# A letter to Fred Phelps **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575 "2002-12-09T19:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/81 "2002-12-12T21:02:51Z")
I was thinking of answering that e mail but I don’t think I will. Won’t do any good. I’d never even heard of the guy before hearing about him on this board. So I guess he hasn’t been around my area. I pray he doesn’t come. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/82 "2002-12-12T21:12:20Z")
Pray hard. Pray _very_ hard. If he thinks you are compassionate and forgiving toward any gay person, he will condemn you to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/83 "2002-12-12T21:20:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by His4ever \* > \*\*The guy knows the scriptures and I can’t deny that but these people’s attitudes just seem so hateful. \*\* Perhaps there is more to being a Christian than having Scripture to back up everything you say. After all, the Pharisees had Scripture to back up everything they say and yet Jesus was less than impressed with them. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/84 "2002-12-12T21:23:06Z")
One other thing, **His4Ever**. You’ve gotten a pretty harsh reaction because of the language you use when describing your position on homosexuality. I think one reason for that is Mr. Phelps uses just such language. When you use the same words and to describe the same position, it is, I’m afraid, easy for us to assume you also hate homosexuals. This is nothing against you; it’s just more evidence of how dangerous Mr. Phelps and his ilk are. I’m glad you hadn’t heard of Phelps until now. I rather wish I’d never heard of him, myself. You’ve cited verses about how the Word of God will be twisted to do evil. May I offer Mr. Phelps as an example? In his own words, he has no interest in spreading the message of Christ’s love. He’s only interested in spreading his own hate. In doing so, he damages far more people than those he professes to hate. Remember, lass, the verse which you are so fond of reads, “For God so **loved** the world”. Remember that when dealing with people who, by their actions, spread hate. As I told you once, we are on the same side. Take care, CJ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/85 "2002-12-12T21:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Pray hard. Pray _very_ hard. If he thinks you are compassionate and forgiving toward any gay person, he will condemn you to hell. \*\* Correction, Lib. If he thinks you’re compassionate and forgiving to anyone he disagrees or disapproves of, he will condemn you to hell. I feel sorry for him, because I can’t imagine how painful and lonely it must be for him to have that kind of hatred in him. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/86 "2002-12-12T21:36:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Remember, lass, the verse which you are so fond of reads, “For God so loved the world”. Remember that when dealing with people who, by their actions, spread hate. As I told you once, we are on the same side. **CJ** , I’m _proud_ to call you sister. **His4Ever** , count me in on that too. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/87 "2002-12-12T22:03:22Z")
From the email His4Ever received: _Our job is to cry aloud, spare not, lift our voice like a trumpet and show the people their transgression. Our job is to cause the people to know their sin._ Hrm… what does this sound like? Sorta like an attorney prosecuting a case: “See, see! He heard the Word of God and still didn’t obey you!” Now, isn’t there a name for that? Something like, [Churck Lady Voice] **SATAN!!** [/Church Lady Voice] Just my $0.02 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/88 "2002-12-12T22:47:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRDelirious \* > \*\*It’s NOT an easy process to come around; it’s not like Cecil Adams will appear to her in a blinding vision and show her the Way. > \*\* “Yea, and I looked and I beheld the Lord’s angel. His countenance was the countenance of a turkey. He was crowned with the crown of knowledge. About and around the angel teemed millions of lights. ‘Be not afraid.’ said the angel ‘I am Seesel. I bring with me the straight dope. Ask, and I shall cleanse thee of ignorance.’ Then did Seesel instruct the magical slug, Senyoreenoh, to show me signs and wonders.” Amen, praise be, and even so. ---
**Author:** ![quarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/50afbb/32.png) [@quarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quarx)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/89 "2002-12-13T00:07:31Z")
You know, the funny thing is that I have been visiting Phelp’s site for a while, and I’ve actually listened to a few of his sermons (No, I don’t know why. I guess it’s sort of like slowing down on the highway to get a good look at the car wreck.) Occasionally, Phelps will be in mid-rant, and he’ll say something that even one of his family members apparently takes exception to which results in her evidently making some sort of dissenting facial expression. Phred actually stops his sermon to scream at whomever does this and invites him/her to leave the church–meaning, of course, leaving the family for good. “There’s the door!! **BYE**!!” What a fuck-brained skip-head. ---
**Author:** ![stevephillips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stevephillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevephillips)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/90 "2002-12-13T01:29:35Z")
I work in downtown Topeka, KS, and have had to walk past Phelps protests several times a week for years. My take on Fred–and that of most people in the area-- is that he thrives on attention. He seems to show up where he is most likely to cause the most controversy. His signs, rather than conveying any kind of coherent message (at least that I can understand) seem designed mostly to offend, especially recently. I think the best way to handle him is to ignore him totally. The local news media seem to have mostly figured this out, and generally doesn’t report on him at all. I must admit, ignoring him can be difficult when he is protesting outside your 4 year old daughter’s daycare center with signs that have images that boarder on obscene. But emailing him, honking horns, obscene gestures, yelling at him, etc, probably only encourage him. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/91 "2002-12-13T04:44:24Z")
**quarx** -which sermon would that be? I wouldn’t mind seeing that, just for the MST3K factor alone… **stevephillips** , you work in Topeka-is it true about the children having affairs, or are there at least rumors flying around about their behavior? ---
**Author:** ![quarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/50afbb/32.png) [@quarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quarx)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575/92 "2002-12-13T19:31:25Z")
I don’t remember the exact dates of the sermons, but one would be within a couple of weeks of the revelation of Daniel Pearl’s death. I know that the sermon had to do with all big media going to hell, because they supported homosexuality, and I would say it would probably be sometime in February. That said, I don’t recommend listening to the sermons just for that. It’s fifty-some minutes of pure bile and hate, and the actual funny moment is only about six seconds. Not really worth it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-letter-to-fred-phelps/141575.md?page=4)