| Revision as of 17:24, 21 November 2004 view sourceRhobite (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users20,728 edits POV, Billy Graham thing broke up paragraph flow.← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:20, 24 November 2004 view source GeoGreg (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,020 edits church is mostly phelps and familyNext edit → | ||
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| '''Westboro Baptist Church''' is a religious organization based in ], ], headed by minister ]. The group is notorious for its website '''GodHatesFags.com''', and its related public statements that ] hates all ] people, no matter what. They are adamant in this belief, and are equally adamant in the belief that everyone needs to hear it and believe it. According to its website, "'God hates fags'"..."is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread." | '''Westboro Baptist Church''' is a religious organization based in ], ], headed by minister ]. The group is notorious for its website '''GodHatesFags.com''', and its related public statements that ] hates all ] people, no matter what. They are adamant in this belief, and are equally adamant in the belief that everyone needs to hear it and believe it. According to its website, "'God hates fags'"..."is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread." Most sources indicate that the church consists largely of Phelps and members of his family. | ||
| The group is known for picketing the funerals of people who have died of ], among other events. Group members made an appearance at the funeral of ], a young gay man from ] who was ] to death by two young males; his homosexuality was the given reason. Though Phelps claimed that Shepard's murder was unjust, his overt activism against Shepard's ], regardless of the ] of Shepard's ] and ], to some had the appearance of a tacit endorsement for Shepard's murder. ] is considered a sin by most Christians, and Phelps' chosen methods of activism are considered extremely controversial, even among ] Christians. The group has also picketed ] revivals, alleging that the conservative ] will burn in hell for failing to propagate the "God Hates Fags" doctrine. | The group is known for picketing the funerals of people who have died of ], among other events. Group members made an appearance at the funeral of ], a young gay man from ] who was ] to death by two young males; his homosexuality was the given reason. Though Phelps claimed that Shepard's murder was unjust, his overt activism against Shepard's ], regardless of the ] of Shepard's ] and ], to some had the appearance of a tacit endorsement for Shepard's murder. ] is considered a sin by most Christians, and Phelps' chosen methods of activism are considered extremely controversial, even among ] Christians. The group has also picketed ] revivals, alleging that the conservative ] will burn in hell for failing to propagate the "God Hates Fags" doctrine. | ||
Revision as of 00:20, 24 November 2004
Westboro Baptist Church is a religious organization based in Topeka, Kansas, USA, headed by minister Fred Phelps. The group is notorious for its website GodHatesFags.com, and its related public statements that God hates all gay people, no matter what. They are adamant in this belief, and are equally adamant in the belief that everyone needs to hear it and believe it. According to its website, "'God hates fags'"..."is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread." Most sources indicate that the church consists largely of Phelps and members of his family.
The group is known for picketing the funerals of people who have died of AIDS, among other events. Group members made an appearance at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man from Iowa who was beaten to death by two young males; his homosexuality was the given reason. Though Phelps claimed that Shepard's murder was unjust, his overt activism against Shepard's sexual orientation, regardless of the mourning of Shepard's family and friends, to some had the appearance of a tacit endorsement for Shepard's murder. Murder is considered a sin by most Christians, and Phelps' chosen methods of activism are considered extremely controversial, even among fundamentalist Christians. The group has also picketed Billy Graham revivals, alleging that the conservative evangelist will burn in hell for failing to propagate the "God Hates Fags" doctrine.
The members of Westboro Baptist Church explain their decision to use the word fag, a largely pejorative term for male homosexuals, in their FAQ:
- We use the word "fag" as a contraction of the word "faggot" or "fagot." A "fag" is a firebrand. A "fag" is used for kindling — it fuels fire. "Fag" is a metaphor used in the Bible, for example, in Amos 4:11 (where it is translated "firebrand" in the KJV). Just as a "fag" fuels the fires of nature, so does a sodomite fuel the fires of God's wrath. We do not use the word "fag" in order to engage in childish name-calling. Rather, we use it because it is a metaphor chosen by the Holy Ghost to describe a group of people who BURN in their lust one toward another, and who FUEL God's wrath.
They also espouse the opinion that the September 11 terrorist attacks and AIDS are acts of divine retribution. Their FAQ states "Thank God For September 11" and "Everyone who gets AIDS gets it as a direct result of God's will (including babies and people who get it from blood transfusions), and He should be blessed for it."
On August 18, 1999, an anonymous cracker transferred ownership of the domain www.godhatesfags.com to Kris Haight, owner of the counter activism site godlovesfags.com. Apparently, this was done by forging an email message from Phelps. Haight promptly redirected all traffic to his site. After much media attention, Phelps threatened to sue and the domain name was returned on August 21.
Aside from the well-known anti-gay dogma of the church, one will note that the Westboro Church claims to adhere largely to the philosophy of John Calvin and the principles of the acronym TULIP.
External links
- Westboro Baptist Church FAQ at godhatesfags.com
- Addicted to Hate ? a critical biography of Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist Church