I'm an atheist, but I have come to sympathize with these people. Not their message, but their courage in nonviolently spreading it and what they think is right. I began thinking this way after all of the violence placed and wished upon them from others. I kind of think of them as heroes. As an an-cap, I can easily see my opinions met with similar violence, and I'm not sure I would have the heart to keep at it like they do. Your thoughts?
When I stayed at my friends in Topeka, KS I missed out on watching these fools protesting. I don't see them as being heroes of any sort. Fred Phelps (and from what I understand members of his family) are lawyers so they know loopholes in the law to get away with picketing funerals and other events without taking heat. Oddly enough this guy has ran for governor and mayor with the Democrat party. Honestly, the guy is fucking nuts. My friend told me they seem to be on the street protesting more often than being in church, and that they all bought houses on the same block to make their own gated community. What I didn't understand in Topeka was that I had never seen more liqour stores, smoke shops, and sketchy looking neighborhoods than there, and that's where the WBC decides to protest everything, in the heart of "sin" (or at least where they breed).
Lawsuit against WBC
It's basically a big scam. Phelps (a lawyer himself) racks up millions of dollars though court cases if WBC is denied permits to protest or if they are physically attacked during protests.
Besides that, there's nothing inherent in Calvinism, WBC's theology, that is explicitly anti-war. I doubt if they really are.
I can't stand them because they seem like a bunch of classless pricks to me. I have plenty of opinions that piss a lot of people off, out of general respect I tend to keep them to myself in situations where such people are already under a giant pile of shit, like at their kids' fucking funeral. I sure as hell have opinions about the military and how it's being used that would frazzle such people, I'd be an asshole if I decided to voice those opinions at such an event.
Fred Phelps was a famous civil rights lawyer who brought up lawsuits to ensure complete and vigourous implementation of the Civil Rights Act in the workplace across his country. Used to be loved among non-Southern Democrats for his work.
We could have considered America's Civil Rights Act of 1964 to be based on sincere conviction had there not been the clear proof that there are men like Phelps who simply found opportunity and exploitation in it...as did many American lawyers and politicians.
Truly despicable people in my opinion. They use public property and legal loopholes in order to inflict emotional pain on those who have just lost a loved one.
"Truly despicable people in my opinion. They use public property and legal loopholes in order to inflict emotional pain on those who have just lost a loved one."
The public property and legal loopholes I could care less about, but right on the money on the latter. Someone just loses a son, a daughter, a husband or wife, and they come in and decide that is the time ot make their opinions known in the least respectful way possible. Nonviolent means of doing such things are ethical, but Christ it takes a low son of a bitch to treat another human being like that.
"Besides that, there's nothing inherent in Calvinism, WBC's theology, that is explicitly anti-war."
I thought Calvinism was also about predestination. In which case I don't see the point in them criticizing other people. Since no one can help what they do anyway. God already chose the people for heaven and hell.
They're scum. Just because one has a right to do something doesn't mean they should.
The public property and legal loopholes I could care less about, but right on the money on the latter.
I guess I was taking a little jab at the government. If they couldnt hide behind public property and the laws to assemble to protest there they couldnt do what they do. In a world where there is no such thing as public property these people would not be able to go around making these sociopathic protests.
On second thought, I think you guys are right. It seems like much of what they do is done just for attention.
The WBC is absolutely batshit insane. Recently at a funeral protest, the tires on their cars were slashed, and no locals shops would repair them. The power of ostracization at its finest.
Man I hate religious fundies.
"I thought Calvinism was also about predestination. In which case I don't see the point in them criticizing other people. Since no one can help what they do anyway. God already chose the people for heaven and hell."
Yes and no. I don't want to get off topic here with a big theological post -- it's hard to explain and there's differing views on the role of God's sovereignty vs man's choice in the salvific process.
But if there's free money via the court system, some people won't care if you're predestined or not.