Fred Phelps "on the edge of death"

[Doubting Thomas]

If anyone's interested, here's the text of the book Addicted to Hate, an inside expose of the Phelps family as told by Nate and his other brothers who left the family. All I have to say is that if even half the stuff in that book is true, then Fred is one of the most evil, vile, fucked-up people to walk the planet.

*edit* I guess it would help if I provided the link: http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/atohate.htm

[The Valkyrie]

If anyone's interested, here's the text of the book Addicted to Hate, an inside expose of the Phelps family as told by Nate and his other brothers who left the family. All I have to say is that if even half the stuff in that book is true, then Fred is one of the most evil, vile, fucked-up people to walk the planet.

*edit* I guess it would help if I provided the link: http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/atohate.htm

I was listening to Nate on the Thinking Atheist podcast this morning about escaping from the cult.

It seems Fred was a bigger prick than I thought.

I'll have to read Addicted to Hate.

Thank you.

[Autumnlicious]

Ah yes Reverend Jeremiah...whatever happened to him?

Don't know -- as with many internet based arguments, he went too far like TGAC. A shame. Good to see he's still around and kicking.

[Brakeman]

I hope he's buried at a public burial site so that homosexuals can "fornicate" over his grave as a practical joke.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

If anything, Fred's death will be a boon for the Christian community, because he and his "church" were doing far more to turn people away from religion than anything we atheists could ever dream of doing. By spreading around the most vile form of intolerance in the name of Christianity, the WBC continued to stereotype fundamentalist Christians as a bunch of pissed-off, intolerant bigots. However, if the WBC continues the work he started, then they'll continue to be a thorn in the side of Christians all across the country.

I just wonder, though, how long the WBC will last. According to the article the WBC has no central leadership since Fred was in charge of everything, but I'm guessing that Shirley and her siblings will probably keep running things. Of course they may have been running things for a while seeing as how they kicked Fred out.

According to this article Fred was the moderate in the bunch.
"Fred Phelps Was Reportedly Excommunicated From Westboro Baptist Church For Advocating A 'Kinder Approach'"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17...ref=topbar

[My imaginary friend is GOD]

I guess he wanted to change the signs to "God Doesn't Like Fags Very Much".

[Chad32]

I guess he figured if they were being too extreme to draw in new people, and that children born into the church were leaving, he wanted to try a different approach while he was still alive to help keep it from dying. Unfortunately he no longer has enough sway to do anything about it.

Apparently they're not going to have a funeral. I'm actually in agreement that we shouldn't have cemetaries and such, though of course I don't think cemetaries are worshiping the dead either.

[Creed of Heresy]

I'm actually in agreement that we shouldn't have cemetaries and such,

---

Indignant huffing of the local cemetery-lurker aside, I want to say I think this will become the beginning of the end for the church, but then I started reading that Phelps was already excommunicated a time before this...and that hasn't stopped their picketing.

They aren't gonna stop picketing until they're all dead, honestly.

I vote for expedition of the cessation of their disrespectful conduct.

Anyone else got an automatic?

[Minimalist]

I guess he wanted to change the signs to "God Doesn't Like Fags Very Much".

Too funny, FtW.

[Esquilax]

I guess he figured if they were being too extreme to draw in new people, and that children born into the church were leaving, he wanted to try a different approach while he was still alive to help keep it from dying. Unfortunately he no longer has enough sway to do anything about it.

I'd like to think that this- if it is indeed the case- in combination with being on his deathbed, produces a moment of clarity in the man, so that at the very end of his life he sees what a twisted, insular monster he's helped create, and turned himself into.

And I hope the weight of that regret stays with him for what little time he has left. A little inner accountability is the least of what he deserves.