Why do Baptists do such horrible things like this?

Question

"APRIL 20--The reactionary religious group that has staged protests at funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq plans to picket at tomorrow's funeral for one of the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre. The Westboro Baptist Church--which operates the godhatesfags.com web site--announced its plans to protest at student Ryan Clark's funeral in a press release (a copy of which you'll find below). Clark, 22, was a biology and English major who reportedly was trying to shield others when he was shot Monday by Seung-Hui Cho. Clark's funeral is scheduled for tomorrow morning in Evans, Georgia. The Westboro organization has protested at the funerals of soldiers because they claim that God is punishing America for "her sodomite sins" and the persecution of Westboro "for warning America of her doom."

from http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0420071ghf1.html

Answer 1

Some people are just ignorant and evil. It has nothing to do with their being Baptist.

Answer 2

First I am not Baptist, but like you I couldn't understand how the Baptist organization would put up with this or condone it. Essentially there is nothing the Baptist denomination can do about the choice of name that Fred Phelps came up with.
Their stance is "He ain't one of us"
He is a nut job and so are the rest of his family. For example our Governor Kathleen Sebelious employs one of his daughters ( she was a state employee before K.S. took office) and this daughter supports these protests. The governor's hands are tied because the daughter has yet to do anything illegal nor has her idiot family done anything illegal/ A lot of them are attorneys, but I cannot imagine what law school they graduated from. Fred is an attorney himself. So they are adept and standing just this side of the law. Go figure.

Standing in opposition is a great group of people called the Patriot Guard. They are likely to be there standing between the family and the maniacal phelps gang. I applaud the Patriot Guard and my prayers for the family go with them.

Legislation has been and is being enacted which will protect families from further intrusion by this hate group.

Answer 3

I grew up as baptist and attend a baptist church now. I do not think that the awful and utterly evil doings by these so-called "Christians" have anything to do with being baptist. I think that it is very sad. I saw a sign of one of the protesters saying that "soldiers die, God laughs" That is so far from the truth. I do not know which God that they know, the God that I know is a loving God and is saddened by the events that occur here on earth. But, the truth is things like this will not stop occurring as long as people keep rejecting God.

Answer 4

Because evil people do things in the "name of God" and think that absolves them of guilt.

God doesn't sanction horrible things like this. The Baptist church and Christians in general should protest Westboro and denounce their cruelty.

They should take a stand and distance themselves from this hateful group, since they're related by name.

But as to why they don't...dunno. Probably the same reason why normal Muslims don't denounce terrorist "Muslim" groups very much.

Answer 5

Fred Phelps and the Westboo Baptist Church has been condemned and spoken out against by all the major churches. He is an embarrassment to the name of Christianity and is no way acting Christian. They are a sect that wants publicity and attention and are being hateful. They can call them selves Baptists or Christians but in no way as acting that way!!

Jesus said to love your neighbours and these foul mouthed individuals are just spewing hate so judge them by their fruit and their fruit looks like rotten poison apples!

Answer 6

I don't think this people are particularly defined by being "Baptist." Indeed, most Baptist Churches will have nothing whatever to do with them.

The sad fact is that some twisted, angry, hate-filled people look for excuses to behave in totally vile, cruel ways. But it really is just an excuse. They're going to do things like this no matter what.

Answer 7

While I have no special love of Baptists, this is a specific Hate Group, not Baptists in general. This is not a Christian group. I don't know how the Baptist church is organized, but you'd think they'd spurn this group and make them stop using the Baptist name.

Answer 8

The Westboro Baptist Church is Baptist in name only. They are not affiliated with or accredited by any Baptist organization or Church council. They are an inbred cult of losers led by a mean and hateful old man.

Answer 9

This is an isolated group, and just because they call themselves 'Baptist' doesn't mean they're affiliated with the main denomination. Just because they call themselves a church, doesn't mean they have anything to do with God.

The members are mainly extended family of the so-called Reverend Fred Phelps. They're more of a cult, in my mind, than a church.

You can go to their web site and read all about them, but I promise you'll feel dirty afterwards.

Answer 10

The majority of Baptists would never dream of disrespecting grieving families. Baptists are among the most respectful people in the world.

Answer 11

ya our ways are soon going to kill us but as a Baptists i am appaled of hearing fellow Baptists having such a website. The barrier between doing God's work and taking maters into our own hands has long ben severd. they can do what they want but do not think that all baptists are like this.