First off - a bit of a disclaimer. I neither condemn nor condone homosexuality. You live your life and I'll live mine. I won't judge you if you don't judge me. I believe in the right to express your opinion. After all, I wouldn't be blogging with the freedom I have if I didn't. I also don't go to church on a regular basis.
I attended Catholic schools for a portion of my life and it's kind of hard to buy into what great people priests are when they condone the kind of violent behavior I saw ( and witnessed first hand ) while in school. Perhaps it screwed up my faith a little.
I want people to know that the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist Church are not my own.
I didn't post this so that I could further their cause. They also do not reflect the beliefs of the vast majority of Kansas or the United States. I find the behavior of the people in this video rather despicable. You really have to wonder what has to happen to someone in their life to cause a deep hatred for others.
I first heard of the Westboro Baptist Church when my family and I lived in Omaha. A student at an Omaha high school had committed suicide and the members of Westboro decided it would benefit society to picket the kid's funeral . . . because the kid was gay. I debated publishing this post because I really don't want to give these people any more publicity than they already get at the expense of human emotion. However, I'm one of those kinds of people that believes knowledge is power.
Well, that and the fact that I have to at least try and answer the question of, "What screwed these people up so badly?"
When I heard about a University of Kansas Student who created a documentary about Westboro I was really interested in the film. However, the night it was to be shown to the public we had an ice storm and the 35 mile trip to Lawrence was out of the question.
So, when I found this documentary by the BBC on You Tube, named, "The Most Hated Family in America," I just had to watch it. I watched the entire thing - it's a seven part series of videos that will consume about an hour of your time.
I'm still waiting for an opportunity to see K. Ryan Jones' documentary. I just haven't had one that works as well as watching it over the Internet.
I attended Catholic schools for a portion of my life and it's kind of hard to buy into what great people priests are when they condone the kind of violent behavior I saw ( and witnessed first hand ) while in school. Perhaps it screwed up my faith a little.
I want people to know that the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist Church are not my own.
I didn't post this so that I could further their cause. They also do not reflect the beliefs of the vast majority of Kansas or the United States. I find the behavior of the people in this video rather despicable. You really have to wonder what has to happen to someone in their life to cause a deep hatred for others.
I first heard of the Westboro Baptist Church when my family and I lived in Omaha. A student at an Omaha high school had committed suicide and the members of Westboro decided it would benefit society to picket the kid's funeral . . . because the kid was gay. I debated publishing this post because I really don't want to give these people any more publicity than they already get at the expense of human emotion. However, I'm one of those kinds of people that believes knowledge is power.
Well, that and the fact that I have to at least try and answer the question of, "What screwed these people up so badly?"
When I heard about a University of Kansas Student who created a documentary about Westboro I was really interested in the film. However, the night it was to be shown to the public we had an ice storm and the 35 mile trip to Lawrence was out of the question.
So, when I found this documentary by the BBC on You Tube, named, "The Most Hated Family in America," I just had to watch it. I watched the entire thing - it's a seven part series of videos that will consume about an hour of your time.
I'm still waiting for an opportunity to see K. Ryan Jones' documentary. I just haven't had one that works as well as watching it over the Internet.
"What screwed these people up so badly?"
Well, I have the feeling that MANY Christians in America believe that the bible is inerrant and every word inspired by God. One step further and you can document almost anything.
There's not one line AGAINST premarital sex in the New Testament - and if the Old Testament is your guiding line... Well, the least I can say: forget bacon!
I can't even figure out what Zep is saying...for a second I thought i supported him but...err...umm, I don't know. I stopped reading your post after the very first paragraph because you are comparing Christianity and Catholicism and they are two TOTALLY different things. There ARE a good majority of Catholics which will NEVER see heaven!!! Sorry if that includes your mother or grandmother, because it also includes many of my relatives, but it is time to wake up and dissect what people are actually reading, hearing, following and believing in!
My God is the ONLY one I answer to...if I screw up, I am not accountable to a saint or a priest, I am accountable to Christ and he and I can work it out.
ZEP is WRONG about one thing...the Bible I read is indeed inerrant (IN IT'S ORIGINAL FORM) and every word not only inspired by God, but commanded and WRITTEN through God! People need to understand the word they are reading before they start telling others about what indeed might not actually be, as the Greek would say, 'Logos'!!!
And now that I read the article I would say thank you for writing it. I am a Christian and I believe it is my job to tell you that homosexuality is both wrong as well as detrimental to living eternally in Christ, but I also SOOOO agree with you that picketing someones funeral (on the surface, not knowing the details...if even needing to) is absolutely foolish and does not further your argument 1%.
I am not homophobic what so ever and I use to be MUCH less tolerant to gays until the girl I loved left me last year for another girl!!!
Talk about not being prepared...I met her through church, we attended church together, and she loves the Lord. I learned tolerance BIG TIME and I am excited to say, that she knew her ways were wrong and has come 'back from the dark side', but I learned a HUGE lesson in winning that war...and I'm telling you, those people, unfortunately, PROBABLY, have good in their heart but are not 'doing it right'!
Thanks again for the article.
Blogpaul,
Your observation of the Phelp's picketing of funerals as "absolutely foolish and does not further your argument 1%," troubles me.... By your reply it is clear that you are of the Christian faith.... Phelp's behavior should offend you and be in opposition to all your beliefs not just appear "foolish." The Phelps group are not "foolish" in any way...they are highly intelligent and educated. You can still be highly educated and ignorant of basic humanity at the same time. "Full of hatred," is more how I would describe any and all activities of Westboro Baptist Picketing.
It is easy for both Christians and non-Christians to focus on homosexuality as being "wrong," as it is as much visible as is heterosexuality and is not what society views as the "norm." What is not visible, and what will keep most of us out of "heaven," is what is not as visible. How do we treat strangers? How do we share the time and talents that we were born with and those that we developed along the way? Do we share them only with our "christian community" or do we share them with people on the street. Do we share them only when they are appreciated? How do we "love" our fellow man, not just our fellow men/women who are related to us, but our fellow hindu, muslim, atheist, agnostic, evangleic? How do we "love" god's creations? Ghandi once said that a people can be judged by how they treat animals..... Blogpaul, if you had an appointment to keep and saw an underweight, old mangey dog wandering by the side of the road near traffic, covered in ticks....ask yourself "WWJD?"
No one will never be saved by "sitting in church" or pointing your fingers at others. Christ once said, "By this shall men know ye are my diciples, if ye have love one for another."
Blogpaul - before you judge Catholics and homosexuals - take a good long look at the man in the mirror.
Aleah
A lot of my friends are gay and it really hurts me to see and hear certain things.
Aren't we ALL the same?!
Why someone else sexuality, color of the skin, religion (and so on) is a problem to someone else?!
WHY?!
I just don't get it and I never will.
Ignorance is something very scary...
I proudly stand for all the people in this world who are considered "different" based on their own personal choices...
We should all learn to embrace more, to love more...without distinction
Jim,
I just now watched the first video on the Westboro/Phelps group. This was quite the eye-opener into how they think. I never realized that conversion to their way of belief was not on their agenda and that they feel they are just delivering God's message that we are all damned - kind of giving us a headsup for the day of destruction. This makes me view them a little bit differently now - much like how I view the terrorists in the middle east, who while fueled by anger - are also fueled by a very real belief and dedication to their cause. Knowing this....makes me a bit frightened of their potential.....
I think watching even one of these videos would be extremely beneficial to the Topeka City Commission and the Law Enforcement of Topeka and Shawnee Co. in how they deal with this group.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on this post.
Aleah, I'm glad you took the time the watch some of the documentary. Since you're from Topeka ( as I am ) you've witnessed first-hand the way these people spread their message, but probably didn't have the awareness of the depth of their hatred.
The whole reason I posted this wasn't to start a debate about religion or homosexuality. As I said earlier, it is about the opportunity to learn what drives this kind of hatred. Personally, I don't understand what prompts people do harbor so much hatred that they must infect the minds of their own kids so that they can follow in their parents' footsteps.
Throughout history it has been our ability to come together rather than harbor hostilities that has guaranteed our survival and the future of our species. People need to learn to set aside their differences. Life's too short.