The Book of Stories: Religious Nuts Exposed: Didja really just say that?

The Westboro Baptist Church (or WBC) is an Independent Baptist “church” known for its extreme stance against homosexuality, other religions, and anything else that tickles their fancy. They are also known for their greatly offensive protest activities against fallen service men/woman and high profile aka popular people. In this special section, we will explore their hateful and distorted “divine” teachings and expose them for what they truly are, a hate group who uses religion for personal power.

From the very birth of our world, the very first time spoken by woman or man; when the first words were uttered, the ability to communicate became an important part of our lives. For the use of religions rites, for the deepest explorations of science, to every day use with friends and family, these words drive our world forward like nothing could or ever will. Without communication, without these words of language, we would never have formed communities, (arguable) grew as a civilization nor have really cool things like video games and the internet. Love, laughter, friendship, and virtually every emotion we feel as human beings can be inspired by words. Unfortunately all the bad stuff like fear, anger, and hatred, can also be invoked by our words. Leave it to humans to screw something up >_> Our words are also not free floating, easily said then quickly forgotten. Our words can linger on in people and thought, or even echo forever in the ages. Like what is said about the internet, once you say something it is more than likely recorded somewhere. Today’s edition deals with language in a much different way than the previous “God H8’s” series. In such previous titles we explored how their main message of each video was hateful and… well crap. In today’s edition I want to return to their previous video and twitter postings to explore the items we might have missed. You know, the little things they let slip that gives hint to just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Some of you think I do this for the cat photos, these people are 100% right.

Shorting past the million of wonderful cat videos on youtube, you might be lucky to find videos of a different non-cat nature. Some of these videos might even star the WBC. After watching a couple of these (assuming you can stomach them), you come to see a quirky pattern. When ever the opportunity for the providable 15 minutes of fame presents itself, the person recording and/or asking the questions are always met with some short of aggressively "we are right" attitude, heavily lined with ego that would naturally come with it. While having a decent opinion of yourself isn't a bad thing (one might even say its healthy to do so), catering "I'm just better than you" with it is in poor taste. Also entering into any conversation with phasers firing isn't going to help either. When a serious question is asked, one should not retreat to fits of laughter, random lines from a poorly parodied song, or "you're a rebel obey or perish".

Our first video and point begins around 2:56;

Brick Stone: Why aren't you guys killing gays?

WBC member: Because that's the governments job to do that.

Didja really just say that?! Well of course they did! Unsurprisingly cult members (especially leaders) never want to get their hands dirty .... with anything. In the same breath where they claim they are non-violent and totally peaceful, the cult will then encourage other people to do it for them. Well [insert divine thing here] said to bring the sword, so it's ok for YOU to kill this person. Remember instances of the Heaven's Gate, Order of the Solar Temple and Jonestown cult? Instead of (if you pardon the phrase) manning up and doing it themselves, their dumbass cult leaders used the tired Kool-aid cliche. Any person with time to kill can stand outside with a sign and rambling off some per-programed message(s), hell I do it every day for work. But what about actually doing the "uneasy" stuff the religion asks? Sell all their possessions including your high end computers and plasma tvs? Help the poor and needy with more than just "repent or die"? Have the wisdom to know what is just a story and what are life lessons? Despite holy edicts, writings or "prophets" words, when it comes to doing the "uneasy" cults always fail short. What does all of this have to do with the video? While I have no wish for the WBC to get violent, and I am eternally grateful they hasn't restored to such yet, one wonders why they insist on and even praise others for doing the dirty work. Christ did not preach or live a life of violence, It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves (1 Samuel 17:47)! Christ also said thou shall not kill....

I find myself really enjoying the videos produced by Brick Stone. Which is probably why you find two of them here... In nearly every video concerning the protest the WBC puts on, you will more than likely find people shouting, various creative use of curses, counter signs and some short of stun to belittle or embarrass. While I HIGHLY recommend and encourage people to continue this (and by the Gods use your words not your fists), sometimes something different can be kinda cool. Like the young man who used the WBC protest as a fundraiser for cancer, Brick uses their momentum against them. Short, sweet and to the point, the way Brick calls them out on both their actions and beliefs in a humorous way really is refreshing. True it isn't very G rated at times, but he gets the point across. Let's face it, the WBC really isn't G rated themselves. In this video, starting around 2:18(ish) among other things, Brick asks Shirley about our current president...

Brick: What do you think is more likely in American, an openly gay President or a openly black President?
Shirley: The president that's sitting in the white house now, the beast, the anti-Christ Obama, he is going to be the last president of doomed America.

Not only did they say that, they said that and more:

Link to full article.

Matthew 24:44: So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

After having a quick discusion on twitter about what the Anti-Christ is and how there could very well be more than one, I returned to this section to make sure everything was spot on. Having bible knowledge that could very well dwarf major cities, you think the WBC wouldn't make such a statement blindly. Perhaps they where just referring to Obama being one evil sob and not the bringer of the end times? However after reviewing their video above (and others) their website(s), not to mention general comment they make on twitter, the various members make it pretty clear what is going down. The end times are here, and Obama brought it. With Presidential elections just around the corner, I wonder how they will react when Obama doesn't lead the charge while breaking the seven seals or better yet... loses the elections.

Despite a church policy of no female preachers, and constant reminders on their twitter, Shirley Phelps has risen to be the (current) main spokesperson for the church. With great power comes great responsibility. When instilled with such a title, when becoming the face and voice of the thing she wishes to represent, one would assume Shirley would be held to the utmost biblical standards. After all being such a public endeavor, every little action will always be watched and judged. I direct you to fast forward the video about to 1:05(ish)

Atheist: Sam... Sam... are you the illegitimate one?
Silent Pause
Shirley: *laughs*
Sam: What does that mean.
Atheist: Christ, are you thick do you know what illegitimate means?
Sam: Am I thick?
Atheist: Yes where you born outside of marriage.
Sam: *shakes head*
Atheist: Were you?
Sam: That's none of your business.
Shirley: *more laughing*

In her battle against anything under the sun, one of her main ones being single/unwed mothers, Shirley Phelps had gone and got herself knocked up... outside of of wedlock. What's worse, it took her nearly a full minute of being asked over and over again to admit to it, all the while complaining about it. He was only doing the very thing the WBC demands and practices itself, rebuking others of their sins. Why the need for childish posturing, moments of awkward silences and "dumb card" moments, to finally say she did? She should be rejoicing for her sin being exposed!

So she had a kid out of wedlock. So what? For many of us, this would have been a no-issue. She made a religious mistake, but she kept with it. She had a kid, she didn't take the easy way out (abortion) and she cared and enriched (debatable) the child with her way of life. However, it is her own way of life, her religious stances that bring forth problems. According to her and the churches religious beliefs, this is a mortal sin that anyone taking part of will burn in hell forever for. Yet Shirley eventually acknowledges the fact but bares no responsibility for it... aka it's not her fault. Oh and despite what Sam said, both he and his mother know perfectly well what the Atheist is getting out.

Sam is a member of the self proclaimed "Only true church of the lord Jesus Christ" despite the fact he was created out of wedlock. Deuteronomy 23:2 states ''A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD". Further reflection of the bible yields various passages where we learn God outlines the martial boundaries. In Hebrews 13:4. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Take a second and reread the last portion of that verse. The big guy upstairs makes it clear that any ruff and tumble outside of the marital relationship will be condemned by God (e.g. “the adulterer”) but so too will sexual relationships before marriage (e.g. “sexual immorality”). Shouldn't all be held to the same standards and no special treatment be allowed?

Now fast forward to 1:50.

Atheist: Are you going to hell!?
Shirley: If the Lord Jesus Christ did not die on that cross for me and my sins, I am going to hell.
Atheist: Are you going to hell because you had a son outside of wedlock?
Shirley: That would not be the reason.
Atheist: Why not? Because you atoned?
Shirley: I couldn't possibly atone! I just told you that if the Lord Jesus Christ did not die on that cross for me and my sins, to pay that price.

While attempting to confuse or deflect the issue at hand, the main point the Atheist is presenting is still made. You can not claim Jesus died for your sins, that any debt your sin may have created was paid in full, all the while telling other people they need to take responsibility for their sins (that God made them do) and they are going to hell for it. Another interesting note Shirley makes her is no matter what she does, or how horrid the sin, she will never be held responsible or accountable for any sin because Jesus died for her sins.... All because she said so.

Oh and why can't anyone else make this claim? Was is this only exclusive to the WBC?

Westboro believes all social media (things like Facebook, tumblr, imageshack and all of the internet) was created for the sole use and discretion of their members. Wbc must love their porn then. As such, they take great pleasure in any posting service that can target a lot of people and in turn, get them a lot of attention. This in itself has nothing wrong with it, after all what would be the point of having a Facebook or twitter otherwise? The trouble comes from when you use it as a sanctuary for hate speech and making false claims at Divine whatever. Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.