Keith Allen Will Burn In Hell - Channel 4

Just finished watching this about half hour ago. Would seriously recommend it to all, if it's replayed. Keith Allen goes on a documentary to the fundamentalist Christian Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Honestly these people are wacked. I don't want anyone thinking this is how the majority of Americans think by any means, because honestly I do feel these people are luckily a minority.

I first heard of this group back in 1998 when Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered and left by a roadside to die because he was gay. This group of people showed up to protest at his funeral with their signs and banners declaring that the people that killed Matthew Shepard should be commended and "all fags will burn in hell", etc.
Apparently, in the past three years, they have gone from just bashing people (be they dead or not) for being gay to just blanketly bashing America, England, and anyone to do with the governments for being "fag lovers". They have gone so far as to show up at the funerals for servicemen that died in Iraq to protest against gays and the American government for being accepting of gays (which honestly i didn't think they are or ever have been accepting of homosexuals). It doesn't matter if the serviceman that is dead is straight, non-sexual, or what have you. They still show up for their funeral to make a mockery of them and their families.

I can honestly say this is a hatred in it's purest form.

Although the documentary is obviously one-sided (against them), and at times gets to points of just shouting matches (which honestly if you see it you'll understand why), I thought it was a very poignant look at true hypocrisy and brain-washing.

I don't want to bring up "dirty laundry" as I know the thread caused a bit of a kerfuffle in the past, but I remember Lithium had started a thread about teaching kids religion and whether or not that was child abuse. I do not think that there is a finer case to prove the point that a child being brain-washed into a way of thinking being child abuse than seeing these individuals.

Honestly, the way they live, if they weren't under the banner of "Christianity" and "Southern Baptist" religion (i use the quotations as I think they are very far from what most religious Christians are like) they would be labelled as a cult. They are all a part of the same extended family. They live in 10 houses all clustered together around the church they attend, and that is where they base their hateful "ministry" and spread the filth that they believe is the word of God.

Personally, I'm not a religious person at this point in my life. I was raised in Christianity and spent a better part of 19 or so years of my life involved in the church. I'm not pro-religion but am not anti-religion either. People all have a choice to believe what they choose to, but anyone who spouts hatred is not cool by my book. I don't care what you package it in, whether it be wrapped in the "words of God" or what, if it's hatred, it's hatred, pure and simple, and should be stopped.


Anyway, I'm rambling. This program got under my skin a bit, as I really can't stand such intelligent yet ignorant people, especially when they have in turn brain-washed generations of children to think just like they do and haven't exposed them to what life is really like in the world.


If you happened to catch this, or happen to watch it when it's replayed, I'd love to hear your opinions on the group and what they have to say.

 

I agree, I caught only a small part of the programme but it was enough to wind me right up. I was bought up by an athiest & a member of the high church (which I believe is a form of catholicism). My parents were sensible enough to allow me to grow up & make an informed choice as an adult. I personally REALLY object to jehovahs witnesses who turn up on my doorstep with kids in tow to try to convert me to their beliefs, like having the kids there will make me like them more!!!! If they want a grown-up conversation about religion, bring it on, but leave the kids at home 'cause you don't want them to hear what I've got to say.
I once read somewhere that if "Christian Countries" were full of christians, there would be no wars. I believe this could be said of any religion as they all profess "thou shall not kill", and then interpret this to mean "thou shall not kill anyone who believes exactly what you do but anyone else is fair game"
This is really taken to the limit by "our allies" over the pond who believe "God is on our side cause we interpret the book right an' they interpret it wrong"
I have no problem with "faith" if it helps someone personally survive life (in fact I sometimes wish I could have such blind faith to ease the injustices of life) but to force your belief on anyone else is morally wrong in my opinion.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion, even if it is wrong, but they are not entitled to push that upon others.

I'm waffling now.

I'll have to come back later.

 

Is Westboro Fred Phelps' church? He's fucking mad in the head and no joking.

It's mostly his family in the protests, and a lot of his kids are involved in law. I've heard of people attacking one of them, then finding themselves getting their ass sued off for assault.

Thankfully, the laws are clamping down on this sort of stuff. There's an enforced distance from the funeral that protestors have to observe.

 

That is exactly who this show is about.

There IS an enforced distance, but it still doesn't seem to be enough. They showed at a funeral service for a US military man a row of leather-clad bikers and former Veterans that serve as "protection" for the families and mourners.

Tis wacky. I mean think about someone you loved who had been away from you for 6 months to over a year and while they are away they are killed. The one time you have to fully be with all your other friends and family to mourn that persons death and some bastards show up to shout at all of you that you're going to hell. It's just a very horrible thing to do to anyone. Don't care who they are.

 

Ah, those fucks. I saw Louis Theroux doing much the same thing - the fuckers are all inbred I SWEAR. They have exactly the same nose, all the kids and grandkids do. it's fucking freaky.
In one part some guys going past one of their GOD HATES FAGS pickets outside, of all things, an Iraq veteran's FUNERAL, threw a cup of coffee on one of their children. Now I don't agree with that; I'd've aimed at the adults. fucking assholes make me SICK, filling their kids with hate like that. Should be reported as child abuse.

 

Quoth - couldn't agree with ya more. That would be horrible for someone to harm a kid like that though. That was wrong. Maybe they intended to hit the adult but had bad aim. Poor kid. I feel bad for all those kids. They need to be taught what life in the real world is really like not just be spoon-fed crap every day of their life.