Westboro update pg 2

[SchoolGirlHeart]

This church kinda missed this one, didn't they:

Judge not that ye be not judged.

[RinglingRingling]

For those of you that don't know, "Christmas" and celebrating on December 25th are of pagan origins. According to historical records, the trip Joseph and Mary took to be counted and pay their taxes actually occurred in late Summer (some get as detailed as saying what would now be late September).

Most of our traditions actually pre-date the birth of Jesus. December 25th was first celebrated as the birthday of a god "Mirtha" worshiped by the Romans. This celebration was converted to a celebration for the rebirth of Saturn (god of Sun) due to the timing of solstice. This festival was known for feasting, singing, and gift-giving. It is also documented that the priests of Saturn would carry wreaths of evergreen. Sound familiar?

It was not until 336 AD, when a christian ruler (Emperor Constantine) converted this celebration to the christian holiday we now know as Christmas.

Soooo..... as much as I dislike the fact; technically Christmas is originally a pagan holiday and the "eccentric" people at Westboro might have some merit.

You raise a very valid point there and that very statement was addressed later in the show by a minister that called in. I wish I remembered what scripture he quoted but the general gist was that when 2 or more Christians believe something to be "right" then God considers it to be true. I haven't had time to actually "research" a bible to determine what the minister was talking about but it made me think. I know people who are practicing pagans and they are not bad people. They have a lot of the same views of right and wrong as I do so in essence that does make them a somewhat "moral" person. Besides there's that whole judge not thing. Perhaps Pastor Brad could weigh in here and correct mistakes.

IMHO what these people do is not in the name of good or Christ but it's not my place to judge them going to heaven or hell. IMHO this group epitomizes the scripture that tells us that the devil will come as a angel of light and that one must be aware of this. The delivery of their message is so anger filled and full of hate. My gut just tells me that this group is so wrong. Santa Claus will not rape your children.

And at the end when she calls him dude I almost spit.

so if five 'tards calling themselves Christians believe that hamsters are the second coming of Christ because one of them brought one home from the pet store and it has the pattern of Jesus in its fur, God supports that?

When I think I have heard the depths of stupidity among the population at large, another example of plumbing the Marianas Trench comes to light.

(and I am talking about the folks who use the bible to justify their stupidity, not the messengers bringing the stupidity to light)

[ph4ever]

For those of you that don't know, "Christmas" and celebrating on December 25th are of pagan origins. According to historical records, the trip Joseph and Mary took to be counted and pay their taxes actually occurred in late Summer (some get as detailed as saying what would now be late September).

Most of our traditions actually pre-date the birth of Jesus. December 25th was first celebrated as the birthday of a god "Mirtha" worshiped by the Romans. This celebration was converted to a celebration for the rebirth of Saturn (god of Sun) due to the timing of solstice. This festival was known for feasting, singing, and gift-giving. It is also documented that the priests of Saturn would carry wreaths of evergreen. Sound familiar?

It was not until 336 AD, when a christian ruler (Emperor Constantine) converted this celebration to the christian holiday we now know as Christmas.

Soooo..... as much as I dislike the fact; technically Christmas is originally a pagan holiday and the "eccentric" people at Westboro might have some merit.

You raise a very valid point there and that very statement was addressed later in the show by a minister that called in. I wish I remembered what scripture he quoted but the general gist was that when 2 or more Christians believe something to be "right" then God considers it to be true. I haven't had time to actually "research" a bible to determine what the minister was talking about but it made me think. I know people who are practicing pagans and they are not bad people. They have a lot of the same views of right and wrong as I do so in essence that does make them a somewhat "moral" person. Besides there's that whole judge not thing. Perhaps Pastor Brad could weigh in here and correct mistakes.

IMHO what these people do is not in the name of good or Christ but it's not my place to judge them going to heaven or hell. IMHO this group epitomizes the scripture that tells us that the devil will come as a angel of light and that one must be aware of this. The delivery of their message is so anger filled and full of hate. My gut just tells me that this group is so wrong. Santa Claus will not rape your children.

And at the end when she calls him dude I almost spit.

so if five 'tards calling themselves Christians believe that hamsters are the second coming of Christ because one of them brought one home from the pet store and it has the pattern of Jesus in its fur, God supports that?

When I think I have heard the depths of stupidity among the population at large, another example of plumbing the Marianas Trench comes to light.

(and I am talking about the folks who use the bible to justify their stupidity, not the messengers bringing the stupidity to light)

That's why I made the statement about Pastor Brad correcting mistakes - I'm just repeating what I heard via a radio talk show and haven't had the time, or desire, to disprove/prove the minister's statement. I do believe that you have oversimplified it as that there are other criteria to be met to be a "Christian".

[ph4ever]

For the sake of all that is good or wrong in this world, please change the title of this thread. I understand your point in sharing this information, but that title is very vulgar. I am no saint and I use poor language on a constant basis, but the title of this thread is too much.
Please and thank you.

While I respect your right to your opinion I obviously do not share it.

The title of this thread is the message that this group is conveying not only by the sign but also by the representative of the church in the radio interview.

Should others request that it be changed I'll change it - the mods have the ability to change it.

I agree. The thread title completely and accurately describes the first post on the thread, and indeed the subject matter of most of the subsequent posts. To change the title would make it harder for people to correctly identify its contents.

Now if the thread title involved an actual verbal attack on individuals or groups here, rather than a report of something, I believe there's probably something in the Terms of Service about that. But I knew instantly what was going on in this thread from the title.

after carolinagirl complained, I did change the title. It originally said God hates Santa - Santa will rape your children.

[RinglingRingling]

so if five 'tards calling themselves Christians believe that hamsters are the second coming of Christ because one of them brought one home from the pet store and it has the pattern of Jesus in its fur, God supports that?

When I think I have heard the depths of stupidity among the population at large, another example of plumbing the Marianas Trench comes to light.

(and I am talking about the folks who use the bible to justify their stupidity, not the messengers bringing the stupidity to light)

That's why I made the statement about Pastor Brad correcting mistakes - I'm just repeating what I heard via a radio talk show and haven't had the time, or desire, to disprove/prove the minister's statement. I do believe that you have oversimplified it as that there are other criteria to be met to be a "Christian".

I hear you. Just thinking about a line from "Dogma".

[luvinlife]

Everyone has to believe in the jolly old elf The Original Jolly Mon...FFFF Westboro Merry Christmas to All

[Coconuts]

You know, I'm to the point of being willing to boycott any network that gives these people any airtime.

[ph4ever]

This so called church has a video of it's youth singing Santa Claus Will Take You to Hell to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I found this video on the show blog where I originally heard about the signs and their message after listening to the host's show. Warning: This is a disturbing video. The song - well you know by the words the kids singing the song did not make it up themselves. The kid at the end, he should be looking forward to a visit from Santa - not delivering those lines.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d3c_1229133179

[Elrod]

I believe I would kick someone's SSA if they told me that to my face...

It's not a good idea to p!ss off Santa.

i believe I know some pholks that would go my bail..

... and a few that would probably end up in the same cell.

[ph4ever]

From the show'sblog the host writes

Is This Child Abuse?

Dori writes...

Last week, I talked with Shirley Phelps-Roper from Westboro Baptist Church - they had requested a sign be posted in our state capitol in Olympia that proclaims "Santa Claus will take you to Hell".

It was somewhat amusing to listen to the rantings of such a crazed fanatic. But there is nothing amusing about this: Westboro Baptist has posted a video of their church members - including many young children - singing that song.

As these cult members sing amidst their horribly crude signs, I get sick to my stomach (again). It's horribly sad to think of the life these children are consigned to live as they are brought up with such hate.

I'm not a big fan of government intervention in private lives, but is it time for authorities to go after this cult and rescue these children? By the way, if you answer "yes", are you also for the government to go in and take away all the children who are taught to hate in neo-nazi, kkk, black-liberation-theology and radical-Muslim families?

Sadly, there are no good answers. In America, people are free to be horrible, hateful parents. And that means sometimes we just have to just watch and observe as young lives are destroyed.

[Lightning Bolt]

The constitution may guarantee a reasonable freedom of speech,

...but, if it's wacked-out enough, I reserve the freedom to vandalize and deface it

[UAHparrothead]

That's why I made the statement about Pastor Brad correcting mistakes - I'm just repeating what I heard via a radio talk show and haven't had the time, or desire, to disprove/prove the minister's statement. I do believe that you have oversimplified it as that there are other criteria to be met to be a "Christian".

The verse you are referring to is Matthew 18:19 "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." NRSV

IMHO in looking at the context of what Jesus was saying as a whole this verse is a calling for community unity. As we unify on earth then we will also be unified in the New Creation/Heaven whatever you want to call it. I think using it as the pastor that Connie heard creates a slippery slope that RR points out. Where does it end? This is another example of the dangers of proof-texting (picking and choosing Bible verses to bolster an ideology). That being said I would also quote another verse to the Westboro people who have little children sing about Santa raping them, Mark 9:42 "If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea." NRSV

[ph4ever]

Thanks Brad!!! I was really torn with what the pastor on the radio said. I knew you could clear it up. I thought that might have been the verse but I had always been taught that it referred to what you ask in prayer such as relief for hurricane victims or the sick.

[mikemck]

I believe I would kick someone's SSA if they told me that to my face...

It's not a good idea to p!ss off Santa.

Yeah, just ask Arius.