How dare they...

I don't think i've ever been so angry at a group of people before.

But Fred Phelps and his brainwashed cult from Westboro Baptist Church has really taken the cake.

Now, I believe in free speech and freedom of religion. I am myself a Christian. In fact, i've spent several years now studying the complexities of Biblical interpretation, as well as studying the original Greek of the New Testament. Why is this man so hung up on "the evils" of homosexuality? And hate??

There are only 7 passages in the entire Bible that mention homosexuality, Fred. Oh, and also, the issue of homosexual orientation is never ever addressed anywhere in scripture. Oh yeah, and the laws in Leviticus and elsewhere in the Old Testament were part of the purity laws of Israel. These laws were directed towards the Hebrews because they were a minority group living in a large foreign culture where the main religion was a fertility religion. Sexual acts were used to "stimulate" the gods into bringing rain, or whatever else. The homosexual laws were grouped into the same category as laws such as "do not have sex with menstruating women." Everything in the list was considered to be "an abomination." So, if the question is so simply answered, then there are a whole list of other things we shouldn't do that we are already doing now. What else... hmmm... oh, and the words that Paul uses in the New Testament might not actually specifically mean "homosexuals." They could have meant "pedaphiles" or "perverts," implying that the behaviors Paul was addressing were deranged in some way.

Can you read Greek Fred?

I sincerely don't believe that the "sin" of homosexuality is the central focus of the Christian message. Even if the debate on homosexuality in the church is someday resolved, and everyone is able to agree that homosexuality is a sin, it is certain that this one "sin" would not be any greater than the others.... the more important ones that everyone commits on a daily basis...

Speaking of which, isn't "Love your neighbor" the greatest command?

Normally I wouldn't be this upset. I've seen enough religious nuts in my short time to understand that taking logically makes absolutely no difference... Its just that this time they were picketing in my home town, at the funerals of those poor people in Von Maur...

How dare you Fred