I read that a man won a lawsuit against them for picketing his son's funeral. That is good. I bring that up because that prompted me to learn a little more about them besides what was in the news. So I went to their site and found something brewing that had me chilled to the bone.
It wasn't any one thing but a combination of different observations.
1 - Their children gleefully kick around the US flag and proclaim the hateful doctrines with childlike laughter and glee. They may only picket now but how about a few more generations of this, what will it become?
2 - They all get happy and excited when people die. I will explain this in a minute...
3 - Phelps himself gives me the creeps. I watched one of his videos and it is the first time in a very long time that I felt a spiritual hatred coming from someone.
4 - They believe they are commanded by God himself to cheer death of people by taking certain old testament verses out of context during Israel's wars.
2007-10-31 23:43:32 · 17 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Now throw into the mix that they are diehard Calvinists. It in of itselfs is not a bad theology but coming from their point of view -
Everyone is evil - total depravity
God has already chosen his elect whom he will save - nothing you or anyone can do to change this.
The elect experience irrestiable pulls toward God.
Jesus only took away the sins of the elect.
Once saved always saved.
So with this mindset what will stop them from doing more than picketing? When will that line be crossed? How many generations of this hateful brainwashing before their children cross the line?
Right in our back yard dudes.
2007-10-31 23:47:36 · update #1
Bob c - the verses I'm talking about are cheering the destruction of the enemies of Israel - not the ones specifically about gay people.
2007-10-31 23:57:16 · update #2
Die out? The videos I saw had children and other adults spewing a cold, calculating, matter of fact, kind of hatred. They laugh and are all excited about it.
2007-10-31 23:58:49 · update #3
I can't stand those people. While there are *some* doctrines and beliefs they have that I agree with, I think that many of them are wrong. They aren't Calvinists, they are ultra hypercalvinists. They believe that they are pretty much the only people in America that God has elected to salvation, and they also believe that they can lose their salvation too. I watched a documentary on You Tube, and the interviewer was talking to Shirley Phelps' oldest daughter. She seemed like a nice girl, actually, nothing like her insano mom. Anyways, she said that if she were to die in a car crash, her family would say that she had died and gone to hell because God had decided that she wasn't worthy of salvation after all - and she even said that her family would rejoice at "God's judgment". Sick people, and very confused. They have taken sooooo much out of context from Scripture and twisted it horribly.
I think that they are making a big mistake by talking about homosexuality in graphic terms (including using vulgarity too) in front of their little kids. I've seen the little five and six year olds holding signs showing 2 stick men engaging in sodomy!!! Disgusting - little kids shouldn't be exposed to any sex acts at that tender age. It is too much for them. They don't need that. What will these poor little kids be when they are adults? Remember, they are innocently following their parents right now - they don't know what they are really doing. I pity them.
Mr. Phelps gives me the creeps too. He is the most arrogant, prideful man I have ever seen (well, I've never met him but the arrogance shone through loud and clear in this documentary!). He is nothing that a real Christian pastor is supposed to be. And I also get pervert vibes off him as well - he seems like a real deviant somehow. I wonder if the reason he is so obsessed with homosexuality is because he struggles with it himself? Maybe he likes boys? Either way he seems like a pervert to me. I could be wrong though. I sure as heck wouldn't want him anywhere near my kids.....
And picketing funerals is just plain evil. The funeral is about the grieving family....why add to their hurt by slandering their precious child? Do they really think anyone is willing to listen to them when they are burying their child??
Blech, those people make my blood pressure go up.
2007-11-01 01:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by Blue Eyed Christian 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it's going to take generations. I believe it will happen with the children they have now. They are showing their kids that Hate is a virtue and that God enjoys the death of those who are not "elect". It won't take long at all for one of them to decide that they'll help God out and start killing people they hate. I have been watching this group for a few years now and it's been a long wait for this lawsuit to finally come and for someone to finally win against them. Of course, when Westboro wins a lawsuit (and they have won many considering 10 of Phelps 13 kids are lawyers - the other 3 left the family/church, 2 even changed their last names) it is God showing his favor. I'm sure now that they've lost a lawsuit it will be that the devil is working against them through the Gov't and it will further their resolve in spreading mindless hate. I haven't checked lately, but as of 3 yrs ago this group was not on the FBI's list of Hate Groups (and I still can't figure out why), though his group was being watched. It's a real shame that it has been allowed to go this far... all of those families having to endure those people at their kids/husbands/fathers funerals all because these people hate homosexuals. It's disgusting.
2007-11-01 00:05:08 · answer #2 · answered by River 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree with you.
The GOOD news, however, is that perhaps some of the children who are involved with the WBC will overcome their indoctrination. In this case, I DO believe it's indoctrination, and the children should be taken from their parents. No child should be taught to hate.
I think once the original members of the WBC die out, it will slowly become a fading memory. Maybe a couple of people will carry on for a time, but it won't be long before they crossed the line and are locked away.
2007-10-31 23:53:15 · answer #3 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Westboro Baptist "Church" members used to picket at the funerals of dead gay people. While the family grieved, the protesters screamed, "God hates fags!" and carried signs proclaiming that the deceased person was "burning in hell."
The thing is they will appeal this latest award all the way to the Supreme Court. Several members are attorneys and they believe that "Freedom of Religion" allows them to do or say anything as long as they cloak their hatred in "religious" terms. They may ultimately win.
The members of this church are clearcut examples of people God has given up to a reprobate mind. So, you should never be surprised by anything they do.
2007-11-01 01:13:38 · answer #4 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Emperor - you did not give their website which is www.godhatesfags.com.
I believe they are indeed a scarry group of individuals. Mostly the group/church consists of family members. They are also well educated - most have college degrees and I know that their lawyers are children and grandchildren of Phelps. They have been around for decades! They have been attacking homosexuals for many years. Picketing their funerals. They believe that the HIV/AIDES virus is proof of God's retribution of homosexuals. They have been mostly ignored because - well, they only attack homos - who cares right?
They have been more notorious recently because now they are attacking soldiers for some odd reason. They picket the gravesites of fallen soldiers from the war on Iraq, spewing their anti-homosexual rhetoric at their funerals.
By the way -- the homosexual community did something to earn money off of Phelps. The local gay bars in the communities where Phelps pickets have started having Phelpathons. People pledge money on the amount of minutes that Phelps and his group picket funerals and gay events which then goes to local HIV/AIDES related charities.
They are from my home state of Kansas. They live in the capital city of Topeka.
2007-11-01 01:02:03 · answer #5 · answered by Cinthia Round house kicking VT 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was so sad to see a church protesting a funeral for a soldier. Or anyone for that matter. They have missed the whole point of grace, and the love of Jesus Christ.
I, personally as a Christian and a wife of a retired Navy serviceman, would like to apologize for what these people are doing. It is not indicative of all of Christianity.
2007-11-01 00:04:04 · answer #6 · answered by 2ndchhapteracts 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was very upset to hear about this myself. I have tried NOT to get mad and angry about the situation, because I am only feeding into their hate. However, I do believe in God, but not hate and cheering about ANY ONES death. They are teaching this hate to their children, which means generations too come of the same cult like thinking. I have not looked into Phelps- but I do hope he is being monitored. If Kansas runs them out- I hope they do not try to come to ArKansas. I'm sorry that wasn't nice to say. True, but not nice to say.
2007-10-31 23:54:36 · answer #7 · answered by michelle 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As much as I hate them, I don't think they were taking the verses out of context. The Bible does say that homosexuals should be put to death.
Which is why I don't buy it. Their church is just as scriptural as the ones condemning homosexuals to hell. The Bible has enough scary crap in it to make some pretty ugly 'scriptural' churches.
2007-10-31 23:48:11 · answer #8 · answered by Bob C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Those kinds of people "who DON'T follow the word of God" is what people refer to us Christians as being like. Those people are wolves "sinners" in sheep's clothing. You just have to pray for them as you would for any lost ones. Ask Jesus to open their eyes and hearts to his ways and not their own.
Though they aren't all wrong. We are supposed to be glad when a person dies for they are leaving this world of sin. We are suppose to weep in a birth for one is entering this world in sin. This IS in the bible, of course in different words. But if you'd like I'd look it up for you. That's the thing about these kinds of groups. They go PARTLY by the Bible but mostly not but people get so wrapped up they don't see the sin. These people are fooled by the devil as all unbelievers are. Unbelievers will claim WE as Christians are brain washed. Nope, sorry we have our eyes wide open and see right through this corrupt world and the words that are spoken to us. We pray for you and you don't even know it.
2007-10-31 23:55:42 · answer #9 · answered by WWJD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the god that they profess to follow is not one that i would want to know.
you're right...it is very frightening. that amount of hate always scares me.
what makes them any different than the kkk? or the nazis?
they to raise/d their children to follow their personal doctrine. i think that in the coming years we will unfortunately see the results of this
we can only hope that some of them are able to escape that churches influence.
bright blessings to you
2007-10-31 23:57:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋