One of the most disgusting religious groups in North America is the tiny Westboro Baptist church in Kansas run tyrannically by Fred Phelps.. Even though it is essentially a family cult not associated with any Baptist deonomination it has become well known for its hateful exhibitions at funerals and other events. They began with placards with inscriptions such as "God Hates Fags" and other homophobic statements. The congregation branched out to protests at the funerals of service men and women and the children who were murdered in Connecticut. How, how, how do these reprehenisble people consider themselves to be Christian?
Recently two young women, sisters Megan and Grace Phelps-Roper, from the Westboro cult managed to leave, although they are now totally cut off from their family. They somehow came to realize that what they were doing was contrary to the gospel and destructive. The man with whom they are standng is editor of Jewlicious.com, which of course is a Jewish organization destined for hell, according to the Westboro gang. The sisters entered into dialogue with editor Abitol and eventually made the difficult choice to leave everything familiar, although they are still Christians.
It is an encouraging note in an otherwise dark story of faith co-opted for hatred. There are other family members who have escaped as well, but at great personal cost.
Had you heard about the Westboro church? Are you encouraged by the story of the sisters?
I watched a documentary on this church. It was so awful I had to look away. There was a particular scene that caused my stomach to revolt and that unpleasant feeling did not leave me for several days. The group had given their very young children these placards and had them march up and down a boulavard chanting hateful slogans. Someone drove by in a car and threw tomatoes at the children. Not exactly what those damaged children needed either. Thank God the sisters escaped.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe people can be so hateful. Glad to hear these women got away from it all.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they will continue to reach out to others and show them that these horrible cults are to be avoided at all costs.
I am wondering how other Christian churches who are totally against this type of "witness" can let the Westboro "congregation", and others who preach that God hates anyone, know that we do not agree with them or appreciate their demonstrations in the name of Christianity, and show them why.... unfortunately, religious people get a bad name in general because of the sensational, public actions of these types, and the Gospel of Christ is tainted and lost...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you used such strong language to condemn the organization, as condemnation is all it deserves.
ReplyDeleteI heard an interview on CBC just last week with the girls brother who has also left and he was telling about his ordeal and how he "hopes" his father goes first so that there may be hope for some reconciliation with his mother. He has connected with his sisters and they are the only family he now has. He described waiting until the strike of midnight on his 18th birthday to escape and how he escaped. He said there is always hope. I will have to go through the CBC archives to find this interview as it was very interesting and I only caught pieces. I think maybe it was on Gomeshi in the a.m.
ReplyDeleteFound it, it was Friday the 8th of March CBC - on DNTO the title of the episode was "Take a stand". Worth a listen.
ReplyDeleteFound it, it was Friday the 8th of March CBC - on DNTO the title of the episode was "Take a stand". Worth a listen.
ReplyDeleteAn extriemist, is an extriemist, is an extriemist. Muslim, Christian, what ever. The stereo type is the Muslin on a Jihad. We do have to rememder there are people like Timmothy McVey, and the Michigan Militia out there that are as bad or worse.
ReplyDelete911 was a terrible day, but don't forget Oaklahoma City.