Am currently watching a programme where a British journalist has spent 3 weeks with the Phelps family and their church..... it's eye opening stuff.

Not sure if you guys get any UK programmes stateside, but it's on BBC2 right now. Louis Theroux is an english documentary journalist who lives alongside his subjects for a while and tries to get to know them, asks probing questions, and generally gives people enough rope to hang themselves if they so desire.....and usualy they do.

This programme is fascinating..... all the members of the family seem to have rehearsed answers for any questions, won't talk about temptation, relationships (or not), and Fred Phelps refused to answer any of Louis' questions - especially the one about how many children he has (13, though 4 have left the church).... The other church members are totally closed to any questions on anything opposed to what they do.

If you get the chance to see it at all - do so... it's really interesting and totally unbelievable that one family (which makes up pretty much the entire church of 71 people) has formed this doctrine/dogma and are passing it down to their children. There was one kid at a picket who was asked what the sign she was holding meant, and she didn't have a clue. It's all a bit sad really......

Found a link to the BBC 2 webiste with downloadable stuff regarding the programme which you might find interesting:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/noise/?id=louis_theroux

This may not be a very Christian thought, ok, I know it isn't, but I think the Westboro Church people are disgusting. They have no true concept of God and His true message of love and grace. I hate they are from my state, Kansas, and when non-Christians see them, it reflects badly on the entire body of Christ. How many people have turned away from God because of them?!?

My thoughts about Westboro Baptist are completely unChristlike.