Unbelievers and Believers alike, what do you think of the Settlement against Westboro Baptist Church?

Question

A Maryland court recently decided against Westboro Baptist Church, and I wanted to get a good idea of the reaction to that from others, believers and unbelievers alike?

I personally think it is wonderful, (and I myself am a Baptist Minister) but I do believe that hate is not appropriate. We should never abide sin in ourselves or others, but blatantly showing hate and contempt for people is not at all what the Scriptures teach. While love is not unconditional, Scripture is very clear that God loves us through the sacrifice of His Son, God does love us enough to help us to put away the old self, and punish us when we are refusing to do that. God's Love and God's Judgment are just opposite sides of the same coin, you cannot separate the two from each other.

So I ask again, what do you think about the Westboro decision?

Answer 1

I think it was great. I hate seeing those people parading as Christians when they are no more saved than my dog is.

Answer 2

I think it was good. I also think it is kind of sad that it was just a civil suit for damages.
But it might be that civil suits against the purveyors of hate might be the best way to go.
Maybe this case will set a precedent for bringing other hatred preaching fundamentalists into court too.

There are a few that might be open to class action suits from the people they have spewed off about.

As others have pointed out, the next problem is to actually be able to force the Phelps family into paying the settlement.

Answer 3

I liked how the judge worded the the judgment. He states that he is awarding the money because of the suffering that the protesters inflicted on the family. He says nothing about the "right to free speech" which is the rock where people like these love to hide under.
Also I believe that families who have been subjected to their hate speech would get together and start suing the pants off the individuals who actively took part in the protests. I'm sure that would slow their stride.

Answer 4

I agree with Cap't. Atheism. A lot of the Xians who think God/Jesus is loving don't take the OT into acct. Those who are forced to admit some horrible things are in there say it's God being 'just' b/c of our 'free will'. Ugh. I suggest reading 'The Jesus Mysteries'. I think a large amt of Xians are Gnostic.
They don't like what Westboro did? Imagine how the 'chosen one's' in the OT would have reacted.

Answer 5

I am a born again Christian, and a Baptist.

I think that the settlement does not go far enough. The whole Westboro bunch should be thrown in jail. No Baptist organization recognizes them as Baptist. They are phony.

Answer 6

.The Story and sorted info

Wikipedia.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

News Oct. 27, 2007
http://bu.bulicio.us/general-news/westboro-baptist-church-sued-by-albert-snyder/

Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217975,00.html

In the end of the Law suit filled by the father of a Marine who was killed in action in Iraq the "church" was ordered to pay an 11 million dollar settlement.

I myself am not a believer, but I have been at times a student of religion and many of the things not just the bible but many holy books have to teach us. Though there is part of me that can not help but to applaud this decision there is also a part of me that is horrified with it also. I feel that a problem such as this should have been handle rapidly by the police departments of those area's as protesting without permits, and various other smaller things to show them this behavior was wrong.

Before people move to attack let me clarify please, I served in the military, and I cared for each and everyone of my shipmates(even the ones I didn't like at times) and I would have sacrificed myself for them. I feel that the American solider is probably the greatest asset we have, and while I do not always agree with the things they are made to do, I understand it is not in their hands. To die for ones country, family, and ultimately for his friends and family that serve at his side is the greatest sacrifice one can make, and should be honored as such. What these people did was terrible and deserves punishment for that reason alone.

Though with my argument I must also step back and look at this from more perspective then just the one I posses, in doing this I find what disheartens me about this. The first amendment to the constitution of the united states protects ones right to free speech and protest. Though I do not believe the founding fathers of this country would stomach this behavior any better then most, I feel they would have allowed the law to stand for its self. As unfortunate as that is at times, the first amendment gives them the right to their belief, and the ability to voice those beliefs.

Although with a civil case such as this I am sure that issue was less looked at as violating the civil rights of the members of this "church" and more as to the pain which they cause. Ultimately though this could be a very important case for the 1st amendment, which could be used in future cases, and used by some to silence voices on things they may not agree with.

Just food for thought.

Answer 7

The State of Maryland has rendered their judgement against the Westboro Church, but God still has a bone to pick with them as well as the rest of false religion.

"After these things I heard what was as a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah, you people! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and righteous. For he has executed judgment upon the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves at her hand." -Revelation 19:1,2

Answer 8

I dont, besides the actuality that, there grew to become right into a question a collectively as back approximately Canada barring them from entering into to wooden at a youthful mans stabbing (he grew to become into gay). a guy from city, not understanding the kinfolk observed the planned wooden and commenced a cyber web petion for a amassing to guard the kinfolk from the picketers, he have been given over one hundred community responses, he often referred to as the PM and have been given them to close the borders to the minister and his spouse and any who gave the look of they have been coming in for the protest (ie signs and indications). I additionally heard that there is a bike veterens team that protects the protection rigidity funerals from them.

Answer 9

well they are right too... they use the same book you other baptist use and can you not see that your book is not all good. that the very thing you teach kids can lead to this kind of behavior. don't tell people that the bible teaches good when it also teaches bad behavior.

the westboro baptist church may even know the bible better then most other baptist. I have heard fred phelps debate before.

Answer 10

Whether modern Christians spin it or, or water it down (and I'm glad they do)...

Westboro was following the bible as it was written. Yes, they're nutjobs, and despicable people. But you can't say they weren't Christians. They were the purest form of Christians.

(And that's why I've repeatedly said, so many of the nice, loving Christians out there in the world really should find a better religion to base their beliefs on. Christianity never has represented peace or love. Call yourselves what you really are... humanists. That way you won't have to defend the mythology of the bible anymore either. You'll be able to admit that evolution is a proven fact, and everything else. Nothing else need change)

Answer 11

Ok, what was the case? It would be helpful if you gave some of the relevant information or maybe a link to a news site.