Westboro Baptist Church

[Gregg Pathiakis]

If you've never heard of this "church",

Vaguely, I have read bits of that church in some literatures over the years, but you (meaning Gregg) and I know it is not even in Westborough, Massahcusetts. I know the folks in MA sometimes call that town Westboro, but legally and technically, it has always been Westborough. By the way, I used to work at Westborough State Hospital.

No, definitely not the same Westboro. Not sure if it's the town of Westboro in whatever state it is in, but I know it is in the Bible belt.

Speaking of the spelling of Westborough... that is a pet peeve of mine, but I do it myself... same goes with Southboro(ugh) Middleboro(ugh), and I even think there is a Northboro(ugh)

[Brent Burns]

Speaking of the spelling of Westborough... that is a pet peeve of mine, but I do it myself... same goes with Southboro(ugh) Middleboro(ugh), and I even think there is a Northboro(ugh)

It is also the same problem for Marlborough, home of Ken's salad dressings.

Sorry for going waaaaaay off the point, so y'all carry on discussing this thread.

[sohotrightnow]

The church is located in Kansas

[SMSlax]

I was wondering what a terrible conflict a child may have in the event that his mother or father had realized their homosexuality after their birth. Doesn't the Bible command that we all honor our mothers and our fathers? Yet they insist that homosexuality and this awful country which "honors fags" should all burn for eternity. The cognitive dissonance might cause that poor childs head to explode, followed by an eternity in hell, I would assume.
(Spontaneous head explosions are strictly forbidden in the Gospel of Matthew)

[FaceKid44]

Gregg and Brent,

Definitely not Westborough, MA. I think they are from Kansas. They protested a soldier's funeral in Mass. last summer or the summer before.

I have always liked on the Mass Pike when you pass the big sign for the "Westborough" Exit, but the little sign in the median when you enter the town says "Westboro"

[Brent Burns]

That church is located in Topeka, Kansas. I am even wondering how did the folks at that church come up with the name "Westboro" for their church in a town called Topeka, Kansas. Hmm...

[laxfan25]

If you've read some of the articles about the "church" (they did their gig at a soldier's funeral here in MI), you'll find that many of the members are part of the extended family of the pastor. "Research done by the Topeka Capital Journal in 1994 indicated that the church has roughly 100 to 200 congregants, most of whom are related to Fred Phelps Sr. by blood or marriage."
They're just another wacky cult - Somebody get them some Kool-Aid!!
Another interesting tidbit - "The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles, though it has been accused by others of Satanism or more lightly, Hyper-Calvinism".
Many Forum members would be surprised to learn that Calvin College, one of the participants at the B championships in Plano, is an offshoot of this church. You can ask Coach Andy Sharp all the questions you like about Westboro's stance on homosexuality - he'll be glad to give you chapter and verse.
(When Andy said he wanted to get a Holy War rivalry going with other religious-affiliated schools, you didn't realize just how serious he was!!)

[Kyle Berggren]

When was it cool to lay judgement on others?

That's always the biggest thing I miss with many 'stances' coming out of a few churches... I'm around Lutheran Churches constantly with work, and what seems to happen is that when they take a strong stance in any direction, and begin to teach/preach beliefs that are not tolerant of others and their choices, the congregations get older, and die off. New members rarely come in and go, "Wow, I'm not perfect, but I bet I'll fit in and be able to worship comfortably here!"

Coming from a religous school, I'm also surprised that people will still take the Bible literally (different discussion possibly). The 'vast majority' of the Bible was not hand written by Jesus or God. Nor were the 'vast majority' of the books, as they were written by followers of the books that bare their names anywhere from 50 to roughly 200 years later. Now maybe that's just me, but that's like using something your Grandfather said 100 years ago, which you heard through the grape vine, and attempting to give a speech he gave word for word earlier in his life.

[Hackalicious]

Coming from a religous school, I'm also surprised that people will still take the Bible literally (different discussion possibly). The 'vast majority' of the Bible was not hand written by Jesus or God. Nor were the 'vast majority' of the books, as they were written by followers of the books that bare their names anywhere from 50 to roughly 200 years later. Now maybe that's just me, but that's like using something your Grandfather said 100 years ago, which you heard through the grape vine, and attempting to give a speech he gave word for word earlier in his life.

43% of Americans believe the bible is the literal word of god, word for word.

http://www.pollingreport.com/religion.htm

In a way, that scares the crap out of me. Fortunately, those people don't closely read the bible or really believe what they tell pollsters.

Or at least they don't read the Old Testament. Otherwise, they'd be stoning people to death and offering burnt animal sacrifices left and right.

I think that rational society can only co-exist with religion if people willfully ignore the primitive, superstitious parts, and only abide by the underlying philosophies. I suppose some superstitions are less harmful than others. Believing in transubstantiation or the immaculate conception doesn't do as much harm as believing you're going to gain entry to paradise by killing the infidel.

[Sonny]

Believing in transubstantiation or the immaculate conception doesn't do as much harm as believing you're going to gain entry to paradise by killing the infidel.

The man from the West Coast is wise beyond his young age.

[LandonMLudlow]

Any book with the range of the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways, the problem comes when you add in the religion, and its zealots.

what these "ultra-literalists" don't understand is that Jesus was sent to end all the goat sacrificing and eye for an eyeing, to me its simple logic that you should take the last word said as the most relevant and eminent

Islamic extremists for the most part were raised in a bubble with that psychology hammered into them from birth, they haven't had at all a chance to absorb a new point of view, so thats the only one they could possibly have. It's not the fault of Islam, its the fault of evil people who control others and a regressive society that allows violence. Don't you think those people from westboro would love to bomb some stuff if it was more compliant with the society they live in?

man can you imagine how it would feel be at the funeral of a brother who came back from war and have people doing that in front of you? telling you your brother was going to hell? I think I would literally kill somebody

[sohotrightnow]

What I don't understand is that people do not see through Hannity's act. He disparaged this mentally and morally disturbed woman and people are applauding him as if he cured cancer. Bravo Sean, how noble of you. How can people not see that this was just a microcosm of the guests he by and large has on his show every day?

One day he will have an anti-war liberal nobody (usually a congressman/woman in his/her first term who has virtually no debating skills or some political pundit with no experience) on the show and tear them apart in a debate (actually he usually won't let them speak or will go off on a tangent saying that the guest in question hates America) and then the next day he will have some whacko conservative nut-job such as Mrs. Phelps on the show and tear her down. Yet, somehow this is considered fair and balanced because he was "equal" in his treatment of them. Give me a break Sean, you are not fooing me, but unfortunately I cannot speak for the rest of the country.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

Did I get a different version of the Bible than you guys?

Your version didn't come with pictures?

Not only did it come with pictures, I can also turn it into a castle.

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

[JW]

To me it seems that these people didn't read the gospel. The Old testament talks a lot about God's wrath, but not in a hate aspect, but in a punishing aspect. But when Christ came to this world everything changed, instead of focusing on the sinner, Christ focused on how he can be forgiven. Christ preached loving everyone, because no one is without sin.

My favorite part of the Hannity interview is when he asked the woman "What sin do you have?", and she changed the subject. It is unfortunate, because this is what creates atheists. More people will turn away from God because of these people, than will turn toward God.

They forgot that God loves everyone, believers and non-believers. These people need to remember that no man is without sin, and that sin can be forgiven if asked for. God is incapable of commiting sin, Hate is a sin.

I am saddened for the Troops and their families that have had to listen to this. My prayers are always with them. Know that this is just a minority of this country

WE SUPPORT YOU.

[Gregg Pathiakis]

I've been following this "church" for a while now and forgot to point something out...

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/whipplememorial.html

Diane Whipple has been in hell for 1926 days.

Eternity - 1926 days = Eternity

Diane Whipple, a filthy dyke, died in her sins on Jan. 26, 2001, as a result of being mauled by two dogs. God used literal dogs to kill a figurative dog - sodomites being likened unto dogs for beast-filthiness (Deut. 23:17, Mat. 7:6, Phil. 3:2, 2 Pet. 2:7,8,12,22; Rev. 22:15). Fags & dykes = dogs & sows. She lived like a beast, died like a beast, at the hands of beasts, and is mourned by a family of beasts! The wrath and fury that smote Diane Whipple - suddenly and violently ripping her throat out and casting her forthwith into the everlasting flames of Hell - is poised to similarly visit this evil sodomite-dominated nation in final overwhelming vengeance. Jer. 9:9. Sharon Smith (the dead dyke's lover) and Penny Whipple-Kelly (the dead dyke's guilty, dyke-pimp, mother-from-Hell) need a reality check. Diane is in Hell, and you will join her there - where you three will bitterly curse each other forever, as you gnaw your tongues in pain and blaspheme God. Flames of God's wrath will engulf you and fill your heads, bowels, and limbs. The same is happening to Diane now.

For those who don't know, Diane Whipple was a women's lacrosse head coach.