It's things like this that make me die inside.

[Brushstroke]

Has anyone ever heard of Westboro Baptist Church? They're based in Topeka, Kansas, and led by a man named Fred Phelps in his basement They claim to be a great church spreading God's Word, but all I see from them is their imfamous slogan: "God Hates (I cannot type out the word due to the word filter, but it's slang for homosexual)". They express the opinion that nearly all tragedy in the world is somehow linked to homosexuality (specifically society's increasing tolerance and acceptance of gay, lebian and bisexual people); they believe God hates homosexuals above all other kinds of sinners. They are a hate group. The organization is monitored as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Not only is Westboro opposed by supporters of gay rights, but the vast majority of Christian groups (even those who agree with Westboro that homosexuality is a sin) oppose Westboro's theology and practice, believing it to be incompatible with traditional Christian teachings.

What I don't understand is how these people could be so misunderstood about God's Word.
( Look up their church name on google and you should see the web address as their main site.)

And here's something I found about their theology. They apparently believe that only they, they being the Westboro Baptist Church and all of its members, will go to heaven, and that everyone outside Westboro Baptist will go to hell. They actually celebrate the deaths of soldiers killed in Iraq, they celebrate the deaths of homosexuals, they picketed the funerals of the 12 men killed in the Sago Mine, the mine disaster that was a result of a coal explosion in the mine on January 2, 2006. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Phelps' group went to New York City to protest the rescue efforts going on there, mocking victims as they were taken from the rubble, shouting obscenities at rescue workers and demanding that those still alive be left to die. Phelps reasoned that God had caused the terrorist attacks as a punishment for tolerance of homosexuality, and that it was God's will that those who suffered in the attacks should die. Signs carried at the Ground Zero site included, "THANK GOD FOR SEPT. 11", "FDNY SIN (with a picture of stick-figures engaged in anal sex)", "NYPD (word filter blocked out word again) (with a picture of stick-figures engaged in anal sex)", "YOUR PENTAGON IS SQUARE" and "TOWERS CRASH, GOD LAUGHS". They also performed similar acts of hate against the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and the London terrorist attacks.

As the title stated, it's things and organizations that spread hate and more so those that spread hate and cover it up as something else that just makes me wanna die. What they are is not Christianity. It's a cult or...something. I dunno, I just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention. If you wanna know more about them, go here:

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

 

[BarbB]

This "church" has been discussed ad nauseum.

But welcome to CF anyway!

 

[exagorazomenos]

I wonder about all those Christians who lived before Phelps was born...are they going to hell because they never had the chance to agree with him?

 

[GeorgiaGuyinAtlanta]

Has anyone ever heard of Westboro Baptist Church? They're based in Topeka, Kansas, and led by a man named Fred Phelps in his basement They claim to be a great church spreading God's Word, but all I see from them is their imfamous slogan: "God Hates (I cannot type out the word due to the word filter, but it's slang for homosexual)". They express the opinion that nearly all tragedy in the world is somehow linked to homosexuality (specifically society's increasing tolerance and acceptance of gay, lebian and bisexual people); they believe God hates homosexuals above all other kinds of sinners. They are a hate group. The organization is monitored as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Not only is Westboro opposed by supporters of gay rights, but the vast majority of Christian groups (even those who agree with Westboro that homosexuality is a sin) oppose Westboro's theology and practice, believing it to be incompatible with traditional Christian teachings.

What I don't understand is how these people could be so misunderstood about God's Word.
(Look up their church name on google and you should see the web address as their main site.)

And here's something I found about their theology. They apparently believe that only they, they being the Westboro Baptist Church and all of its members, will go to heaven, and that everyone outside Westboro Baptist will go to hell. They actually celebrate the deaths of soldiers killed in Iraq, they celebrate the deaths of homosexuals, they picketed the funerals of the 12 men killed in the Sago Mine, the mine disaster that was a result of a coal explosion in the mine on January 2, 2006. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Phelps' group went to New York City to protest the rescue efforts going on there, mocking victims as they were taken from the rubble, shouting obscenities at rescue workers and demanding that those still alive be left to die. Phelps reasoned that God had caused the terrorist attacks as a punishment for tolerance of homosexuality, and that it was God's will that those who suffered in the attacks should die. Signs carried at the Ground Zero site included, "THANK GOD FOR SEPT. 11", "FDNY SIN (with a picture of stick-figures engaged in anal sex)", "NYPD (word filter blocked out word again) (with a picture of stick-figures engaged in anal sex)", "YOUR PENTAGON IS SQUARE" and "TOWERS CRASH, GOD LAUGHS". They also performed similar acts of hate against the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and the London terrorist attacks.

As the title stated, it's things and organizations that spread hate and more so those that spread hate and cover it up as something else that just makes me wanna die. What they are is not Christianity. It's a cult or...something. I dunno, I just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention. If you wanna know more about them, go here:

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

While I agree that that the group fails to mention that God hates the sin not the sinner, using the ADL and Southern Poverty Law Center as some sort of unbiased coverage is like having the KKK or Black Panthers speak on issues of tolerance.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is inherently anti-American, anti-christian, anti-white, and anti-western civilization.

 

[Godfixated]

What Phelps doesn't understand is that God doesn't hate. If He says God hates anyone or anything than that is direct contradiction to the Word of God. In 1 John 1:5, it says, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

 

[Jipsah]

Has anyone ever heard of Westboro Baptist Church?

Unfortunately, yeah. It's a loony bin.

They claim to be a great church spreading God's Word

Kinda like I claim to be 3 meters tall and bulletproof.

They are a hate group. The organization is monitored as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

That doesn't say much. I'm a member of a group that the SPLC says is a "white supremacist hate group", and I'm bi-racial and don't hate anyone in particular. (Except maybe Harold, assuming he's still alive.) Those folks make their living finding "hate groups" to inveigh against, so I can't put too much creedence in what they say.

Having said that, Phelps's band of idiots would probably qualify as a hate group.

Not only is Westboro opposed by supporters of gay rights

Yet another band of idiots.

What I don't understand is how these people could be so misunderstood about God's Word.

They don't actually care all that much about God's Word. They came up with the agenda first, and then beat the Scripture to fit. That's more common than not these days. You start with the doctrine, and then where the Bible doesn't fit the doctrine you "interpret" it until it does.

 

[brinny]

What Phelps doesn't understand is that God doesn't hate. If He says God hates anyone or anything than that is direct contradiction to the Word of God. In 1 John 1:5, it says, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

Oh I beg to differ. God DOES hate. He hates sin soooo much that HE came via His Son to die for us'n to gain access to Him once again...He missed walking in the cool of the garden in fellowship, He HATES that sin nearly did us in. He HATES anything that separates us from Him...that be sin...so yes, He be hatin' that ol' sin...

But hey, the SINNER? He be lovin' us.

 

[crumbs2000]

While I agree that that the group fails to mention that God hates the sin not the sinner, using the ADL and Southern Poverty Law Center as some sort of unbiased coverage is like having the KKK or Black Panthers speak on issues of tolerance.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is inherently anti-American, anti-christian, anti-white, and anti-western civilization.

Sounds like the Westboro Church are the ones that are anti-everything. What a laugh, but those poor church goers that actually are manipulated to believe lies. Even though you say that ADL and Southern Poverty Law centre may be biased, I tend to think that most of what they wrote isn't that far from the truth.
Nice to know that love and tolerance still exists in these fronts for right wing aryan churches.

 

[gts]

Me too...die inside that is....

 

[artjack]

that is their choice, it kind of reminds me of the de vinchy code, It is ment to stir you up and it is depending on that for support, Id say is is best to forgive as it is designed to make you die inside, thats why it is important to forgive & find and join a positive church & dont follow what they do or talk about them because thats what they want, it is like atention seeking, anger is never a good cause of reasoning, for them or you, just forgive them & ignor them also. they are to angry to deal with id say. read your own bible and have faith in jesus.

 

[maze77]

It's the classic case of the wolf in sheeps clothing.

 

[Longacre]

You know it's bad when people have to form special groups like The Patriot Guard to shield families mourning the loss of loved ones over in Iraq or from another tragedy from kooks like Phelps. Bush recently signed a law making it a felony to protest too close to a funeral. It makes you wonder what Freddie's going to do next for attention.

 

[Strong in Him]

Has anyone ever heard of Westboro Baptist Church?

Sadly, yes. I fail to see how they can convince anyone they are filled with the love of God. But I learnt something when I went to this site. I hadn't heard the word f&g in that context before. In the UK it's slang for cigarettes, and not a rude word at all. (So beware if you come to the UK, go into a pub and hear people asking if they can buy some!)

 

[Celticflower]

Did you see where the father of a Marine whose funeral was disrupted by the Phelps gang is suing them? Hope he wins a ton of cash.

 

[Strong in Him]

Did you see where the father of a Marine whose funeral was disrupted by the Phelps gang is suing them? Hope he wins a ton of cash.

So do I. I wish there was a charge of "bringing Christianity into disrepute" or something. I would go onto their site and start a debate with them if I thought it would do any good, but they'd probably condemn me to hell and then ban me.

Adrian Plass is right. Jesus is nicer than some of his followers.

 

[Uglybugg]

that is their choice, it kind of reminds me of the de vinchy code, It is ment to stir you up and it is depending on that for support, Id say is is best to forgive as it is designed to make you die inside, thats why it is important to forgive & find and join a positive church & dont follow what they do or talk about them because thats what they want, it is like atention seeking, anger is never a good cause of reasoning, for them or you, just forgive them & ignor them also. they are to angry to deal with id say. read your own bible and have faith in jesus.

Wow, it's really sad that people are so misguided from the truth like that. It does make me die inside a little too. I'd never heard of that church until I read your post.

 

[Longacre]

Did you see where the father of a Marine whose funeral was disrupted by the Phelps gang is suing them? Hope he wins a ton of cash.

I hope he does too, but Fred Phelps and most of his family are lawyers. They probably know every legal trick in the book to support their case. Hopefully the Marine's father will be able to bankrupt this "church" and they'll retreat to their small little corner, never to be heard from again.

 

[Blank123]

this church really breaks my heart. I've run across them a few times online and I caught Phelp's daughter on a Fox News clip a while back. I cannot understand anyone who would allow such hatred for people they never even met to devour them like that

I remember going onto the West Boro Baptist website several months ago and seeing counters to show how long two homosexuals have been burning in Hell. That really got me.

but what I don't understand about them is - they believe God hates homosexuals. But they also believe that those people cannot be saved through any choice of their own - so whats the point of protesting homosexuality or running around yelling about how God hates all gay people? What is that supposed to accomplish?

 

[wiggsfly]

Do a search for him on this forum and you'll probably find far more information than you ever wanted to hear.

 

[Alenci]

We can only hope that the world has the sense to dismiss such supposedly "Christian" cults without gaining disrespect for those of us who actually practice the faith...

*shakes head sadly*