Hate Veiled as Religion

Have you heard of the Westboro Baptist Church? Well, let me provide you some details. They are an anti-gay church (which, yes, by definition many religions have that as their “official” stance) whose members’ favorite pastime is protesting at the funeral services of American soldiers. Why? Well, because American soldiers defend a country that supports homosexuality. (I bet I can find a bunch of homosexuals that would say, “uh, no we don’t live in a country that supports homosexuality—we can’t even get married in most states!”) However, that is beside the point. Let me list how many ways their conduct is wrong:
1)In the simplest terms—just downright callous and disrespectful.

2)Their website is actually www.godhatesfags.com. Okay, you know what God hates? Haters, that is what! How can you hide behind God and spew such hatred? Look, if you don’t like homosexuality—I won’t call you out on that. This is a free country—you have the right to agree or not to agree with someone’s lifestyle. However, you do not have the right to be judge and jury. I will not judge you because I disagree with your stance on homosexuality, but I will judge you for your lack of compassion, insensitivity and mob like mentality. Oh, and I will judge you for using God as a shield. The God I worship, would not be happy about that.

3)If you do not want soldiers protecting a country that supports homosexuality, why do you live in a country that “supports” it? Hey, we live in a free country remember? You can leave any time. Let me list a few of the countries you might feel more comfortable in because they are not tolerant of homosexuality and consider it a crime: Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Afghanistan, Iran….just to name a few. Why don’t you pack your passports, bags and bibles and move out!

4)WWJD? He wouldn’t protest a funeral--that is for sure. A family is grieving over losing a young son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, they do not need publicity hungry hate mongers disturbing their worship. According to scripture, when Pontius Pilate asked the crowd who should be saved, Barrabas or Jesus, they chose Barrabas. Even then Jesus did not hate or judge. Why do you, members of the Westboro church?

I actually went to their website and took a peek at their picket schedule. Guess where they are heading in April? Virginia Tech. Yes, a week before the anniversary of the tragic shootings, they will be there protesting. These are quotes from their website regarding why they are at VT:
•“WBC to picket Virginia Tech to connect the dots. God sent the killer because of your proud sin!”
•“... they think fornication, adultery, and sodomy are all just in good fun (instead of the filthy practices they are), and that's why the wrath of God is on them. God is cursing you by killing those same children that you have lied to all their lives. VA Tech was just GodSmacked”

I support Freedom of Speech—whether it is speech I agree with or do not agree with. However, there is a time and a place. If they are so unhappy with laws and legislation, the most prudent place for them to protest would be at state capitals, Washington, etc. Not at a funeral.

The most dividing thing in this country is narrow-mindedness. It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican, a Democrat, a conservative, a liberal, a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim or an atheist…what matters is that you can keep your mind open and maintain more than a single focus. It is okay for us to disagree—what kind of boring world would we live in if we all were the same with the same ideas and beliefs? We need compassion, trust and a judgment free zone. It sickens me that this group claims to be spreading the word of any God. Actually, take God out of the picture. It sickens me that HUMANS (the one thing we all have in common) would create such a hostile environment on such a mournful day. I’m stepping out of my judgment free zone-to say that this is shameful and disappointing.