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I note with sadness the passing of The Reverend Fred Phelps Sr., founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, who died on Wednesday evening at 84.

The world needs gadflys to remind it of what matters. I hope the evangelizing work of the tireless Westboro Baptist Church continues for many years to come.

Summarizing his core message as few others could, Mr Phelps once told the Religion News Service (and I quote from the BBC announcement of his death):"You're not going to get nowhere with that slop that 'God loves you' - that's a diabolical lie from hell without biblical warrant."

BBC News - Anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps dies



Party on, dudes. Tell it like it is. Your ex-leader has gone before, joined the Church Triumphant and even now urges on your efforts from Heaven.

The Washington Post has a balanced and well-written account of his ministry.

Týr;1450520 wrote: I note with sadness the passing of The Reverend Fred Phelps Sr., founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, who died on Wednesday evening at 84.

The world needs gadflys to remind it of what matters. I hope the evangelizing work of the tireless Westboro Baptist Church continues for many years to come.

Summarizing his core message as few others could, Mr Phelps once told the Religion News Service (and I quote from the BBC announcement of his death):"You're not going to get nowhere with that slop that 'God loves you' - that's a diabolical lie from hell without biblical warrant."

BBC News - Anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps dies



Party on, dudes. Tell it like it is. Your ex-leader has gone before, joined the Church Triumphant and even now urges on your efforts from Heaven.

The Washington Post has a balanced and well-written account of his ministry.


The Big Guy is in charge now.

Let it be.

tude dog;1450523 wrote: The Big Guy is in charge now.

Let it be.


Who Obama ?



The most fightening quote.....

He received 30 percent of the primary vote in his 1992 Senate bid


I saw a documentary about him and his crew, I commend the American public with all those arms the amount of restraint that allowed the man to die of old age.

I was very happy to hear this, of course death takes care of all of us eventually, but this is a passing I can cheer! Burn in Hell, you crazy old coot!

"The Washington Post has a balanced and well-written account of his ministry."

His insane, hateful family was his congregation.

AnneBoleyn;1450526 wrote: His insane, hateful family was his congregation.
A certain amount of forgiveness on your part wouldn't be unseemly.

He had adherents and admirers across the globe, he wasn't just a local phenomenon.

Týr;1450530 wrote: A certain amount of forgiveness on your part wouldn't be unseemly.

He had adherents and admirers across the globe, he wasn't just a local phenomenon.
So did Hitler. I forgive him, now that he's dead that is. I won't picket his funeral. That's seemly enough.

AnneBoleyn;1450531 wrote: So did Hitler. I forgive him, now that he's dead that is. I won't picket his funeral. That's seemly enough.


Actually, picketing his funeral would be some sort of justice. But I will also refrain from doing so.

Letting him fade away to obscurity would be justice, as well.

LarsMac;1450533 wrote: Actually, picketing his funeral would be some sort of justice. But I will also refrain from doing so.

Letting him fade away to obscurity would be justice, as well.


Oh, I'm sure the family will carry on the tradition. What else do they do?

AnneBoleyn;1450535 wrote: Oh, I'm sure the family will carry on the tradition. What else do they do?


So maybe gathering up some picketers for his funeral would be called for. Let them see how it feels.

LarsMac;1450537 wrote: So maybe gathering up some picketers for his funeral would be called for. Let them see how it feels.


Would seem to me viewed as a sense of precaution to their religious beliefs.

A lost cause to explain shame.

I call upon the site's Moderator Team to add a 24-hour black-fringed note of sympathy for those affected by this passing, and perhaps a brief selection of Fred Phelps' more popular slogans. God Hates Frogs, that sort of thing. If only he'd stuck to that one, millions of Freedom-Fries-loving compatriots would have joined him on the picket line. There's too many cheese-eating surrender monkeys, that's what God thinks.

Týr;1450539 wrote: I call upon the site's Moderator Team to add a 24-hour black-fringed note of sympathy for those affected by this passing, and perhaps a brief selection of Fred Phelps' more popular slogans. God Hates Frogs, that sort of thing. If only he'd stuck to that one, millions of Freedom-Fries-loving compatriots would have joined him on the picket line. There's too many cheese-eating surrender monkeys, that's what God thinks.


I will offer a small prayer for the comfort of his loved ones, but that is as far as I will go. The sooner he fades into obscurity, the better, as far as I am concerned.

AnneBoleyn;1450526 wrote: His insane, hateful family was his congregation.


I have, if I may, a question.

Presumably you'd agree that his family would have been entirely average and unexceptionable had he himself taken a different path through life, one which eschewed fanatical bigotry for example.

If that's the case, how do you come to blame the family for what they became under his tutelage? In what way are they at fault?

Týr;1450544 wrote: I have, if I may, a question.

Presumably you'd agree that his family would have been entirely average and unexceptionable had he himself taken a different path through life, one which eschewed fanatical bigotry for example.

If that's the case, how do you come to blame the family for what they became under his tutelage? In what way are they at fault?


By that logic all muslim and christian terrorists are not responsible for their actions it's due to their upbringing. As a child you are under the influence of those adults around you and not capable of making moral judgements on your own - something recognised by the courts in most countries that have a age at which a child is no longer a child but tried as an adult.

At some point you have to take responsibility and make your own moral judgements for your actions and from them on regardless of your background you make the decisions yourself and are responsible. Are you seriously suggesting that members of the westboro church are not mentally competent?

In what way are they at fault? You're kidding right?

I'm not kidding, as you put it, in the slightest.

You're suggesting that someone brought up in such an environment should, on attaining his or her majority, throw off their entire culture, all they've been taught, their essential identity as it's been instilled in them, to renounce all their emotional and religious ties and to stand with the very people who are hurling abuse and hatred at them.

Why on earth should anyone be expected to do that in the face of such animosity. By all means deprogram these people you regard as criminally insane freaks, yes, if your position is more morally supportable, but don't attempt to blame them for their predicament.

Týr;1450544 wrote: I have, if I may, a question.

Presumably you'd agree that his family would have been entirely average and unexceptionable had he himself taken a different path through life, one which eschewed fanatical bigotry for example.

If that's the case, how do you come to blame the family for what they became under his tutelage? In what way are they at fault?


They are adults with the freedom to reason & freedom to choose. It's not easy to go against one's heritage & upbringing, but it is possible. Not to make light of it, but the hippies, in the millions, chose to go against how they were brought up. As a teen, I saw families split up because of the length of the son's Hair! And even faced with being thrown out, the son Did Not Cut His Hair. I worked with Draft Evaders, most of whom came from families whose fathers fought in WWII, some came from career military homes. They (the Phelps) are at fault for being racist & anti-gay activists & I don't believe you don't agree. I think your counter arguments are Devil's Advocacy.

LarsMac;1450537 wrote: So maybe gathering up some picketers for his funeral would be called for. Let them see how it feels.


I am thankful I am above that. I don't care how his family feels, I don't care about them except to disdain & avoid.

AnneBoleyn;1450556 wrote: & I don't believe you don't agree. I think your counter arguments are Devil's Advocacy.
Hush! Don't tell the others!

Týr;1450559 wrote: Hush! Don't tell the others!


Don't worry. We've been on to you from the get-go.

LarsMac;1450560 wrote: Don't worry. We've been on to you from the get-go.


Perhaps I could quote Emerson...Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.

Self-Reliance

Týr;1450550 wrote: I'm not kidding, as you put it, in the slightest.

You're suggesting that someone brought up in such an environment should, on attaining his or her majority, throw off their entire culture, all they've been taught, their essential identity as it's been instilled in them, to renounce all their emotional and religious ties and to stand with the very people who are hurling abuse and hatred at them.

Why on earth should anyone be expected to do that in the face of such animosity. By all means deprogram these people you regard as criminally insane freaks, yes, if your position is more morally supportable, but don't attempt to blame them for their predicament.


What anne boleyn said

They are adults with the freedom to reason & freedom to choose.


They can equally choose not to throw off their entire culture they have to make a choice. If someone chooses to stick to the prejudices and hatreds of their childhood upbringing it is a choice freely made.

gmc;1450566 wrote: If someone chooses to stick to the prejudices and hatreds of their childhood upbringing it is a choice freely made.
Oh well... that pretty much deals with all those Americans who can't resist a running up a flag from their porch then.

Týr;1450576 wrote: Oh well... that pretty much deals with all those Americans who can't resist a running up a flag from their porch then.


Well yes they are making the choice. Are you seriously suggesting your countrymen are all brainwashed numpties and incapable of independent thought?

In Europe my country right or wrong attitudes tend to grate on peoples nerves our histories and cultural experiences are very different.

gmc;1450635 wrote: Are you seriously suggesting your countrymen are all brainwashed numpties and incapable of independent thought?"All" is extreme and unsupportable. "Mostly" is undoubtedly true.

I'm capable of independent though but I can't guarantee it's veracity

Seen this ?

The Westboro Baptist Church Went to Protest a Lorde Concert. This Is the Counter-Protest They Encountered

I actually have about as much interest in the Westboro clowns as I do in that ninnie in North Dakota, or Katsung47.

In my galaxy, they are all in the far outer rim, one Nova short of being in free space.

LarsMac;1450732 wrote: I actually have about as much interest in the Westboro clowns as I do in that ninnie in North Dakota, or Katsung47.

In my galaxy, they are all in the far outer rim, one Nova short of being in free space.


Alright, alright..................blimey

LarsMac;1450732 wrote: I actually have about as much interest in the Westboro clowns as I do in that ninnie in North Dakota, or Katsung47.

In my galaxy, they are all in the far outer rim, one Nova short of being in free space.


Then why did you read the thread and post a reply?

Posted by bruv

Seen this ?

The Westboro Baptist Church Went to Protest a Lorde Concert. This Is the Counter-Protest They Encountered


What's she done to offend them?

gmc;1450751 wrote: What's she done to offend them?


Take the Lords name in vain?

LarsMac;1450732 wrote: In my galaxy, they are all in the far outer rimI'm tempted to ask you to tell us a story.

On your profile you mention "second generation computer geek". Would you like to start a computerish thread as far as it relates to your first generation? Did your mother program?

gmc;1450751 wrote: Then why did you read the thread and post a reply?

...


Because I like to argue?

Those people are weasels that bask in the attention they receive. ignore them, and they become irrelevant.

And that post was more to demonstrate my disdain for those people than any feelings directed at the folks here, or the particular discussion. I meant no offense to anyone here.

LarsMac;1450756 wrote:

And that post was more to demonstrate my disdain for those people than any feelings directed at the folks here, or the particular discussion. I meant no offense to anyone here.
No offence taken...................other than the spelling of offence.

Bruv;1450760 wrote: No offence taken...................other than the spelling of offence.


Well, I am equally offended by your misspelling of 'offense'

So, there.

Touche......

Nathan Phelps issues statement on the death of his father

"The website Recovering From Religion has issued a press release sharing Nathan Phelps statement on the death of his father, Fred Phelps.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24 2014 – On behalf of Nathan Phelps, son of former Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps, Recovering From Religion issues the following official statement:

“Fred Phelps is now the past. The present and the future are for the living. Unfortunately, Fred’s ideas have not died with him, but live on, not just among the members of Westboro Baptist Church, but among the many communities and small minds that refuse to recognize the equality and humanity of our brothers and sisters on this small planet we share. I will mourn his passing, not for the man he was, but for the man he could have been. I deeply mourn the grief and pain felt by my family members denied their right to visit him in his final days. They deserved the right to finally have closure to decades of rejection, and that was stolen from them.

Even more, I mourn the ongoing injustices against the LGBT community, the unfortunate target of his 23 year campaign of hate. His life impacted many outside the walls of the WBC compound, uniting us across all spectrums of orientation and belief as we realized our strength lies in our commonalities, and not our differences. How many times have communities risen up together in a united wall against the harassment of my family? Differences have been set aside for that cause, tremendous and loving joint efforts mobilized within hours¦and because of that, I ask this of everyone – let his death mean something. Let every mention of his name and of his church be a constant reminder of the tremendous good we are all capable of doing in our communities.

The lessons of my father were not unique to him, nor will this be the last we hear of his words, which are echoed from pulpits as close as other churches in Topeka, Kansas, where WBC headquarters remain, and as far away as Uganda. Let’s end the support of hateful and divisive teachings describing the LGBT community as “less than, “sinful, or “abnormal. Embrace the LGBT community as our equals, our true brothers and sisters, by promoting equal rights for everyone, without exception. My father was a man of action, and I implore us all to embrace that small portion of his faulty legacy by doing the same.

"I am deeply moved by this man's compassion, humility and understanding. His call to action against hatred is one I take seriously. I have little doubt that Westboro Baptist Church will continue on with their sad, angry protests until infighting finally destroys them for good. The irony is their legacy of hate will be all they will have to show for it. I firmly believe they helped expedite our triumphs. They certainly did not slow them down.

Thank you, Nathan Phelps, for your part in countering the damage done by your father and other members of your family. I can't speak for everyone who has been touched by their evil, but reading your powerful words has made a difference for me. My condolences for your pain."

Via Towleroad

Nathan Phelps issues statement on the death of his father

So they are not all brainwashed bad guys.

Nope. not all of them.