Comment by Prazzie on September 18, 2009 at 3:16pm

Fred Phelps is one of the most disgusting cult leaders in America today. Luckily, he has been contained, thus far. Fred and his daughter are banned from the UK and when the church indicated that they would protest at Tim McLean's funeral, Canadian authorities made it clear that they would not be allowed to cross the border. I believe a small number of them managed to get into Canada, but they did not manage to protest at the funeral.

As with most cults, I do not think this one will last very long. The "church" members are mostly family members and their actions are not tolerated by mainstream religious people.

As for the witch burnings, I think such things are rare atrocities that occur in all societies, but not with enough frequency for people to be spurred into action. Cooking kittens alive in ovens, killing babies and eating their brains, keeping a sex-slave locked up in the basement - these things still occur today, but while we are shocked and disgusted by them, we mostly just shake our heads and move on, because it's not a big enough problem to warrant intervention.

Comment by Galen on September 18, 2009 at 5:00pm

I find Phelps and his gang immensely amusing. Disgusting, depraved, etc. INDEED, but amusing nonetheless. Why amusing? Because they have the most literal and accurate interpretation of the Bible that I've ever seen. All they're doing is following "God's Word" exactly as it's written. That the mainstream religious people in the world have a huge problem with it is exactly what makes it so amusing.

Comment by Reggie on September 18, 2009 at 7:18pm

The WBC is well known for their antics.

Regarding dangerous superstitions in Africa, check out the CFI's Anti-Superstition campaign.

Superstitious beliefs have retarded human progress from time immemorial. However, superstition has been especially pernicious and difficult to combat in Africa. For example, in numerous African nations, alleged witches are being persecuted and blamed for causing illnesses, poverty, death, etc.

Not all superstitions in Africa are so dangerous. Marrabouts, or so-called witch doctors, profess to have the power to bring people health, wealth, power, etc. Some Africans believe it is bad luck for girls to eat eggs. Many believe that wooded areas or wells for water are haunted by evil spirits.

In order to combat superstition and to uncompromisingly defend rationality and good science, the Center for Inquiry is spearheading an anti-superstition campaign. To kick off the campaign, Leo Igwe of the Center for Inquiry in Nigeria will help lead a seminar in Accra, Ghana on May 28, 2009. The theme will be "Witchcraft and its impact on Development." It will be held at the office of the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) at 12 Wawa Road. For more information, contact Leo Igwe at nskepticleo@yahoo.com or Norm Allen at nallen@centerforinquiry.net, or (716) 636-7571 (ext. 426).

Comment by Aric on September 18, 2009 at 11:33pm

I wish I could have a run in with the Westboro clan. I wouldn't even speak to the adults. I would just read science textbooks to the children and teens. It probably wouldn't do anything but it couldn't hurt to try.

Comment by Reggie on September 19, 2009 at 12:34am

They'd kill you, Aric, if you tried something as vile and low as to read science to their "youngin's".

Comment by Aric on September 19, 2009 at 1:03am

Whenever I see them on tv there are always cops nearby, so I doubt they would kill me. They would want to kill me! Does anyone know why those children haven't been taken away and put into foster care or something?

Comment by Reggie on September 19, 2009 at 1:06am

Does anyone know why those children haven't been taken away and put into foster care or something?

Respect for religious beliefs. Most people don't want to make waves when they are essentially in the same boat.

Comment by Wassabi on September 19, 2009 at 6:53am

Personally, I think that while they are insane and most of all- dangerous, they're also a bit more honest than most. Anybody who declares the bible as a "moral book" only do so because they willingly IGNORE large parts of it.

The god of the bible IS INDEED intolerant, hateful, vengeful. There are no lack of verses where god punished people for showing compassion. As insane as the westbro people are- they're only insane as they are true to the biblical text.

all they need now is to condone slavery and they'll really be the model of biblical morality.

Comment by Dave G on September 20, 2009 at 10:46am

One of Fred's children did manage to escape his father's upbringing and make his way into a saner world. Nate Phelps gave a talk at the American Atheists' convention how he managed to break free.

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