Something's really bothering me and I can't seem to get over it. I just watched a documentary "The most hated family in America", it was about the American Phepls family and their church, the Westboro Baptist. The Westboro Baptist is known for their "God hates fags"-signs and their website godhatesamerica.com. They believe they're the only ones preaching the true gospel and the rest of the world will end up in hell for worshipping idols, fornication and supporting homosexuality. The church is small, consisting of about 70 people, most of whom are children or grandchildren of Fred Phelps, the founder. They still manage to be visible and let everyone know about their message. Luckily their main focus isn't in recruiting new members, they're quite satisfied with letting USA know God hates them. Members of the church claim to be happy for each dead person ending up in hell because God's judgement is always right and something believers should feel happy about. After the high school shootings in Finland 1-2 years back the church released articles on their website thanking God for all the dead young people. They said they were God's revenge on atheist Scandinavians supporting homosexuality.
What ever happened to love?
It makes me so sad that someone can understand something so wrong. They way I see it, faith, no matter what kind of, is supposed to be about mercy, love, hope and freedom. Where does "God hates fags" fit into that?
I find it so upsetting that churches, that people like this exist. It just seems so inhuman, so cruel and so far away from love. I struggle to understand why anyone would join movements like these and have been thinking about it.
Man will never be able to control this chaos that we call our world. The natural world doesn't contain concepts of right and wrong, those were created by man and are full of gray areas. Some people desperately seek for black and white. That must be one of the reasons anyone would feel attracted to movements such as the Westboro Baptist. They certainly offer black and white! They're the only true preachers, they know the truth. They offer a clear division between "them" and "us" and see the rest of the world as their enemy. Maybe that offers some kind of comfort, always knowing who you can trust and who to hate..? And isn't a common target of hatred the best way to unite people?
I feel like these people are so blind and lost. Then again, they must think I'm blind and lost too. I just wish there was somekind of a way to open their eyes, to make them realise... But doesn't that make me just like them? I know THE TRUTH, all others convert! Perhaps it isn't so hard to understand people like the Phelps after all, isn't there one of them living in each one of us?
Well at least I don't hate fags.
A blog to share my thoughts and to remind myself who I am and what I want from life. In the end, how much choice do I have? How much can I fight against the factors that make me...me? Am I just a mere sum of my surroundings? Unanswered questions...
3 comments:
Those kind of people aren't that rare in the US I think, though most of them don't go to such extremes. Americans generally hate controversies, and choose the easy answer instead of the right one. Perhaps it easier to downright hate everyone else than think about stuff from their perspective. Keepin' it simple.
I think it's rather easy to see the logic behind the Westboro Baptist and other fanatic movements. As you said, knowing what's right and what's wrong makes the life simple and gives comfort. It's easy to live in the world of fairytales where it is crystal clear who the goodies and the baddies are.
It's easier to let others tell you how things are than to think from your own point of view. But which is more rewarding? What pervert obsession do people have with the concept of Truth anyway?
I guess it's easier for human beings to hate than to love. But why not take the challenge?
I find it so hard to tolerate intolerance.
So true Ilarios, ppls obsession for THE TRUTH seems so pervert. Why isn't it enough for everyone to have their own truths? I've always thought empathy is something essential in being human but sometimes it just seems like it gets covered somewhere deep under selfishness and (as you said) hatred.
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