How do you respond to such hate? I'm confounded by it and though I shouldn't be, am always surprised at how much effort they put into it and how much pleasure it seems to give them. Sad!

As a liberal Christian, it's hard to understand the hateful nature of some conservative Christians. But, I think it's important to note that these people are from the Westboro Baptist Church, and are on their own level of crazy. Even the majority of right wing, conservative Christians don't agree with their extremist attitudes.

The alarmingly distorted thinking behind such people (quick DNA check: huh! whaddaya know! they actually qualify as "people") is supposed to follow the line of biblical prophets, which they think goes like this: (1) the nation is headed to hell in a handbasket: (2) they apparently won't listen to anything else, so we have to shout a warning right in their faces; (3) all our talk of gloom/doom/judgment should hopefully scare them to turn back to God, who really does love them.

Sounds okay on paper --- the only thing is, (1) the prophets' warnings usually had to do with gross injustice and for society failing to love their neighbors, not "fag sin" (or any other alleged "specialty iniquity"); and (2) they liberally seasoned their words with genuine appeals from a loving and compassionate God, reminders of his tender care for them and heartbreak over things that caused them suffering, and promises of his unfailing compassion and grace. So the doom/gloom really was mostly confined to outrage over how people treated one another (which any just persons ought to agree with --- that's what our civil rights movement was about), and the real message was always one of hope, love, grace, and compassion.

ALL those points are missing from the rants of the "God Hates [your name here]" crew. They think they're walking in the footsteps of the prophets; but all they're doing is trolling neighborhoods in bad Halloween costumes, and scaring or offending people. ("Mom, what are those horrible people supposed to be dressed as?" "I think they're supposed to be prophets, like in the Bible --- but they look more like some kind of deranged alien zombies.") And yet, DNA analysis will prove that they are, intrestingly enough, actual human beings.

Do I have your permission to email this far and wide to my "conservative" Christian friends not on facebook? If so, anyone know how I could do this? Thank you!

Ironically enough, it is through our mutual hatred of Westover Baptist Church that some of my ultra conservative family members (the military members) and I agree on some things. WBC will even picket Jewish organizations, so my Jewish sister in law in Richmond has taken part in some demonstrations against them.

It seems it can be one thing we all agree upon.

And while I really dislike using the word hatred, as I hate something, I have no ethical problems using it towards the WBC. My loathing for their actions, philosophy and such is about the same as my loathing for camel crickets.

And that is also another sign that I still have a long way to go towards being a Master. ;-)

For sure, hatred is not a Godly attribute, and, when we use, or, more correctly, 'get used' by hatred, (which is always the case, by the way, in my experience), it is not the way of Jesus. However, it is useful to point out that God does hate sin. No doubt about it, says so many times in scripture. So, when we allow gays to marry, and even give them rights as if they were not in sin, it definately angers God. God is definately against the sin of man plus man, and woman plus woman in sexual relationships of any kind!

I was a conservative Christian, now I'm just a believer. I find the hatred on the right for "sinners" and the desire to rob the rich on the left equally comprehensible. Both came from the same place: traditions of men. We in the western church have no clue just how corrupted the church has become, nor do we even know what the 1st century church looked like. (Hint hint, it doesn't look like anything you've ever seen, especially the crap displayed in the pics)
Until we (the church) free ourselves from tradition and human doctrines that came out of the dark ages, expect this to (sadly) continue.

This post says everything I've said for years, although much more eloquently, but in much the same wry manner. I've long since stopped attending church as I was simply unable to reconcile the behavior I saw around me with what I believe Christianity to be. I stumbled upon this post through a series of happenstance clicks within Facebook and am so glad I did -or perhaps I was meant to see it! ;)

Thanks!

Your article gives me hope for religion of Christianity. I wish there were more Christians like you. It's intolerance and hatred that have driven me from the church. Thank you for your blog.

Very appropriate and timely article Mark. I agree with you. It might comfort everyone to know that Mr. Phelps' one son broke away from Westboro Baptist and is now making speeches and giving interviews against what his father and Westboro are doing. I saw a video of an interview with his son. When the host asked him what drove his father to act the way he did, he replied, "Dad just hates everybody". A teenage daughter of another member also left the church. I was very troubled and disturbed when I heard that this group was protesting at Elisabeth Edwards' funeral. I pray that somehow not one jot or tittle of their diabolical message will be heard by the Edwards family, and that they can say goodbye to Elisabeth in peace.

You can't give up on church because of people like those that carry signs and hate in the name of GOD. They are not Christians. God is love. He doesn't hate anyone. I'm sure he is saddened by many things tho. Like when those who claim to know him spew hatred and insanity like these folks do. Cliche is really not called for here, but I have heard it said that "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car"

Your intentions are good but this blog post seems a bit off the mark. The first photo is woman from Westboro Baptist Church, which are the same idiots in the second pair of photos. These are not Christians, they don't represent Christianity. They're scam artists trying to drum up business for their legal practice. The media referring to them and their actions as Christian does a disservice to all people of faith.

The final photo is, I believe, taken from the Glenn Beck rally in Washington. Slapping his photo on your blog and claiming he is a Christian, or represents Christianity seems a bit lame.

For the record I'm not a Christian and don't beleive in supernatural beings of any denomination.

Mark, First off I would like to say thank you for writing this article. I am an athiest but it fills me with hope when I see a Christian "love thy neighbor". It really gives me joy to see people like the way I think their Christ would like them to live. To "walk it like they talk it" I guess. Anyway, thank you. Good luck to you.