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Phelps Family

Jason_PDKJason_PDK Explorer
edited March 2011 in Buddhism Today

(Contains offensive language)

Has anyone seen these guys? They hate everybody! They're horrible!

Jason

Comments

  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    edited March 2011
    Buddhism teaches that no one is "horrible", just ignorant. Which is not their fault to begin with.
  • Jason_PDKJason_PDK Explorer
    Good point!

    But this, they could not protest at the funerals of dead soldiers and make offensive signs!


    Jason
  • Now-Is-realityNow-Is-reality
    Awh, that is pretty sad that people do such things as this. Imagine just having lost someone and then having a group of people saying it was their fault, etc, it would be horrible.

    However, I also see it from the viewpoint that many people are very strong in their beliefs and will not back down from them for much. While as a buddhist practicer, I see the world one way... and as a hardcore christian follower, they see the world another way. Just as I practice compassion, they seem to practice damnation... I agree that from my viewpoint it is wrong, but from their viewpoint they are doing what they should be doing. That does not justify it for myself, nor for other people, but it's simply a differing in lifestyle. I can point at it and call it wrong, just as they can point at me and call what I am doing wrong because I do not follow jesus.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Americans have "Freedom of Speech" written into their Constitution.

    Some Americans no doubt wish it was not so.....
  • Now-Is-realityNow-Is-reality
    Buddhism teaches that no one is "horrible", just ignorant. Which is not their fault to begin with.
    Good point seeker. :)

  • Jason_PDKJason_PDK Explorer
    Awh, that is pretty sad that people do such things as this. Imagine just having lost someone and then having a group of people saying it was their fault, etc, it would be horrible.

    However, I also see it from the viewpoint that many people are very strong in their beliefs and will not back down from them for much. While as a buddhist practicer, I see the world one way... and as a hardcore christian follower, they see the world another way. Just as I practice compassion, they seem to practice damnation... I agree that from my viewpoint it is wrong, but from their viewpoint they are doing what they should be doing. That does not justify it for myself, nor for other people, but it's simply a differing in lifestyle. I can point at it and call it wrong, just as they can point at me and call what I am doing wrong because I do not follow jesus.

    Very Nicely said!

    Jason
    :)

  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Good point!

    But this, they could not protest at the funerals of dead soldiers and make offensive signs!


    Jason
    I agree! They are very offensive and do such foolish things! The make "wrong speech" look like a picnic in the park, with cotton candy and teddy bears. The question to ask now is: Why? And not "because they are idiots", which one could make a pretty good argument about that btw, but the very root cause of why. In other words, not because "they are stupid" or "they are horrible", but rather, why are they this way to begin with? The fundamental root cause.
  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    the phelps get a lot of airtime because they're basically falling off the crazy side of the religious spectrum. the truth is that their church is rather small and the members consist of mostly his family.
    to me, they just seem like a bunch of attention starved children, acting out as much as they can hoping you'll take notice of them. she even said they don't think it's their mission to save souls, so that makes me wonder, why do they even bother then? simply to offend.
  • ZenBadgerZenBadger Derbyshire, UK Veteran
    If you watch Louis Theroux's documentary where he followed the Phelps family around for a few days you would see that these people are living in a hell of their own making. Everything they see disgusts them and they have few moments of peace or joy in their lives. It is sad that they can't see beyond their own prejudices but that is their own personal obstacle. I gather that there are laws in place to prevent them being disrespectful to other people and they were recently refused entry to the UK so I don't really see the point in giving them any more airtime (other than schadenfreude).
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    They are mostly novelty. They're popular to be against, but they're not really any sort of threat to anyone. A lot of people get worked up over nothing, and it's really not worth it. Who cares if they have their little signs? Any sensible person would just be slightly amused by how silly they are making themselves look and move on. The only power they have is the power you give them, so "don't feed the trolls".
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    It seems they have a foot in each one of the Hungry Ghost, Hell and Animal Realms...if such a thing is possible...

    http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbuddhistteachings/tp/Six-Realms-of-Existence.htm

    Really, it's actually quite sad.
  • BarraBarra soto zennie wandering in a cloud in beautiful, bucolic Victoria BC, on the wacky left coast of Canada Veteran
    In Canada, we have legislation that prohibits "hate speech". Up here there is a limit to free speech.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    We have such legislation too, but it isn't being enforced apparently (if its in US)
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    edited April 2011
    The funny thing is... these guys are TRUE Christians. They know their Bible inside and out and they know what it preaches. Its true, if the God of the Bible is real, America is most likely damned. Though, the Bible in its current form is most likely not even close to the true teachings created roughly TWO-THOUSAND YEARS AGO. So, we're safe for now.
  • KungaKunga
    I read they do it for the money. They are all extremely good lawyers and whenever they taunt someone into breaking the law (by attacking them or w/e) they sue the person and get a lot of money.
  • BarraBarra soto zennie wandering in a cloud in beautiful, bucolic Victoria BC, on the wacky left coast of Canada Veteran
    Mods - there are two threads on same topic.
  • DeformedDeformed Veteran
    This may not be a popular opinion.

    The Westboro church is much less dangerous than other organized groups, in that they are honest about their hate. They do not consist of front groups and subtle messages, which are much more sinister and damaging to the collective society.

    In essence, we are clear about how they feel, which is fortunate for them. Interstingly enough, I find it much easier to practice compassion with Westboro than dishonest, manipulative behavior of other political and religious groups. I can disagree with Westboro and Phelps, because I know where they stand. Some groups make it much more difficult to know where they stand, and deceive others into thinking that some issues are about certain people, when they clearly are not.
  • DeformedDeformed Veteran
    The funny thing is... these guys are TRUE Christians.
    Then what are "true Buddhists"? How about "true Americans"? I am curious as to what constitutes a "true (insert concept here)".

    Would not practicing in Jesus' example be practicing Christianity?

  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    Ignorant yes, but what if they are intentionally ignorant?
  • LincLinc Site owner Detroit Moderator
    edited April 2011
    The funny thing is... these guys are TRUE Christians. They know their Bible inside and out and they know what it preaches.
    No, they know what they've cherry-picked to believe from the Bible, just like everyone else.

    Honestly I hate giving them any attention.
  • ownerof1000oddsocksownerof1000oddsocks Veteran
    edited April 2011
    The question to ask now is: Why? And not "because they are idiots", which one could make a pretty good argument about that btw, but the very root cause of why. In other words, not because "they are stupid" or "they are horrible", but rather, why are they this way to begin with? The fundamental root cause.
    Ignoring the fact they have sex drives and fighting against their emotions?!

  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    The funny thing is... these guys are TRUE Christians. They know their Bible inside and out and they know what it preaches.
    No, they know what they've cherry-picked to believe from the Bible, just like everyone else.

    Honestly I hate giving them any attention.
    i agree. it's obnoxious because it is clearly what they seek.

    i also agree with deformed. they are incredibly hate filled, but violent? not thus far. with any group such as this, my biggest fear would be that their views would begin to spread, but their message and tactics are so far out there that they really aren't a threat to inspire more people to follow suit.

    i don't think they're intentionally ignorant zayl, i think they're brainwashed from birth.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    The funny thing is... these guys are TRUE Christians. They know their Bible inside and out and they know what it preaches.
    No, they know what they've cherry-picked to believe from the Bible, just like everyone else.

    Honestly I hate giving them any attention.
    They don't cherry pick for the most part, from what I know. The Bible contradicts itself several, SEVERAL times (so it is impossible to not cherry-pick at all), but for the vast majority, they are following the main ideas.
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