What do you think of people like Fred Phelps?

[anatess]

Wow. I finally experienced WBC picket first hand! They were in my neighborhood protesting infront of the Catholic Church. The really bad thing is they were closer to the Catholic School than the Church. It's lucky that not many kids are in school at this time.

They were holding up God Hates ___ signs. They had what looked to be 8 year old kids holding signs as well. They had signs that said Priests molests boys and all that garbage. It is abhorrent. Everybody passing by looked the other way, even to the point of just crossing the busy street and walking on the other side of the road.

I was in Orlando a few months back and there's a church there (not WBC, I'm sure, but some other church) holding signs in the middle of downtown saying repent all you sinners... and underneath it are words like, "Rock and Rollers", "Rappers", among the other stuff. It's not as abhorrent as the WBC signs but still, it's a turn-off. But then, my husband said, I wonder if Samuel the Lamanite did the exact same thing which is why he got thrown out of the city? That gave me a pause.

What's your thoughts on this?

[Godless]

Originally Posted by anatess

Wow. I finally experienced WBC picket first hand! They were in my neighborhood protesting infront of the Catholic Church. The really bad thing is they were closer to the Catholic School than the Church. It's lucky that not many kids are in school at this time.

They were holding up God Hates ___ signs. They had what looked to be 8 year old kids holding signs as well. They had signs that said Priests molests boys and all that garbage. It is abhorrent. Everybody passing by looked the other way, even to the point of just crossing the busy street and walking on the other side of the road.

I was in Orlando a few months back and there's a church there (not WBC, I'm sure, but some other church) holding signs in the middle of downtown saying repent all you sinners... and underneath it are words like, "Rock and Rollers", "Rappers", among the other stuff. It's not as abhorrent as the WBC signs but still, it's a turn-off. But then, my husband said, I wonder if Samuel the Lamanite did the exact same thing which is why he got thrown out of the city? That gave me a pause.

What's your thoughts on this?

That's a very interesting comparison. I think your husband may be onto something.

[FunkyTown]

I think there's nothing wrong with challenging someone on what you feel is Sin. Is rock and roll a sin? No, but songs that incite lust and hate against your brother are forms of sin. The second group, I would say are probably on to something.

Fred Phelps? Not so much.

[SortOfMormon]

How do we know he is not right though? I think this about every fundelmentalist.

[Galatians220]

I think he needs some serious Wall-to-Wall Counseling if you know what I mean.

I feel sorry for the members of his family and the members of his church. They're good, obedient, and sincere people but they just happened to that crap he's spewing out because of him.

Originally Posted by SortOfMormon

Anyone heard of him?

He's passionate about his beliefs. Their song parodies are kind of funny. That's about it.

[Galatians220]

Originally Posted by SortOfMormon

How do we know he is not right though? I think this about every fundelmentalist.

He's not a typical Christian fundamentalist. Your average Fundamentalist stresses on the fundamental doctrines of scripture such as the exclusivity of God, Jesus Christ, Salvation, and the Bible. He/she also is concerned about the morality of this country just as much as the Mormons do.

Christian fundamentalism is a reaction to the growing liberalism of the churches around them in the late 19th and early 20th century having abandoned the importance of the gospel and scripture teachings.

Billy Graham came to prominence and he is a fundamentalist because he believed in the Bible and the Gospel. He does not rail against this country, it's service members, etc; he simply preaches God's Love, Christ's Sacrifice, the free gift of eternal life and forgiveness of Sins as a result of Faith, that's all.