Westboro Baptist Church family disowns daughter - Page 4

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/10/10 at 5:33pm

The passing of Fred Phelps will no doubt be a widely celebrated event, but the sad fact is, he created a legacy that will live on until either the family dies out or more of the younger kids begin to display the same curiosity as this girl. Shirley is shrewd enough to keep things going as they are once Fred is gone. The Phelps want to be the Fourth Reich and if they knew how to get away with it, I've no doubt they would commit murder as often as possible and find a way to justify it with the Bible. In watching the documentary Fall From Grace, it was very clear that while they use scripture to justify their actions, they have invented their own interpretation of the Bible. You can see Fred Phelps trying to explain specific passages, but he makes absolutely no sense. Like any successful cult leader, he just managed to create his own empire using charisma, fear, intimidation, and empty promises of wealth (Heaven, in this case) to brainwash his followers into believing anything he says unconditionally. He was just lucky enough to have a large family rather than having to resort to recruitment.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Phelps clan was one of the inspirations for the creepy Mormon compound on Big Love.

Updated On: 6/10/10 at 05:33 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 6/12/10 at 4:18pm

A while ago The BBC did a documentary about the Phelps clan called "The Most Hated Family In America." The person doing the documentary was speaking to someone who, just like the person doing the documentary for the BBC was a documentary filmmaker and went to Topeka to interview the family. However, unlike the guy from the BBC he liked what he had heard and ended up staying.

So, I do think that they do take recruits. But, a vast majority of the people involved are from their own family. Furthermore, I don't believe that this is the first time that they disowned one of their own children. Wasn't there a situation awhile back where they disowned their own son due to him not believing in that which they were teaching?

[Q]

Posted: 6/12/10 at 4:22pm

There have been four children who have left the church, and also ended up estranged from the family. The background article that Namo posted talks a lot about their different situations.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/12/10 at 6:27pm

Namo, I read Addicted To Hate about a year ago, right after I saw The Laramie Project (in fact, it might have been you who posted the link then, too), and I couldn't get over how disgusting that man and his beliefs are... but now I'm rereading it, and it's even worse than I remembered. Eurgh.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/12/10 at 8:40pm

Reading the report is like listening to a lawyer go on about why a murderer did what he did, and blame the killers actions on his childhood.

It's an excuse that doesn't wash with me.

There are plenty of folks who had horrible childhoods and went on to lead fulfilling lives.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 11:45am

I so wish I could be a fly on the wall to see the look on these people's faces when they eventually arrive at the pearly gates and are turned away.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/10 at 1:26pm

Anyone who thinks they are getting a mansion in the clouds with streets paved with gold is just delusional.


Why does heaven sound so greedy?