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Revision as of 15:58, 21 November 2004 by 206.72.76.5 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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."
The group is known for picketing not only the funerals of people who have died of AIDS, but Billy Graham revivals, alleging that even this conservative evangelist will burn in hell for failing to propagate the "God Hates Fags" doctrine. Group members also made an attention-grabbing 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 Phelp's chosen methods of activism are considered extremely controversial, even among fundamentalist Christians.
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