sweet, caring and kind people...You wanna talk about going to hell? Look at those on death row. Those are the people going to hell.

Answer 4

The US would only stop being a democracy if we suddenly lost our right to vote. The church being banned would require a change to the constitution's "Freedom of Religion" clause. Banning the Westboro Baptist's right to preach "God Hates F@gs" would require a change to the constitution's "Freedom of Speech" clause.

Both the Freedom of Religion and the Freedom of Speech are part of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. The first 10 Amendments are called "The Bill of Rights." Most Americans see "The Bill of Rights" as the single most important thing about our constitution and the country we live in. Amending (ie, changing) the Constitution is difficult (requiring a 2/3's vote in both the Senate and Congress before going on to be ratified by 3/4's of states' legistlatures.)

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." -- Voltaire.

Answer 5

Of course, our country supports free speech, so it must go on. However, there ARE things that can be done. For example, the "church" (which is almost entirely made up of the preacher's actual family) also speaks out against soldiers, sometimes doing their hateful, loud demonstrations at military funerals.

So do you know what President Bush did? He signed into law military funeral legislation which would affectively not allow that group into those funerals. So, there are things we can do - the question is, how free should our speech be?

Oh, and to those who speak out against Christianity - this church is NOT Christians. One of the preacher's own children has said as much - that their father has a kind of mental disorder and that he spends his time only in condemnation, not in true scripture. Actually, I would consider them a cult...if you can call a family that.

Answer 6

No, and the Constitution does NOT protect someone who commits hate speech. This is because such speech intends to harm, injure or defame others, like yelling "Fire!" for no reason in a crowded theater.

People can hold any beliefs that they want, as this IS covered under freedom of "religion." However, when they make their bigotry and hatred known in a public forum, they must take the consequences of their actions. Hate speech has been shown to foment violence.

EDIT - I don't make the laws, though I wholeheartedly support this one, the Supreme Court's interpretation of hate speech being a crime. So since it is the law, it must be upheld.

Answer 7

If these people want to disrespect deceased solidiers who died protecting this group's very freedom to pickett then I say they should all be lined up in front of a firing squad and shot before the families of these soliders.

They shouldn't object because they're going to heaven anyway right? It'll just make the trip a little faster.

Answer 8

I say let them preach all they want. They're clearly an evil cult, and the more press the better. It has already forced churches with their "love the sinner, hate the sin" nonsense to distance themselves from his message and agenda for fear that they will be revealed to be just as hateful and un-Christian as he is.

Answer 9

I really don't see why this can't be considered a special case regarding freedom of speech. I personally think that as well as freedom of speech people should be able to have freedom of uncalled-for hate spouting.

Also, I think in thie special case we can all agree that the sooner Fred Phelps dies the better.

Answer 10

I think they should. It just works FOR the GLBT community, not against. They have few followers, and I doubt they'll gain any.

Also in the documentary they comment that they as well are going to hell. They seem to be waiting for the end days to come.