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Revision as of 09:23, 9 December 2004 by Gary D (talk | contribs) (Update category)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Westboro Baptist Church is a small religious organization based in Topeka, Kansas, USA, headed by minister Fred Phelps, which claims to adhere largely to the philosophy of John Calvin and the principles of the acronym TULIP.
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 almost exclusively 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."
Rev. Phelps also makes lurid attacks on other other groups, including: Jews, Catholics, impure Protestant churches, and immigrants.
- There is a difference between the sense of the sacred...and the goofy 'communal sensitivity' at Topeka's sodomite Mexican Catholic Church...Mexican idolaters worship bloody rectums...
In October 2004 the group protested the mass meetings of Rev. Billy Graham, where they called the 85-year old preacher a Hell-bound false prophet.
Responses
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.
Counterprotests are generally organized to provide an opposing viewpoint at sites that Westboro pickets. In some cases the other activists have even try to hide the Westboro picketers.
Criticism
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the Westboro Baptist Church as virulently homophobic, whose anti-gay rhetoric they say is often a cover for anti-semitism and anti-catholicism. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a controversial anti-hate group, has added the Westboro Baptist Church to its list of watched groups.
External links
- Westboro Baptist Church FAQ at godhatesfags.com
- Addicted to Hate? - a critical biography of Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist Church