Megan Phelps-Roper on Westboro Baptist Church and "trying to make amends" - BBC HARDtalk (2019)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 24 тра 2020
- Holding placards outside the funerals of dead soldiers and celebrating the deaths of children after school massacres, Westboro Baptist Church has been called the ‘most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America’. From the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper had stood on the picket lines, and carried those hate-filled signs. But, as an adult firing off tweets to her online critics, Megan began to doubt. Can she really still regard those who abused her mind and taught her to hate, as her ‘beloved’ parents? She talks to Shaun Ley.
It is fascinating to hear Megan discuss the intelligence of her grandfather... the founder of the church. Too often we assume that bad ideas come from stupid people. Intelligence is a tool that can as easily be used in support of bad, and even evil ideas. We are mistaken if we underestimate the intelligence of people with “bad ideas.”
It's called sociopathy.
Great point you raised Mr. Hagen! I think it's a question of ideological coherence or in Tabletop Role-playing parlance, World Building. It appears that the late Phelps had managed to construct for his family, a coherent enough Universe and Narrative to snare his family in. Inevitably rife with contradictions. Contradictions which, while containing the seeds for the eventual collapse of the mythos, managed to generate in their tension enough of an animating spark that Phelps' mythos could, during the course of his life, survive as familial cultic tradition. I believe he did this by getting to the very core of American Christian Identitarian Ideology. The Notion of an Elite few with a courageous and uncompromising conviction regarding True Faith in the face of Dominant Power Structures (The Evil Empire, Babylon, Rome, etc..) along with a belief that a successful and healthy society must fulfill particular conditions relating to the "Abrahamic Covenant" the byproduct of which is the warding off of catastrophes and the generation of health, prosperity, peace, and protection from external enemies. The Phelps affirmed this by rejecting 'political correctness' and 'telling it as it is' with a 'Truth doesn't care about your feelings' ethos. Had they maintained a racialist component to their ideology (to Phelps' credit he had actually worked alongside civil rights leaders during the 60s if I'm not mistaken) I would make the argument that they perfectly embodied the tendencies which have been so brutally revealed and unleashed these last few years within the US.
The leaders with the worst impacts on humanity and populations have always been intelligent but highly-misled people. Their followers however oftentimes are low-IQ sheep.
Thisisanya
“Their followers are often low IQ SHEEP”
That “feels” right... it is pleasantly easy to “blame the sheep”. Then reassure ourselves because we are not sheep (and never will be... dammit)
OTOH, the wwii Germans were not low IQ people. And many of his officials were very intelligent.
As far as “sheepiness” is concerned.... people typically want to follow successful leaders; they want to join successful organization that they perceive will benefit them. No one wants to be a sheep in a mediocre flock. OTOH, in the case of a championship team that is dominating its opponents.... people tend to fall into line. (Become sheep) Take the marines.... they are not sheep, but they sure do follow orders
Ardy Hagen Have I a) blamed the sheep, or b) made a comment about myself in my statement? Nope! But I now know exactly how you interpreted it ;)
This woman is so intelligent and so well spoken. I remember hating this family as a kid. The more I’ve learned over the years about how her, her sister and brother left just gives me so much perspective on what was actually happening behind closed doors. I would love the chance one day to meet her in person and give her a huge hug. I hope so continues to inspire others by being outspoken about her story and her life journey.
Computer User I heard rumors that Freddy was bicurious, so he spent more than half a century brainwashing his children and grandchildren.
oscar soul ; well said , go on you. i feel the same. inspirational young woman.
Indeed. One could be almost, but not quite, forgiven for thinking their parents did at least something good.
"I'm sorry for your loss" had me breaking down in tears.
I choked when she spoke of one banner, "am sorry for your loss" yes, there are good and compassionate people out in the real world.
same in here 😢
What a delightful, well spoken woman. She's sharp as a knife. I'm so glad she's free.
I'm extremely impressed with how self-aware she is, not to mention her ability to show understanding and forgiveness after everything she's been through.
She is the personification of grace, as I understand the word. A remarkable and articulate woman.
Dude! She is doing laps around this bumbling goofy incompetent British journalist!
@@MendTheWorld So that makes a person good. Your words are empty
@@celinamilian I find Grace an admirable trait, and that's one of the things that makes her good. I don't really understand your comment. I think your words are empty.
@@seanmurphy26 I found the journalist competent, yet still outclassed.
She's awesome. Her Tedtalk really helped me change my tone of discourse in internet interactions.
Yes!!
That is your opinion.
Not mine.
@@adevariubire9236 that's also you're opinion, but not mine
Me too
When someone is raised a certain way, it is hard for them to change. I am incredibly impressed with her because of the self awareness and about how she was able to even realize the mistakes.
My heart still breaks for her. She misses her mom. As somehow who lost their mother fifteen years ago, I can’t imagine how it must feel to know your mom is alive and well but one of you may as well not be alive because of estrangement...especially over something like this. I hope Shirley wakes up someday before it’s too late and is able to reunite her family.
I relate to this woman so much. I didn't think myself a fanatic. I was kind to unbelievers and "sinners" and evangelized to them while providing them with food and a helping hand anyway I could. For 24 years of my life I genuinely believed I was right and "the world" was wrong. I didn't tell people they were going to hell but I thought so. I also do not believe in the Bible or God anymore because I realised I was no better than people in WBC even though I didn't hold up hateful placards. I like her stance on tolerance. We are all fallible. For me no one led me to the faith and no one led me out of it. It was always a personal decision.
Neither God nor the bible have anything to do with the WBC or those kind of beliefs.
🌿💛🌿
The reasoning you gave for denouncing God, makes no sense whatsoever. What does realizing that you are no better than anyone else, have to do with you no longer believing in God? The Bible never said anything about Believers being better than non believers. We as humans are all equally scum. That is why we need Jesus Christ.
@@1980bwc You don't get to say what "we" need. Jesus Christ doesn't mean much of real substance to a lot of us.
when he mentioned her mother the sadness in her eyes was heartbreaking. I hate how religion divides families.
Daniel Reierson has
Jesus said it himself that his aim was to divide families.
@jo c
Doesn't every religion try to set itself apart from others and proclaim to be the only true religion? Doesn't every religion distinguish itself as "us" versus "them?" May I ask what your religion is?
@jo c
I didn't put them in the same box; my question was pertaining to religion.
@jo c
I am not disputing the personality aspect.
That being said, you just made this distinction between Islam and Christianity yourself ... just saying!
When you listen to Loisa Phelps (her mother) speak, you can tell that there is something really wrong with her. The extent of the physical abuse she suffered as a child helps explain that.
As for HER father, Fred Phelps, who started the church, that is such a strange and sad story. Near the very end of his life, he saw the error of his ways, and the result was that he was kicked out of the church that he founded, and died alone. Sad, but it is called Karma, or, in Biblical terms, reaping what you sew.
Megan's mom is Shirley, not Louisa.😀
Funny, I thought it was a dementia moment when he said they were good people. Perhaps only in his state of dementia/mental decompensation as he approached death was he able to let go of his unfounded hate.
The founder is the grandfather.
@@ashlieleavelle …and don’t call me Louisa.
Brave girl. Must be so hard to lose your whole family.
Sometimes the word family is not enough this is one of those cases she's better off without them
I'm disappointed in myself, remembering back to when her grandfather died, being glad to hear the news.. This was many years ago now, and I have much more compassion in general and have learned alot about life, but even now it is hard to relive the things this group has done and not feel angry.
What a beautiful outcome in this young woman. I don't know that I would have had the strength to have such a wonderful attitude about her family and the future.
I don't think you should feel bad. The founder was a man who wanted death on you and lots of other people if you didn't follow their path. That's not a good person, that's a "hitler" in the making. No one should feel bad about being glad the guy is dead.
I went through a similar journey as you. I’m a lesbian, I stumbled across Westboro’s site when I was 16 and several years later it lead me to join a type of conversion therapy, not Westboro, but similar in nature.
I left the group when I was 24, it was basically the same day Fred Phelps died. I remember being happy he died sick and lonely. I felt ashamed, yet to extent I felt it was justified. He enjoyed seeing people die terrible deaths, so why shouldn’t he receive the same in return?
I don’t really ever want to rejoice in somebody’s suffering, even my worst enemies, but are we are foolish to some extent to be so forgiving of these of people when they cause so much damage? While I’m happy for Megan’s change and I truly appreciate most of what she does, I think she needs to hold family to a greater account of responsibility. I’ll likely get heat for this, but I’m only sharing where I’m at. The Westboro ‘s rhetoric can permentaly damage someone.
It’s ok to feel anger at those who caused you so much suffering and pain. You have lifelong trauma because of their beliefs. Ultimately, every abuser was abused and most either don’t know it or got too damaged to care. But once in a while, a small blade of grass pushes through the concrete and into the sunshine.
Megan! You never fail to impress me. Your intelligence, your love, forgiveness. You’re a wonderful woman. Keep educating the world, you make it a better place by just being you. ♥️
Absolutely no one:
BBC HARDtalk Host: *Vigorous nodding*
I love Megan, she's a gorgeous human being
She’s a lot of things, but a ‘gorgeous human being’ she is NOT
@@karacreswell8437 why do you think that?
Dude, she is mad ugly.
Computer User This vile woman has PERSONALLY caused an incredible amount of pain to the people I love..even to the point that a beautiful soul took his life. Nobody will ever convince me that the vile, disgusting actions of this ‘changed’ woman will ever be anything but a hollow ruse. She doesn’t get to change peoples lives in the way that she did and then say ‘oh sorry, I’m a changed person.’ Doesn’t work that way, and I don’t have to accept any of it.
I agree. She's further exposing the disgusting, hateful WBC (cult) that we already know is disgusting & hateful, but luckily at some point, if they choose, they can get their voices back, just as Megan has.
She's so well spoken. But she did have years to develope speaking and debating skills as part of her families church. I'm horrible at doing that.
She did say she wanted to be a lawyer back when Louie Theroux was following her around and that was many years ago. If I cared more I'd look it up but she's just a year younger than I am so she's had plenty of time since I've been putting it off since 2009 lol
She said in a BBC podcast that she didn't learn to agree to disagree and that everybody who disagreed argued until they reached an agreement.
@@elypowell6797 lame bro
If you are toning to read the comments, I’ll sum them up for you and save you the trouble.
“She’s so brave”
“She so well spoken”
“Why is he nodding so much”
“Must be hard leaving her family”
“Who believes in religion”
“She’s hot”
I was very surprised when Megan left because she seemed like such a devoted, passionate member. She went through a true metamorphosis and changed for the better. I’m gay and me and my boyfriend used to be very offended by the WBC...but now we just laugh every time we hear about them. I really commend Megan for leaving. She’s a very bright, mature, intelligent woman! Her own mother Shirley is missing out on a good relationship she could be having with her daughter.
Unfortunately, the more genuinely devoted you are in religion the more likely you are to see its flaws. I became atheist because I set out to prove that my faith was real. I find many people can stay religious so long as they don't take it seriously. They often do what they want and disregard the teachings of their faith unless they want to use it to justify an action they have no justification for.
@@Boahemaa yes!
@@Boahemaa
What faith were you of and what made you change your mind?
@@Boahemaa The same thing happened to me. I was raised Missionary Baptist, but converted to Catholicism before I married my husband, who came from a very large Catholic family. We've been married 27 years now, but about 12 years ago, I decided to embark on a 4 year in depth Bible study course called the Denver Bible Studay (created by the Denver Archdiocese). About 2 years into it, my entire worldview began to crack. There were too many inconsistencies and outright cruelties illustrated in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. God was supposed to be this perfect being, but had such imperfect human-like characteristics, such as jealousy. God was perfect and we were all his creation, but God's chosen people were at times ordered by God to commit such atrocities upon the unfaithful, including "slashing open the pregnant bellies" of certain women! Yet, they could capture the female virgins and cattle for themselves. These words only made sense if written by bronze age power hungry men, who wanted total obedience, by fear, if necessary. I just wasn't willing to do the mental gymnastics required to believe the Bible was the word of an all knowing and loving God. It took me several years to be able to come to terms with it and it was a difficult journey. I provably would still be blissfully unaware, had I not tried to deepen my faith and understanding of the Bible. I don't regret it though.
Are you a bottom?
Kindness as a rebuttal to their evil and hatred is what moved Megan and persuaded her to leave more than anything else. In today’s time of so much anger and division, we need to start trying this method with the other side. We also need to remember that we can’t just do it once or twice, we have to keep doing it. It took a bit for her to change her ways. She didn’t the first time she was confronted with kindness, but eventually the kindness paid off. What a great lesson!
"I left the church, but never them." My heart can't take this....
She left the destructive church teachings of hate but not the people who are fully indoctrinated. It's not the member's fault they are brainwashed. They need help.
I wish I knew how much Theroux interviews/doc had to do with her breaking away. You would watch him interview her, and she would give the 'Westboro' PR answer, but if you watched her, you could see the wheels turning in the back of her head about the questions he was asking and how they Westboro answer wasn't really an answer.
You can definitely see her having some kind of internal narrative behind the propaganda she's parroting. The same way her cousin Jael answers questions with this slightly manic grin and forced laughter, trying to sound so certain and unaffected even though you can see Theroux's logic landing with her.
@@alittlebirdysaid wow well said. I noticed Megan kind of pausing or hesitating sometimes but also being very quick to answer because she is simply preaching and repeating what she is told. Also Jael totally has a manic grin and forced laughter which is very strange and uncomfortable. Also just unsettling and annoying.
This is a brilliant interview. All of us are a victim or a benefactor of our own life situation and personal upbringing. Our childhood and those early influences massively shape and define our hopes, our dreams, our personality and ultimately our soul. Sadly not all of us are blessed to have had a loving background. Unfortunately not everyone has solid parents to help guide, shape and protect us. This lady is remarkable in her bravery, her self reflection, her personal truth and what is in my opinion, a “true” God given wisdom. Which is ironic because Megan says she no longer believes. Regardless of that though, it takes extraordinary and remarkable self will power, to turn away from the wrong road...especially given the context of such internal and external conditioning.
Like any family or individual, the Westboro Baptist church clearly defined and defiled the word of Jesus. The fact she dedicated the book to her parents though, is a reflection of her true heart...to still forgive andto “honour thy parents”. The key to the cross is forgiveness and her willingness to do so is so deeply moving. When she said “she hadn’t given up on her parents”...this reminded me of another quote from Jesus in scripture...“forgive them for they know not what they do”.🙏♥️
Megan your journey is phenomenal and inspirational in equal measure. Radicalisation is a modern day curse in religion but your story can instruct, educate and enlighten our mind to a greater good...a greater outcome. The cliche “good can come out of bad” is so true and you are categoric proof of that. I respect that you believe your family have a good yet misled heart....but they are at the same time misguided.
Your daughter is blessed to have you as a mother...you will pass on your torch of invaluable experience...and she will do the same. All we can do is pass on our love and understanding...a candle of hope to help navigate the darkness in this world.
I would love to write this story into a film script. If you have a way of getting in touch or responding to this message then please do so...if not...may your road remain positive and continue to enlighten.
🙏♥️x
@Lindsey
Thank you!x
I've just bought her book. From a shop in New Zealand called The Warehouse I think I got it for around $4-$7 as it was on clearance and was interested into the documentary Louis Theroux did about Westboro. So picked it up quick and will read it when I get through my other 10 books
You’re very passive aggressive against a woman that was indoctrinated since birth.
@@Clandsom Don't understand how I am passive aggressive when I just said I'm going to read her book to see and understand what her life was like. So please take the high road and think before you speak
What are the other 10 books you are reading?
This is a special, intelligent, open minded, mentally and emotionally strong, sincere woman. She is giving people too much credit with her belief that if you just show the others a better way, they will see it and choose it. Most people are not as strong as she is. Most people will reject what goes against what they've always been taught. They're scared and not willing to consider other possibilities. They will not open their minds and see the truth. They will actively choose not to. They will only entrench themselves further in the church. She doesn't understand her own uniqueness.
Completely agree
Yea, she's more of an exception than the rule but I still find a lot of hope in people like her.
I have great respect for her and the strength to share her past and bring awareness and education to the subject. Thank you.
I want her voice to lull me into my eternal slumber
What a wonderful, courageous young woman! Her story gives me hope for our future.
This was a great interview, it gives me hope for all those that are still so brainwashed, ignorant or hateful
And who might those brainwashed, ignorant, hateful people might be cc Rose957?
@@anamuntean3276 everyone who has hate in their hearts and use the bible and God as an excuse to show their their hate.
@@jessbelen1492 I agree with you 109%.
The westborough church omitted Gods #1 commandment. “Love one another”. John 13:34. “Honor one another above yourself” Romans 12:10.
How can they claim to serve the true God when they blatantly disobey him? Did Megan in all her smartness never understood that simple commandment? It should have been a red flag for her a long time ago that her family’s ways don’t line up with Gods word.
God also clearly says this in the Bible. “If anyone says “I love God”, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And we have this command from him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.” 1st John 4:20.
Again I cannot understand what Bible were they basing their beliefs on?
Sad, the God that commanded her to love, she hated instead. And now because of our God hating society she doesn’t believe in him anymore.
Personally I think she never really knew or had a relationship with God at all. What she and her family were, is just legalists. God hates legalism.
@@jessbelen1492 or is it logic thinking about human reproduction and you are wording it as hate?
I can actually hear the interviewer's compulsive head nodding when he's not on camera. Eh, but nonetheless, great interview. Great questions. And a remarkable picture painted by Megan. I'm humbled by her journey, her passion, and her willingness to share such aspects.
I feel she is on a whole other level emotionally. Like super human perspective.
Has she ever talked with Louis Theroux since leaving?
Yes, she has. In his latest documentary about the WBC, from 2019 (I suppose).
Yes there was the third part of Louis Theroux's WBC trilogy and in December she participated in a Q&A in London as part of her book tour with Louis Theroux as compere. It was a great experience. Before the book launch, Meghan sent extracts of it to Louis for advice and guidance.
Louis told her about her sisters engagement and the sadness in Megans face actually made me tear up, and I’m not very emotional! So sad.
Ahh one of our very own news readers finally interviewing Meghan Phelps-Roper! Good to see! Meghan is a wonderful beautiful human being, and I really do wish her all the love and happiness in the world. Bless her heart!!
Wow. Just… Wow. What an impressive, intelligent, well-spoken and CHANGED woman. Bravo to you Megan!
I can't wait to give Jesus a big hug..
Jesus is helping the humans to get big hugs from the corona
Nate Phelps said at a speaking engagement that his dad beat their Mom when they were growing up . Obviously the kids are being abused to bruises, what about spousal abuse? Do the Husbands hit their wives?
Well they view the bible literally and the bible never explicitly orders violence on wives. But then again it's also says " "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour." and ""Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness I permit no woman to teach or have authority over a man; rather, she is to remain silent". And some men do interpret these passages as condoning of spousal abuse
💯 yes. Absolutely. Disobedience.
It’s amazing how much I can’t stand the westbro church when someone leaves I have so much compassion for them
i think its because we know how much critical thinking they would have had to go through to leave as well as having the courage to leave everything you know behind. she was raised thinking the church was the only way from when she was a child. for someone to completely change that mindset that is so deeply engrained is, in my opinion, incredible
The Bible says spare the rod. But it's not a rod of hitting, it's a rod of teaching and guidance. They used the rod to guide the sheep, not beat them with it
Yes!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
It's not hitting a child to abuse them and injure them. It a quick and controlled smack on the bum(with your hand, a belt or ruler/rod) to teach them a quick singular lesson without actually hurting them.
Only sick people enjoy it and do it above and beyond.
@@noah6872 "Correction" = When they say they're sorry and have learnt their lesson.... Immediately stop.
@@colliric I wasn’t advocating for or against spanking. I was showing that the Bible seems to support it, because original comment says otherwise.
I don't often say this but I admire Megan, both for leaving the so called "church" and for realising that their beliefs were wrong. I also believe that she wants to be better and I commend her for that.
I love the way she talks about Grace. Because she has received grace. And it takes a strong person to give grace. She has such a powerful message of reaching out and being a symbol of truth to others. Even if you feel angry or hurt. We are here to help each other, not condemn.
Sometimes it just takes one person to make you question where your coming from or how you may be affecting others. I just picked up her book and am reading it now. She is so inspiring.
A thousand hours worth of claps is worth for this woman. What a fantastic person she is!
I hope only the best for Megan! I hope her family realize one day that they are missing out on so much that life has to offer! I hope they can break those shackles they have placed upon themselves and others!
I didn't see her as attractive when she was a member.
But now when I like her she becomes beautiful.
Maybe you don't have bad intentions and try to comment on her inner beauty or something, however is it necessary to alway reduce a woman to her looks and attractiveness and comment on it?
Ewww you’re an old man with a denture. Not even a immature kid. Grow up...Don’t you think it’s creepy to talk about her look after watching such heavy and deep stuff in the vid?
She was a cute young girl back then.
Now she is a beautiful women.
Her sister Grace is super hot.
@@tach-ich-bins9730 i second that...
You’re such a beautiful person.. Your family clearly have determination and you have the heart to take that determination to its rightful result- truthful emotional insight. They helped you get here, look after them..
Found this to be beautiful and inspiring.
I can't imagine the shame she must feel coming from that family but it just goes to show you you're not bound to the family you're born in and you can be your own person
I am extremely proud of you Megen and am trying to learn from you.
You are a amazing woman and you clearly have a heart bigger than any person I have seen on a talk show and even though the church and especially the church you walked away from has a lot of hate in their heart you have risen above it and that is the true word of god, love and understanding , you are a smart and loving woman and I thank you from the LGBT community and the world as a whole. Thank you for your strength and determination to do what is right if I was your son or father I would be so proud of you and I am, thank you for this it has warmed my heart
You are not born as a hater. You grow into it and by the help of other people. But you can still choose to step away from it, hard as hell though it might be.
Megan did.
Top marks to her indeed.
I don't know how she can focus with him nodding so incessantly
It's a British thing.
It feels aggressive and incongruous. You should nod only in relation to the space that allows for it and not fling them about like candy from a broken piñata! 🤣
This is very great to see this extent of intelligence and personal development. To choose to be ostracized by your entire social group to make an ethical stand is truly noble because someone has to live with that choice everyday through birthdays, childbirths, and holidays. No personal choice outside of the risk of grave physical harm should make a family disconnect from one another in my opinion; a person should always be open to heal given boundaries and the ethical treatment of everyone involved. Separating ideas from people is a profound paradigm shift differentiating people prone to petty squabbles from people who could probably be competent therapists themselves without any explicit training.
What a well spoken young lady!! 👌
Oddly enough, I think her grandfather would be proud of her because of her critical thinking and thoughtful contemplation.
In his old age, when Fred said to Equality House...'You are good people.'. I don't think he had an epiphany....I think he got tired...old and tired. 🤷♀️
Yep definitely some dementia going on there
The church is almost entirely her extended family, which would make you think the effect would be negligible, but what Megan Phelps-Roper has to say makes her central to everything and the church that much more universally meaningful. Such a healing experience listening to Megan Phelps-Roper.
I had a feeling that she’d become agnostic/atheist sooner or later after she left, she seems smart and open for dialogue/debate.
No-She's to strong.If u have Jesus in ur live and born again God shows us what and who the devil is.God reveald it to me.My ex Narc..IS THE DEVIL HIMSELF I saw the Devil in his face.HE IS THE DEVIL..BUT GOD KEPT ME SANE.. PRAYING..AND HOLDING ON TO GOD..HE BRAIN WASHED ME.I TOLD HIM THAT I AM GODS CHILD AND THAT I BELIEVE IN GOD.WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT GOD-HE MOCKED GOD AND HE MOCKED ME.IT WAS HELL.I LIVE IN S AFRICA.AND I CANT FIND AN THERAPIST THAT DEALS WITH NARSISIST ABUSE..IN MY OWN BIRTH COUNTRY.THESE THERAPIST HERE TALKS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLANCE.I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH,AND WITH NO AVAIL..ONLY THERAPIST (CLINICAL).I WAS ABUSED BY THIS NARC AND BRAIN WASHED...
It gives me so much hope to see that someone can be so deeply indoctrinated and still turn out to be such a lovely, kind, and freethinking individual.
I’ve just finished watching Louis Theroux’s 2007 documentary about WBC called “the most hated family in America”. When that was filmed Megan was still a strong member of the WBC so it’s fascinating to see her views on it now after she’s left.
Get your message across in love, gentleness and kindness. You'll never influence people with insults.
Who worships a god who demands loyalty and love or face an eternity in hell.... by any definition, this is an abusive relationship!
Absolutely toxic relationship!
@Shameless Papist what a load of rubbish
@Shameless Papist I used to believe the same way you do. But you also make the mistake of saying SINCE god is not a human being, you are UNABLE to have a human relationship with him. That is just an assertion without proof. Firstly, there may not even be a god. Secondly, if he IS a god and IS the creator of everything, then certainly by design he could give us a way to relate to him that was in some way natural (as in: of our very nature). Granted, that is an assumption, but a very educated one in the fact that believers assert his abilities (he created us and everything) and endless wisdom (also foreknowledge) so much. However, he simply refuses to show himself, provide any testable evidence for his existence (you can't say "thou shalt not tempt thy god" because it negates the very asking for evidence), or manage to make anything better/worse enough to even correlate with prayer or a holy book.
.
About the hell thing: do you realize that a just god would not punish someone unjustly for a single, discrete, transgression, right? And hell is eternal. And yet, if we simply don't believe, we get sent there for all of time instead of the time we didn't believe. That by simple measure of what transgressions we can even make here on earth, is unjust. Also, his mercy is in direct opposition to his justice. You cannot be "all merciful" and have "perfect justice" at the same time. This is NOT a paradox. It's a direct contradiction. In order for one to have mercy, one must suspend justice and vice versa.
.
If a god were to be perfect, he could have written a perfect book that everyone could relate to perfectly, without errors or even need for interpretation. And yet, how many religions are there? How many people die in the name of the religion they believe to be true? And how many denominations are in Christianity alone? If an engineer can make blueprints for a complicated transmission that are translated into molds and presses that are translated into pieces that are translated into assembly instructions that are translated into a finished product and it work 99.9999% of the time over and over and over and over, how is it a perfect being cannot top that?
@Shameless Papist LOL what a joke, you're the ignorant and uneducated
My sister... :/
Nice necklace, wonder where you got it
I heard from Megan's mother (Shirley) many times, but what about her dad? I haven't heard from her dad.
Does anyone know the significance on Megan’s necklace? She wears it in all her interviews!
I saw her cousin Jael wearing an identical one in one of the documentaries.
Westboro is located near the intersection of 12th Street and Gage Blvd in Topeka, KS If you guys want to visit the church, just remember that there aren't any sidewalks in that area. You have to walk in the streets.
This was an amazing and heartwarming interview !
Megan was always one of my favorite ones. You could tell she was not happy in that church. I'm so glad she found her way out of there, and is happy now.
Absolutely stunning and beautiful. Not to mention, extremely intelligent and interesting. You can tell she was raised by a family of lawyers. Alot of her vernacular is that of someone who has been around lawyers for a long time. She thinks about and chooses her words wisely. To not condemn her family is absolutely a matter of infinite hope for change. Very well put together interview. Thnx.
Are her eyebrows entirely drawn on?
She is so smart and articulate. I enjoy this interviewer as well. I know religion isn't as big there anymore but i am also an atheist. I extremely dislike pious people. Respect on all fronts
I've known about this for years now, but her stoicism has given me so much hope.
_”The road the hell is paved with good intentions”_ - Someone this church didn’t listen too
I don't know if this interviewer is a model journalist - he's being quite adversarial and not necessarily engaging with responses - there's literally a shot of her trying to make eye contact with him while delivering an answer and he is looking down at his notes for the next morsel of "gotcha" journalism. Disappointing. She's handling it really well and delivering fantastic and eloquent answers.
I love these interviews with Megan Phelps-Roper but I find them so redundant. They always ask the same questions, we’ve heard the story a million times. I’d like to hear more about her life now. Having experienced abuse as a form of discipline in her youth does it make it challenging for her now raising her own daughter? Why does she not talk to her little sister Grace anymore who she originally left the church with? What are her future plans with her husband and daughter?
I'm sure her sister and she still talk to each other. But they are making their family relationship private for some reasons.
Yeah, I still think she speaks to Sarah, Zach, and Grace. Shirley doesn't want to speak to them. She, Shirley, is offended by their exit from the church.
damien Smith No she doesn’t talk to Grace anymore. She mentioned in one of her interviews that they no longer talk which is weird because they escaped Westboro together. And if you look they don’t follow each other on Instagram or Twitter but yet they both follow all their other escapee siblings.
Morbid Girl No she doesn’t talk to Grace anymore. She mentioned in one of her interviews that they no longer talk which is weird because they escaped Westboro together. And if you look they don’t follow each other on Instagram or Twitter but yet they both follow all their other escapee siblings.
@@caralyncharles1010 That's interesting... do you remember what interview that was? Maybe Grace wants to put everything behind her and resents Megan for keeping her past front and center.
She’s wonderful!
“I’m sorry for your loss...”
@@dankuneasewaybill333 that certainly was not a loss, more a liability.
Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope suggests a willingness to delay judgment on people who behave badly. We want to give them the benefit of the doubt (if there is any) but find some people never change hence "infinite hope".
If that is the “picture of grace” as she puts it, then her faith is useless.
Megan is such a loving, intelligent and beautiful woman. I think her family has a lot good values that brought her up to become who she is with strong characters. Despite Westbrook church is not obnoxious to many. I hope Megan could keep a close relationship with her parents.
it would be hard for her mother to listen to this and not be proud of her.
sunny: No it wouldn't. her mother is a very damaged person. You can tell just by listening to her speak.
Her mother is bat shit crazy
Go Megan, you help people and never gave up for right thing for humanity ❤👏
It's crazy what the Westboro Baptist Church considered *"loving one's neighbour".* While I can understand the need to call out someone when they do wrong, according to their thinking, nothing will ever please "God", unless one dies, either in battle, as a result of a beating, or natural causes.
ALL RELIGION IS AWFUL. JUST BE KIND
I would love to hear her discuss what part or part's of the Bible are infallible .
Megan is brilliant. And kind. A rare gift and a gift to us all.
Great interview
Yeah, I have a hard time considering these people as “people.” In 2011, a friend of mine from childhood died in Afghanistan when his helicopter went down. These awful people and their “church” were at his funeral. They found out what his heavily pregnant wife and parents looked like and went for them first, they had to be held back by police when they went for them.They were very very violent in what they said and did (throwing things..they were too far for me to know what it was). The signs were just terrible. A bunch of tough looking bikers stood between us, as mourners in the road (and where they police made them stand across the road). You couldn’t hear them in the church. They had to jump in front of cars (including the one I was in). I was honestly scared a great draw! Those bikers (big old motorcyclists) were a blessing as they sang hymns over them. Many local bikers sang over their constant yelling ...even the Hell’s Angels (a gang) were there trying to stop them. The police looked the other away for those who likely should have been apprehended for wrest warrants. These people were known to go at mourners physically if they got the chance. Listening to them when they committed his body to the ground next to the church, (without reacting) was very very difficult. I wanted to scratch their eyes out. I had to hold on to a friend’s hand to keep from losing my temper. The family later had another memorial a few days later (very very quietly) to keep these people from coming to give them more real closure. We later found out that my friend might have lived (but crashed into a village with innocent people). Instead of that, he chose to crash into a cliff (knowing he would die). It was Good Friday. We found out on Easter Sunday a morning at dinner. So yeah, I have a hard time seeing these people as “human beings.” I don’t wish her badly, but she will answer for many actions. The pain she may have inflicted that day was so terrible...it was unimaginable to me that people could be so hateful. Still is.
🌿💛🌿Thank you, for commenting.🪶🔥🦬
I’m from Daly City ca and went to Jr. high school on westborough ave.
I forgive Megan for what she did because she was/is a victim of this cult and is genuine in her efforts to make amends. This is how you grow.
Re Blueness comment she meantioned Where is that from the Bible??
Wow. She's well spoken and educated.
incredible what fred phelps said. he spewed literal evil. yelling at people. he was the worst one
The blueness of the wounds cleanseth away evil (Proverbs 20:30). Okay, it's in the Bible. But it does not necessarily mean that children should be chastised till they are black and blue. Commentaries interpret this as the wicked will consider their evil ways and repent after receiving serious injury.
Another megan fan. It is extremely hard to leave the subtle indoctrination of all of your family and friends. And, I think very useful that megan has had the courage to share her experiences
This girl is STILL in denial about her family....
I really don’t think she is, I think it’s sometimes a very difficult line to walk when you realise that people are very sincere in their beliefs (albeit wrong or hurtful beliefs) WBC aren’t exactly creating their own doctrine as much as they are quite literally following instructions from a book that has for millennia been approached as inerrant truth.. I feel like her approach is trying to figure out how to compassionately counter their bad ideas in a way that might just make them reconsider much like she did after all those years
I think you’re in denial, mister Cutty.
A very impressive lady who is so well spoken and balanced. Having watched the Louis Theroux documentaries on her family with a degree of morbid fascination, I realised the tragedy of this sincere, but sincerely wrong, community. I sense in her a deep love for her family and, I suspect, a deep love in them for her. However, due to a particularly harsh view of 'separation from the world' that exists within the Westboro Baptist Church community, there is a tragic and painful breakdown. As Megan herself says, she had a loving and caring upbringing, despite the undoubted oddities of it. She is clearly a balanced and rational person who agonises over the separation between her and her family - who can blame her? I wish her nothing but good in the future, but I also hope she returns to her Christian faith that I think in her heart of hearts still exists. I fully understand how she cannot balance her experience of faith with her harsh upbringing, but it does not invalidate the truths she once believed in. Deep within I suspect she hopes there is a God who loves her and who will never abandon her. In the meantime, I hope she has a wonderful and fulfilled life that one day includes restoration with her whole family.
MPR seems to be an intelligent person. Speaks with much respect about her family as toxic as they are.
She certainly speaks so eloquently!
Megan sounds so together
The most ASMR voice
For the past 20 years, that's what happened to Megan which I thought she still picketing and remains her family. But she already deserved starting to change herself for over 7 years and has a great bravery to show better respect and to believe in everyone's choices. Let her cult mum and her sissy Rebekah believe what they want to believe and obey themselves plus keep picketing across the USA, which won't happen to everyone and it's good to ignore them.
Cuz I've been whiskey bent, and Westboro says I'm hellbound... 🙃
She is really pretty, inside and out.