The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is a small Baptist church known for its extremely hostile stance against homosexuality and other practices it deems sinful. The church is located in Topeka, Kansas and was founded in 1955 by Pastor Fred Phelps. Though the WBC refers to itself as a “primitive Baptist” church, most other Baptist organizations have denounced the WBC and its practices.
The WBC first gained national attention in the 1990s when they began protesting prominently at funerals, concerts, and other public events. Their protests often involved holding signs with antagonistic slogans such as “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” The WBC believes that disasters, deaths, and other tragedies are God’s punishment for tolerance of homosexuality and abortion. As a result, they frequently protest at the funerals of soldiers, celebrities, and victims of mass shootings, claiming these deaths are divine retribution.
The WBC’s extreme views are based on a literalist interpretation of the Bible, particularly passages such as Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” The church rejects all other Christian denominations as apostate and affirms that they alone understand and adhere to the Bible’s teachings. Their central belief is that God hates sinners and that the end of the world is imminent.
The WBC is composed almost entirely of members of Pastor Phelps’ extended family. Fred Phelps himself headed the church until his death in 2014. His daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper has been the church’s primary spokesperson in recent years along with other prominent members like Phelps’ granddaughters Megan Phelps-Roper and Grace Phelps-Roper. Church membership is small, estimated at 40-50 individuals drawn mostly from the Phelps family.
The WBC has faced widespread opposition and condemnation for its practices, which many deem hateful and cruel. Their protests have led to lawsuits and legislation designed to restrict their actions, such as preventing them from protesting near funerals. However, legal challenges to their protests have been limited by the WBC’s First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly.
Here are some key Bible verses that have shaped the WBC’s beliefs and practices:
On God’s hatred of sin and sinners:
“The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.” (Psalm 5:5)
“The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” (Psalm 11:5)
“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” (Psalm 5:4)
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.” (Psalm 7:11)
On homosexuality as a sin:
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:26-27)
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
On God’s judgment and wrath:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6)
“For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30-31)
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:11-12)
In summary, the Westboro Baptist Church is a small extremist religious group known for its virulent hate speech against homosexuals and others it deems sinful. Guided by a literalist interpretation of the Bible, the WBC believes God actively hates sinners and will pour out divine punishment on a sinful world. Their protests at funerals and public events are intended to spread their message of God’s wrath. The WBC cites Scriptural passages about homosexuality, judgment, and God’s hatred of evil to biblically justify their beliefs and actions. Despite widespread condemnation, their protests are legally protected as free speech. The WBC provides a vivid example of how biblical literalism applied combatively can lead to hostility and condemnation, rather than Christian love and mercy, toward those deemed sinful.