Westbro Baptist Church Response

From what I can understand, the Westbro Baptist Church is homophobic, anti-Semitic, against America, anti-Islamic, against Catholics, racist, etc. etc. They are vehemently anti-American namely because they believe that people are supporting homosexual relationships. Since most of their hatred is taken out on gay and lesbian people, they think that soldiers are dying in Iraq because God is punishing America for our acceptance/tolerance. As it is pointed out in various cases, the “church” is more about hatred than loving and hardly preaches anything substantial. Their main thread is “God hates ______.”

Their congregation is made up of an extended family starting with founder Fred Phelps. On one sight it stated that two of his grandkids and followers of the church said that they didn’t want people to convert because they wanted them to die in Hell. So perhaps the single family will just carry on the religion.

It is hard to even respond to this group. I have watched a documentary about their lives and pickets and everything is so offensive, I don’t know if I could rationally speak with them. The journalist tried to confront Mr. Phelps’s daughter about contradictory statements or how the organization could be a church, etc. but she was completely unwilling to discuss anything contrary to her limited beliefs. It would be very difficult to address these issues if the other party is completely unwilling to listen.

There is absolutely no room for discussion in this situation. In the documentary, the followers egged on people who confronted them. The Westbro group would just yell derogatory slurs or phrases of “God hates.” I do not believe someone could persuade anyone from this group otherwise. It is sad because I know a lot of the members were probably brainwashed this philosophy since they were born. They might not know any better or believe the world could be any other way.

I believe that people have a right to expresses what they hold as true. However Westbro does it in such an offensive way it is hard not to get angry. To hold rallies saying that they are happy someone died at that person’s own funeral is not only obnoxious but also intrusive. To publically condemn people to hell and insult entire populations in public in unacceptable as a practice.