+64imma Dead on! Generally when an organization, person, or other entity discourages questions and preaches disowning people who question them it's because they are afraid of something. Of course they won't admit that, not even to themselves, but it's the truth. When something is true it stands up to honest scrutiny and is strengthened by it. When something is not true it won't stand up and is weakened by it.
+MrSouthernlord I totally get what you're saying - and you may just trying to be funny (I'm a little slow this early in the morning, lol!) To be fair, not all Christians are extremists. I have a few friends that are Christian, and they do not hate, and believe that God loves us all. Unfortunately, they are of a small percentage, as most are against the gay community, which I take huge issue with (one of my best friends is gay, and he would give the shirt off his back for anyone). They contradict themselves by saying "God loves" but then they pick and chose WHO they think HE loves :(
+Clark Drew The Westboro Baptist Church adheres to the teachings of the bible far more closely than most religions. This is what Christianity really looks like. The more a religion moves away from this hateful and destructive religious text the nicer it becomes.
I feel bad for those who have gay parents. And families where they are divorced. Manny ateists who becomed Christians told that their parrents were horrible. Honestly, I don't see no problem in, telling that, your child to dress modestly. To stay pure till marriage and to dont get drunk. What is all the problem with Church hating people? Church was like the best place in all my life. The most loving people, my best friends. It was so cool to me. Still is! I have got so manny good advices. So manny encouragements. And onest truths. When I was doing something bad. I don't know why you guys like atack something what you don't know. It is like someone kills a person and his name is Nick and then you say all people with the name of Nick are criminals. Are you all right with spreading that misinformation? Please don't say things with an entire magnitude of ranges. I am baptist. I am Christian. My parents are. My relatives all are baptist. And each of them are womderful people. I have the best parrents on the word! Same with my brother and uncle etc... It is really offensive to say that all people like myself who go to church, are weird and stuff like that. First of all I live in Europe. I don't even think that you know or had gone to a different church than your country. Maybe my comment is long but I needed to adress this. God Jesus bless your life. Read the Bible and belive it and repent this is my best advice.
I love how she pulled a complete 180 and is an amazing fitness inspiration, patriotic flag waver, and overall good person who only cares about the prosperity and well-being of every other good person out there.
touche my friend. Almost like a double agent am I right? lol. That generated a lot of publicity. Similar to how North Korean agents and Russian mafia agents operate.
and as such she can share with the world this kind of warning?: Some statistics about the homosexual lifestyle and its effects: One study reports 70% of homosexuals admitting to having sex only one time with over 50% of their partners (3). One study reports that the average homosexual has between 20 and 106 partners per year (6). The average heterosexual has 8 partners in a lifetime. Many homosexual sexual encounters occur while drunk, high on drugs, or in an orgy setting (7). Many homosexuals don't pay heed to warnings of their lifestyles: "Knowledge of health guidelines was quite high, but this knowledge had no relation to sexual behavior" (16). Homosexuals got homosexuality removed from the list of mental illnesses in the early 70s by storming the annual American Psychiatric Association (APA) conference on successive years. "Guerrilla theater tactics and more straight-forward shouting matches characterized their presence" (2). Since homosexuality has been removed from the APA list of mental illnesses, so has pedophilia (except when the adult feels "subjective distress") (27). Homosexuals account for 3-4% of all gonorrhea cases, 60% of all syphilis cases, and 17% of all hospital admissions (other than for STDs) in the United States (5). They make up only 1-2% of the population. Homosexuals live unhealthy lifestyles, and have historically accounted for the bulk of syphilis, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, the "gay bowel syndrome" (which attacks the intestinal tract), tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus (27). 73% of psychiatrists say homosexuals are less happy than the average person, and of those psychiatrists, 70% say that the unhappiness is NOT due to social stigmatization (13). 25-33% of homosexuals and lesbians are alcoholics (11). Of homosexuals questioned in one study reports that 43% admit to 500 or more partners in a lifetime, 28% admit to 1000 or more in a lifetime, and of these people, 79% say that half of those partners are total strangers, and 70% of those sexual contacts are one night stands (or, as one homosexual admits in the film "The Castro", one minute stands) (3). Also, it is a favorite past-time of many homosexuals to go to "cruisy areas" and have anonymous sex. 78% of homosexuals are affected by STDs (20). Judge John Martaugh, chief magistrate of the New York City Criminal Court has said, "Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities" (10). Captain William Riddle of the Los Angeles Police says, "30,000 sexually abused children in Los Angeles were victims of homosexuals" (10). 50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals (10). Dr. Daniel Capron, a practicing psychiatrist, says, "Homosexuality by definition is not healthy and wholesome. The homosexual person, at best, will be unhappier and more unfulfilled than the sexually normal person" (10). For other psychiatrists who believe that homosexuality is wrong, please see National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. It takes approximately $300,000 to take care of each AIDS victim, so thanks to the promiscuous lifestyle of homosexuals, medical insurance rates have been skyrocketing for all of us(10). Homosexuals were responsible for spreading AIDS in the United States, and then raised up violent groups like Act Up and Ground Zero to complain about it. Even today, homosexuals account for well over 50% of the AIDS cases in the United States, which is quite a large number considering that they account for only 1-2% of the population. Homosexuals account for a disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80% in San Francisco, 29% in Denver, 66% in New York City, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal, and 26% in Melbourne (8). 37% of homosexuals engage in sadomasochism, which accounts for many accidental deaths. In San Francisco, classes were held to teach homosexuals how to not kill their partners during sadomasochism (8). 41% of homosexuals say they have had sex with strangers in public restrooms, 60% say they have had sex with strangers in bathhouses, and 64% of these encounters have involved the use of illegal drugs (8). Depending on the city, 39-59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae, which is common in filthy third world countries (8). The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 (only 9% live past age 65). This drops to 39 if the cause of death is AIDS. The median age of death of a married heterosexual man is 75 (8). The median age of death of lesbians is 45 (only 24% live past age 65). The median age of death of a married heterosexual woman is 79 (8). Homosexuals are 100 times more likely to be murdered (usually by another homosexual) than the average person, 25 times more likely to commit suicide, and 19 times more likely to die in a traffic accident (8). 21% of lesbians die of murder, suicide or traffic accident, which is at a rate of 534 times higher than the number of white heterosexual females aged 25-44 who die of these things(8). 50% of the calls to a hotline to report "queer bashing" involved domestic violence (i.e., homosexuals beating up other homosexuals) (18). About 50% of the women on death row are lesbians (12). Homosexuals prey on children. 33% of homosexuals ADMIT to minor/adult sex (7). There is a notable homosexual group, consisting of thousands of members, known as the North American Man and Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). This is a child molesting homosexual group whose cry is "SEX BEFORE 8 BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE." This group can be seen marching in most major homosexual parades across the United States. Homosexuals commit more than 33% of all reported child molestations in the United States, which, assuming homosexuals make up 2% of the population, means that 1 in 20 homosexuals is a child molestor, while 1 in 490 heterosexuals is a child molestor (19). 73% of all homosexuals have had sex with boys under 19 years of age (9). Many homosexuals admit that they are pedophiles: "The love between men and boys is at the foundation of homosexuality" (22). Because homosexuals can't reproduce naturally, they resort to recruiting children. Homosexuals can be heard chanting "TEN PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH, RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT" in their homosexual parades. A group called the "Lesbian Avengers" prides itself on trying to recruit young girls. They print "WE RECRUIT" on their literature. Some other homosexuals aren't as overt about this, but rather try to infiltrate society and get into positions where they will have access to the malleable minds of young children (e.g., the clergy, teachers, Boy Scout leaders, etc.) (8). See the DC Lesbian Avengers web page, and DC Lesbian Avengers Press Release, where they threaten to recruit little boys and girls. Also, see AFA Action Alert.
I hope the rest of their children end up like her. They interviewed one of the little boys and you could tell he didn't know what the fuck he was talking about. They don't understand why they're doing it.
I pissed off a friend who knows I'm a atheist. He started in again about god and asked me to read the bible as proof of god. I told her she can no more prove god with a bible than I can prove the existence of Spiderman with a comic book.
+Michael Mejia Oh my lord... You're the one who blindly believes in a religion based on a book without any real evidence.... You dunce I compare religion to ghosts. The closest thing to proof of God is the Bible. The closest thing to evidence of ghosts are stories. Learn your facts before opening your pie hole please. Ignorant idiot
I remember seeing her in a documentary or on Howard Stern, I can't remember which but I could tell by her facial expressions in response to the insanity that was her parents that she wasn't into it.
As someone who made the journey out of the IFB cult, I can totally relate to her experience. There is a certain comfortableness about being in a cult, and it takes courage to leave. God bless her!
The Independent Fundamental Baptists. They don't wave signs or get in the news very often but they are very controlling, and they eject and use people in the same ways.
I went to a Baptist middle school. Hammond Baptist from Indiana. Looking back I am appalled by what they taught us. And even as a little kid I could not wrap my mind around the concept of god or religion. I think I was born an atheist. If others get fulfillment from religion that is great, but you can't go around telling everyone else how to live. What I am amazed by is that they have not had their tax status rejected. They are clearly a hate group. Take the word god out of the message and they are as reprehensible as the kkk. I hope that you have found happiness and peace since leaving the cult.
I am sorry to hear that. Thank you for the kind words, I have found happiness and peace, and I hope that you have too. I'm Christian, and it is so grotesque and hateful to see people project God and the Scriptures onto their hate. Most Christians, myself included, are the total opposite of that, and we look forward to seeing these cult survivors leave.
Here is what I don't get about the Westboro Baptist Church. Their reasoning for the actions they take, i.e. picketing funerals, speaking out against homosexuality and preaching the bible, is their way to warn people and encourage them to repent. And yet they go about this in a completely ineffectual way that serves to inspire hatred toward their organization and ultimately Christianity as a whole. I honestly think these people are doing more to hurt their cause then help it and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I mean from what I’ve seen they are obviously extremely intelligent people yet they persist in goading people from virtually every other walk of life at every turn.
There is an infinite number of ways no one is able to understand this...it's not even a church, it's just a cult. They're doings are simply wrong on too many levels to describe and you definitely mentioned one of myriad, but what I'm trying to get at is that they're just completely crazy to even possibly attempt to figure out.
The common accusation is that they do what they do with no other material intent than to have others stand against them so they can then, in turn, sue based in their right to free speech (hiding behind religion). So, in short, they are scamming the system while sweeping up money gained from frivolous law suits.
James D. Chamberlain III In Short: A Cult would the obverse of A Church. But is still a church. Just like one side of a Coin is the Obverse of a coin is still a coin. Expanded: What is the difference? When someone commits a crime they become a criminal, especially for shocking crimes like rape! Now if you mean there are gray areas please tell me because rape does not sound like one. Furthermore Religions often worship Gods so do cults, Some Religions Deify peoples like the Popes, Jesus, Budda, Saints, etc so many other as an Honnor So Do Cults. A Cult is just Church that breaks the law OR commits acts so shocking to the conscience that the majority of people no longer support it. Many Church used to be fine with Slavery and Burning Witches.
James D. Chamberlain III Religion is questionable! The Catholic Church has and turns a blind eye to abuse of children, and they were part of the Transatlantic Slave trade if they really believed in compassion they the Church would never have stood for it and could have put a end to it, the Catholic Church had that much power and influence to even sway who could be a monarch or king.
It's true when they say the person you are on the inside reflects how you are on the outside. If you see her in one of the WBC's music videos, she looked like a mess, but now she's beautiful and there is a positive energy that is coming from her now which is evident by just looking at her.
What lovely young lady and ay she has a lovely life. It is nice to see her having a life of her own, obviously it will be without her family, so I hope she meets someone who love her and who she can love.
I have always felt such sadness and compassion for the innocent children born into this bizarre family, and horrific cult. To be indoctrinated with such fear, hate, and isolation, berated at every turn, is a complex form of child abuse! Fred Phelps controlled his decendants with the iron fist of rage he had within; I am convinced he was either gay, OR a victim of sexual abuse himself (never having processed his own feelings.) Perhaps now that he has met his maker, the foundation of the "church" will begin to crack, and we will see more Laurens
you are so brave! As a loving human being I know u miss your siblings and even ur parents. u wouldn't be human if you didn't. time will heal,God has your back. Good luck to u. by the way, your body is beautiful as are u overall. best wishes, my dear😊
I think this lady is very strong for leaving that horrible church, and it's amazing that she has got a new life. Her dad should be deeply ashamed of himself for destroying his family. Of course he won't be because he is fucking nuts!
Good for you Lauren! I grew up in a really strict Korean traditional pastor's family, and I only thought there was only one way to believe in God, but sure enough, after I left my home and joined the AF, I found God in a different way 😊 Good for you for staying strong and not losing faith 😊
"when you're in it, you're best buddies, when you're out of it, they will kill you". Megan and Grace have left the group and lots of people don't believe their sincerity. But when your whole family is lost to a cult and you grow up in it, that family is all you have, you need them even if you don't agree with them. And this is a very manipulative cult. I can see how hard it must be to break out from their grip. And how embarassing those pickets must be for most of those kids.
Please explain to me what "true" christianity is. 200 years ago, everybody was like the WBC. The only reason why religious people are "nice" are because they hijacked the ideologies of secular philosophy. Before that, there was no such thing as reason, or thinking for yourself.
***** So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore? And you didn't need to type that out. I was raised a christian, I know exactly what it "is". And all you did was give me a narrative. And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument.
lonewolf604 "So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore?" you mean the ones that God forbid the Israelites to do? those human sacrifices? you mean the ones which the Israelites were attacking the Canaanites for performing? slavery for the Israelites was something completely different from slavery in the 1800s have you ever heard of a just war? And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument." how? how does God knowing what's going to happen determine it happening? say I knew a guy over in China was going to do something, does my knowledge of it happening determine the fact that it will happen?
Yea I am a physically in mentally out Jehovah's Witness and yes Westboro Baptist Church is a louder more abrasive version of the same ideology. Same ideas JW hate gay people all military and tell people if they don't believe like them they will die (they don't believe in hell). They just don't go around telling people this to there face or carry signs saying it and singing songs about it.
I could never abandon my daughter.... Fucking pathetic... Giving Christian's a bad rap. "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the pure in heart. FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD"
I'm gonna say it, I think she may be a pawn sent out from the wbc to breed future generations of ignorant haters among normal society. Maybe I'm being judgemental and god forgive me if I am but she didn't show much emotion she gave that smile that reminded me of that lady and her daughters I seen on a program once. Also she said they were even more hateful to their own members but she never answered him when he asked how so she switched the subject. Maybe I'm an idiot lol you have the right to call me that and you are probably right js
She has my entire support too. I think the fact she was indoctrinated into their crap since childhood, but was then conscious and capable enough to get out of it by herself is tremendously admirable and says a lot about her. I wish her well. :)
Finished reading Banished. It is the most intense book I've ever read and experienced and I'm glad you escaped the cult. God loves you Lauren, and I hope that your family someday knows that too. Praying it goes well. :)
I feel bad for these children. It seems this group has a ONE-NESS that you either accept and lose your own thoughts....or you're OUT and told you're doomed. You lose either way. I'm surprised these poor children aren't insane.
I have been doing massive research on WBC, and I am a Christian in Indiana, I am a lesbian, No my church doesn't accept that. But they also treat me like a human being, and I love my church for not judging me for what I am, and who I am. I'm sorry that you even had to go to this church, and I'm super proud that you and others like Megan and Grace Phelps are out. I'm sorry you don't get to see your siblings and such. I'm sorry, god bless.
Good work, Lauren. You are clearly smart, and are doing a good thing in speaking out about this cult. Hope your book is going well, too. Thee must be very few people left in the WBC now. They will rely on having more and more children to keep the cult going, but if most leave as young adults, the cult is finished.
I have read most of it but I'm afraid they're not making up anything about what the Bible says. I know the Bible has good messages as well. But it has some pretty nasty and hateful things too. The WBC quotes real bible verses.
If Jesus existed I have no doubt he was a wise and good man. The problem is he didn't write any of it himself. The actual book was written by highly imperfect highly prejudiced individuals over 2000 years ago. And I don't trust anyone to have a "correct" interpretation of what it all means.
Indeed, man has not improved much in terms of primal fears and illusions in our mind. There are many ways to find the truth. As long as you are an open minded person and kind then there really isn't an issue.
I just "discovered" Lauren on a TV special I watched last night. God bless her!!! God does not hate anyone. I think he hates certain actions certain sins, but I am certain he does not hate his children. Phelps has no biblical justifications for his onerous statements. The worst part is people see him and think that's how Christians are. Westboro is not even a tiny fraction of members of the Christian faith, and yet they get this loud voice. Christians are the first responders to disasters like Katrina. Let's hear about things like that in the press.
So proud of Lauren for finding the true Christ. She is an amazing woman. No matter what she did or didn't do to get out, she had to forgive herself, her family, her friends, and know that everything she was taught was a literal lie. She found God and is now truly saved. wow. props.
@Lauren Drain You are gorgeous. I'm also very impressed with how strong of a person you are. Not many people can say they have the where-withall to understand the environment they grew up in was so wrong and horrible. It's great that you were able to do this and I'm sure God has big plans for you and the message behind that.
+Slay for Batman Not like it matters but I wouldn't date a girl if they had any piercing on her nose, lip or face. Even the minor ones are unattractive
I hate that they live in my city. They are and have always been just awful to everyone here and all over. We normal people of Topeka wish they would go away
I'm so glad she left. She is such a wonderful woman, she has so much courage and strength. Going through something like that, can scar someone for life. I have an insane amount of respect for her, and wish her the best in life !
"Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the Earth; I have come not to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter in law against her mother in law. A man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10: 34-36) Christ's approval is greater than the approval of any person, and if you must lose your family for Him, then it is always worth it.
I can't believe her own father won't talk to her. That's messed up that's your daughter she needs a father in her life. This church is a horrible example of the Christian faith. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
I'm sorry but for me, the WBC is just the extreme of a much bigger problem, I think man is flawed and even though some things that happen through faith can be beautiful, based on history (history always repeats itself) man/men running a religion or church will always lead to pain, hurt and discrimination ! I can already feel the religious trolls lining up to argue with me and quoting the bible, or expressing their views which is their right as me saying this is my right but this its my opinion so I can't be wrong in expressing my opinion as it is mine and mine alone ! Argue these two points though: 1. The Bible, just like the Book of Mormon, or the doctrine of Scientology was written by man, not a deity/God/Holy spirit, written by man, and man lies !!! If you believe the Bible was inspired/written/created by the Holy spirit or God, then you have to accept so were the other two cause the only difference is the time since they were written 2. Nobody and I mean nobody knows 100% if there is a God or not or what religion is correct, that is the whole point of faith, 'strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof'. So based on this, all religions/Gods have the same possibility of being true (either they are or they are not), the same possibility as that there is that a flying monkey farted and created earth, the same possibility as anything you can imagine so what makes YOU THINK YOU are correct and all the others are wrong. What makes you think because of your belief, you can impose your values and morals from your religion on other people when what they believe is just as unproven as yours !!! I'd rather live my life based on things I can prove and just act kind towards my fellow man, 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you', there is a reason that this is the back bone to all major religions (not just Christianity !!!!), cause it makes sense, what comes after is mostly ridiculous. Thanks if you actually read this.
You say that 'real Christians' 'ignore' the 'bits and pieces' that deal with malice, incest, etc. On what basis do you make this claim? I am not aware of anywhere in the Bible where anyone is instructed to ignore what it contains. Are you suggesting that because Christians do not practice ritual sacrifice, that they are ignoring what is in the Bible? I need some background on your basis for your statement before I can give you a more definitive answer.
everything she is saying about real christians or in the WBC's case (crazy's) not being any better because we all have sinned and all sins are equal in the eyes of god we should not judge but encourage one another to grow. not focus on homosexuality which is no worse a sin than the thousands we all commit every day
This is for the westboro baptist church and is information for everybody. First of all how can you claim to love God and be a christian. but have hatred in your heart. 1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen." 1 John:4:20 Also how can you say you love God if you are not obeying his commands which includes loving your neighbor as you love thyself. also this is god's greatest commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark:12:31 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John:5:3 Now the devil is always out to decive people who are fresh and new trying to seek God and his righteousness. And the devil will try to decieve people into these cults so that they will also decieve other people to these cults. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John:8:44 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John:10:10 Now if anybody wants to ge saved all you have to do is believe in your hear and confess with your moutb that Jesus is the son of the most high God and that he died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day. you must admit that you are a sinner and from your heart. you must repent of your sins.
I wish all kids and teens in the WBC would come to their senses like Lauren so this hate group can stop once and for all! There aren't even 100 members... the less the better!
If anyone wants to see another "religious" group like the WBC, look into the Church of Wells. It's scary how much this is exactly the same with these two "churches"
There is also another show call "The most hated Family in America" that was done by the BBC. It is a great documentary and really puts this crazy so called "church" in the lime light.
Welll... Ms. Drain didn't so much "leave" the church as she was cast out of the church by the family. Today, she's become an exemplary member of society... but I worry that, had she not been forced out by her own folks, she'd still be in. Her book, "Banished," is an intelligently-written memoir which helps to explain the church dogma a little better than most materials out there.
That description certainly isn't the god of the bible. He was a god that regularly meddled in the affairs of his people and sat to judge and exact punishment "sooner" rather than "later". He wasn't the sort of god that sat with his arms folded and waited for things to play out. Christ's MO conflicts greatly with the god of the bible. Sadly, WBC accurately portray the attitude of Old Testament. They are a glaring reminder of the nasty side of Christianity that theists try to white wash.
You're trying to not understand. If you try to no understand, well you won't understand. It's a matter of "God" creating souls - if you were the only person on this planet and could make other people, would you make people who would blindly follow what you say, or would you create people with their own interesting personality? In the end, he's leaving the choice up to you - you get to decide if you want to live a good, honest life.
@WiiClassic2usb, I believe so . I don`t want Lauren Drain to not have a support system to turn to, for turning around, speaking truth to bigotry, just to even get thrown out of her own home. How sad is that, to get thrown out of your own home for turning around and making a right but costly decision to speak against what's wrong and shrinking the Body of Christ , not building the Body of Christ ? I will praise people who turn around and do right . - Dwight
@DJTrainman261 - Soooo yeaah... allow me to have a good hearty LULZ at your prior statement. "We still have the original bible text, and experts to translate it from old languages." Again, problem would have been avoided with the Instant Memory Transfer Cube. Words on pages or screens will always fall short of -experiences- (case in point, my not knowing your 'sheep' quip was sarcasm), Seriously though, think of the IMTC as being like those memory discs in The Matrix or Strange Days.
P8: "...as Tony points out, the 'original' Greek text was not written until around the mid fourth century & was a revised edition of writings compiled decades earlier in Aramaic & Hebrew. Those earlier dox no longer exist & the Bibles we have today are 5 linguistic removes from the 1st bibles written. What was written in the 'original originals' is quite unknown. It is important to remember the words 'authorized' & 'original', as applied to the Bible don't mean 'genuine', 'authentic' or 'true'."
P7: "He also wanted the phrase 'Appointed to be read in the churches' to appear on the title page. The King James Bible is considered by many today to be the 'original' Bible and therefore 'genuine' and all later revisions simply counterfeits forged by 'higher critics'. Others think the King James Bible is 'authentic' and 'authorized' and presents the original words of the authors as translated into English from the 'original' Greek texts."
P6: "The first English language manuscripts of the Bible remained in Bacon's possession for nearly a year. During that time ... "he hammered the various styles of the translators into the unity, rhythm, and music of Shakespearean prose, wrote the prefaces and created the whole scheme of the Authorized Version. At the completion of the editing, King James ordered a 'dedication to the King' to be drawn up and included in the opening pages."
P5: "In 1607, 47 men (some records say 54) took two years and nine months to re-write the Bible and make it ready for press. It was, by the order of King James, issued with a set of personal 'rules' the translators were to follow. Upon its completion in 1609, it was handed over to the King James for his final approval. However, "It was self evident that James was not competent to check their work and edit it, so he passed the manuscripts onto the greatest genius of all time... Sir Francis Bacon"
P3: "The Rabbinic fraternity once held the destroyed manuscripts w/ great reverence for they were comprehensive original records reporting the life of Rabbi Jesus. Later, Pope Alexander VI ordered all copies of the Talmud destroyed, w/ the Spanish Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada (1420-98) responsible for the elimination of 6000 volumes at Salamanca alone. Solomon Romano (1554) also burnt many thousands of Hebrew scrolls and, in 1559, every Hebrew book in the city of Prague was confiscated."
P2: "Firstly we cannot be sure that we have the full version as it was originally intended. In 1415 the Church of Rome took an extraordinary step to destroy all knowledge of two second century Jewish books that it said contained the true name of Jesus Christ. The Antipope Benedict XIII firstly singled out for condemnation a secret Latin treatise called "Mar Yesu" and then issued instructions to destroy all copies of the book of Elxai."
Here, I'll quote some of it for you since you likely won't actively go looking for it. -P1: "If we examine the oldest known Bible to date, the "Sinai Bible" housed in the British Museum (I believe that, during his many years of research, Tony had a private viewing of this priceless book), we find a staggering 14,800 differences from today's Bible and yet it still remains the word of God? As Tony points out, the history of our 'genuine' Bibles is a convoluted one."
"would you rather force people to be your friend, or be friends w/ those who -want- to be your friend?" - So rather than do any of the things I proposed, God would rather play mind games and let all that suffering, genocide and hate go on for the sake of his 'test' - "he doesn't want to zap them with the "Peace and Love" ray and make it easy, where's the fun in that? He wants to see if you'll come to -him- even w/o evidence and all these people doing bad stuff in his name whom refuses to stop."
"Writing is something that can be kept for ages" - Unless the books get eaten by insects, or get wet and moldy, or get burned in some raid, or the people writing them get slaughtered, or bits get left out because some king decided. God can supposedly create -indestructible- objects, no? So why -not- create a device that A: cannot be destroyed. B: Instantly transfers an -experience- and C: has an effect similar to a wi-fi hotspot. Once 'connected' people just -understand- and that's it. E.O.S.
"You can question the bible all you want, but how would the memory cube help? We still use writing - we're doing it right now. Writing is something that can be kept for ages, that's why a supposed god would use that." --- Ohhh, but just then, I failed to understand or sense your 'sarcasm' - now, if there'd been some way for me to -experience- rather than just -read- I would not have had that room for error, now would I? Text can evoke thought, sure. But it can't hold a candle to -experience-
Right, and if you really -want- to understand English fed through Babblefish and turned into Japanese then fed through Google Translate and turned into Spanish then fed into Excite and turned into English again, then you will. You just have to "believe" hard enough! It's okay, buddy. I getcha. Playing on an old Atari 2600 is -totally- much better than playing in The Matrix, right? That's pretty much the argument we're having here. "If you have a good soul" - sure sure, where's my unicorn?
you're speaking to me like i'm a 5 year-old. i've already seen where she's changed. i've seen documentaries and interviews over her and read summaries and reviews of her book. you're just not understanding me. i even already acknowledged how she changed in my last comment. it isn't hard for me to see it at all. it's just hard for you to understand that no matter what, it won't be so easy to forgive and forget that she had no problem telling people they were as good as dead not so long ago.
@Jose Angel, I see where it's hard for you to see this happening right now. It`s really hard for you to see a new reformed Lauren Drain, after she has been under WBC's Doctrine for so long. But, know that the right thing to do is not always the easiest thing in the world to do. Let's make America the land of opportunity, even for a Lauren Drain who got kicked out of WBC and her own home for questioning WBC .. and now going virtually solo. - Dwight Yes, It will take time.
don't tell me i do this "continuously", when all i'm doing is speaking the truth once. you need to remember just how two-sided this is. yes, it's great that she's out of her dark clouds. she has her own place, has a great selling book, and she's still gorgeous. fine. HOWEVER, she still has the same exact past that she will always be remembered for no matter how great she's doing now. her "past tense" made the front page for a long time, and that's not something anyone can just forget easily.
Ok, @Jose Angel. I maybe wrong but the point is that you continuously are treating her like a hypocrite, when she stopped being a hypocrite. Her life with Westboro Baptist Cult is past tense. She is starting anew. Here's my point, Do you want to continue to remember Lauren Drain for the hypocrite that she was forced to act like, or are you gonna celebrate Lauren Drain having freedom away from all of that? And I mean the freedom that I always thought that this country is all about . - Dwight
in case you didn't notice, i wasn't judging. at all. i was stating the actual truth without expressing any opinion. i said, in elongation, that no matter who's fault it is, the church or hers, she will be seen by most of the public eye as an unintentional hypocrite due to the circumstances she was in until she decided to leave. her past gives her the record she has now. i actually detest the westboro baptish church's beliefs, being an openly gay male. so you can actually stop your judging.
You should learn to understand sarcasm when you see it. That thing about the sheep was sarcastic. And, you still haven't explained what is wrong with it, other than that it can be purposefully misunderstood. If you want to understand it correctly, you will. So basically, this is "God's" way of seeing who is faithful, who has a good soul, etc. If you could force anyone to be friends with you, would you do it, or rather be friends with those who voluntarily will befriend you?
YOU are commenting back trying to push what exactly? None of your comment are clear-cut vis a vis other's comments. YOU care. Others care. We are all here because we care about a lot of things. You want to be heard;to express your opinion.Communication and self-expression is not about convincing anyone of anything. It can include that,but it is not that. Would you like to have the last word? Post me again,and I simply won't respond. Adieu.
What I can't understand is why does everyone sit and argue about religion? Who cares what one believes or doesn't? It's everyone's right to believe or not believe what they/we want. No one is right or wrong. The only time we should speak up is if someone is trying to force their opinions on others or try to do harm to others. One side will never convince the other which is "right". There is no harm believing in a God but harmful to be racist etc. Let live.
Honestly, any organization that doesn't welcome questions is not an organization fit for membership.
+64imma Dead on! Generally when an organization, person, or other entity discourages questions and preaches disowning people who question them it's because they are afraid of something. Of course they won't admit that, not even to themselves, but it's the truth. When something is true it stands up to honest scrutiny and is strengthened by it. When something is not true it won't stand up and is weakened by it.
I'm asking questions I hope she answers
64imma. You've just described governments in the 'free' world!!!!!
I am glad she escaped from this cult and found freedom
Tissa Senanayake She is still a Christian so she didn't completely make it out.
MrSouthernlord Correct. But at least she rid herself from religious fundamentalism. I have no problem with people who have a nominal faith in God.
+tissa, I agree. I wish her the best
+MrSouthernlord I totally get what you're saying - and you may just trying to be funny (I'm a little slow this early in the morning, lol!) To be fair, not all Christians are extremists. I have a few friends that are Christian, and they do not hate, and believe that God loves us all. Unfortunately, they are of a small percentage, as most are against the gay community, which I take huge issue with (one of my best friends is gay, and he would give the shirt off his back for anyone). They contradict themselves by saying "God loves" but then they pick and chose WHO they think HE loves :(
+Clark Drew The Westboro Baptist Church adheres to the teachings of the bible far more closely than most religions. This is what Christianity really looks like. The more a religion moves away from this hateful and destructive religious text the nicer it becomes.
I feel Bad for the kids in that Church
I feel bad for those who have gay parents.
And families where they are divorced.
Manny ateists who becomed Christians told that their parrents were horrible.
Honestly, I don't see no problem in, telling that, your child to dress modestly.
To stay pure till marriage and to dont get drunk.
What is all the problem with Church hating people?
Church was like the best place in all my life. The most loving people, my best friends.
It was so cool to me. Still is!
I have got so manny good advices. So manny encouragements.
And onest truths. When I was doing something bad.
I don't know why you guys like atack something what you don't know.
It is like someone kills a person and his name is Nick and then you say all people with the name of Nick are criminals.
Are you all right with spreading that misinformation?
Please don't say things with an entire magnitude of ranges.
I am baptist. I am Christian. My parents are. My relatives all are baptist. And each of them are womderful people. I have the best parrents on the word! Same with my brother and uncle etc...
It is really offensive to say that all people like myself who go to church, are weird and stuff like that. First of all I live in Europe.
I don't even think that you know or had gone to a different church than your country.
Maybe my comment is long but I needed to adress this. God Jesus bless your life. Read the Bible and belive it and repent this is my best advice.
I feel bad for kids that don't go to church. This church was the extreme...
@@abrady79 i dont go to church, and i’m glad my parents had the good sense to allow me to decide for myself what i believe
@@doodles4433 I was raised in church, moved out and didn't go for years and now go back. I made my own decision and was raised in church.
I love how she pulled a complete 180 and is an amazing fitness inspiration, patriotic flag waver, and overall good person who only cares about the prosperity and well-being of every other good person out there.
+EllynaurusRex Thank God the TRUE GOD that she found a way out of that Biggotry cult
?
touche my friend. Almost like a double agent am I right? lol. That generated a lot of publicity. Similar to how North Korean agents and Russian mafia agents operate.
and as such she can share with the world this kind of warning?:
Some statistics about the homosexual lifestyle and its effects:
One study reports 70% of homosexuals admitting to having sex only one time with over 50% of their partners (3).
One study reports that the average homosexual has between 20 and 106 partners per year (6). The average heterosexual has 8 partners in a lifetime.
Many homosexual sexual encounters occur while drunk, high on drugs, or in an orgy setting (7).
Many homosexuals don't pay heed to warnings of their lifestyles: "Knowledge of health guidelines was quite high, but this knowledge had no relation to sexual behavior" (16).
Homosexuals got homosexuality removed from the list of mental illnesses in the early 70s by storming the annual American Psychiatric Association (APA) conference on successive years. "Guerrilla theater tactics and more straight-forward shouting matches characterized their presence" (2). Since homosexuality has been removed from the APA list of mental illnesses, so has pedophilia (except when the adult feels "subjective distress") (27).
Homosexuals account for 3-4% of all gonorrhea cases, 60% of all syphilis cases, and 17% of all hospital admissions (other than for STDs) in the United States (5). They make up only 1-2% of the population.
Homosexuals live unhealthy lifestyles, and have historically accounted for the bulk of syphilis, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, the "gay bowel syndrome" (which attacks the intestinal tract), tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus (27).
73% of psychiatrists say homosexuals are less happy than the average person, and of those psychiatrists, 70% say that the unhappiness is NOT due to social stigmatization (13).
25-33% of homosexuals and lesbians are alcoholics (11).
Of homosexuals questioned in one study reports that 43% admit to 500 or more partners in a lifetime, 28% admit to 1000 or more in a lifetime, and of these people, 79% say that half of those partners are total strangers, and 70% of those sexual contacts are one night stands (or, as one homosexual admits in the film "The Castro", one minute stands) (3). Also, it is a favorite past-time of many homosexuals to go to "cruisy areas" and have anonymous sex.
78% of homosexuals are affected by STDs (20).
Judge John Martaugh, chief magistrate of the New York City Criminal Court has said, "Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities" (10).
Captain William Riddle of the Los Angeles Police says, "30,000 sexually abused children in Los Angeles were victims of homosexuals" (10).
50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals (10).
Dr. Daniel Capron, a practicing psychiatrist, says, "Homosexuality by definition is not healthy and wholesome. The homosexual person, at best, will be unhappier and more unfulfilled than the sexually normal person" (10). For other psychiatrists who believe that homosexuality is wrong, please see National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.
It takes approximately $300,000 to take care of each AIDS victim, so thanks to the promiscuous lifestyle of homosexuals, medical insurance rates have been skyrocketing for all of us(10).
Homosexuals were responsible for spreading AIDS in the United States, and then raised up violent groups like Act Up and Ground Zero to complain about it. Even today, homosexuals account for well over 50% of the AIDS cases in the United States, which is quite a large number considering that they account for only 1-2% of the population.
Homosexuals account for a disproportionate number of hepatitis cases: 70-80% in San Francisco, 29% in Denver, 66% in New York City, 56% in Toronto, 42% in Montreal, and 26% in Melbourne (8).
37% of homosexuals engage in sadomasochism, which accounts for many accidental deaths. In San Francisco, classes were held to teach homosexuals how to not kill their partners during sadomasochism (8).
41% of homosexuals say they have had sex with strangers in public restrooms, 60% say they have had sex with strangers in bathhouses, and 64% of these encounters have involved the use of illegal drugs (8).
Depending on the city, 39-59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae, which is common in filthy third world countries (8).
The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 (only 9% live past age 65). This drops to 39 if the cause of death is AIDS. The median age of death of a married heterosexual man is 75 (8).
The median age of death of lesbians is 45 (only 24% live past age 65). The median age of death of a married heterosexual woman is 79 (8).
Homosexuals are 100 times more likely to be murdered (usually by another homosexual) than the average person, 25 times more likely to commit suicide, and 19 times more likely to die in a traffic accident (8).
21% of lesbians die of murder, suicide or traffic accident, which is at a rate of 534 times higher than the number of white heterosexual females aged 25-44 who die of these things(8).
50% of the calls to a hotline to report "queer bashing" involved domestic violence (i.e., homosexuals beating up other homosexuals) (18).
About 50% of the women on death row are lesbians (12). Homosexuals prey on children.
33% of homosexuals ADMIT to minor/adult sex (7).
There is a notable homosexual group, consisting of thousands of members, known as the North American Man and Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). This is a child molesting homosexual group whose cry is "SEX BEFORE 8 BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE." This group can be seen marching in most major homosexual parades across the United States.
Homosexuals commit more than 33% of all reported child molestations in the United States, which, assuming homosexuals make up 2% of the population, means that 1 in 20 homosexuals is a child molestor, while 1 in 490 heterosexuals is a child molestor (19).
73% of all homosexuals have had sex with boys under 19 years of age (9).
Many homosexuals admit that they are pedophiles: "The love between men and boys is at the foundation of homosexuality" (22).
Because homosexuals can't reproduce naturally, they resort to recruiting children. Homosexuals can be heard chanting "TEN PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH, RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT" in their homosexual parades. A group called the "Lesbian Avengers" prides itself on trying to recruit young girls. They print "WE RECRUIT" on their literature. Some other homosexuals aren't as overt about this, but rather try to infiltrate society and get into positions where they will have access to the malleable minds of young children (e.g., the clergy, teachers, Boy Scout leaders, etc.) (8). See the DC Lesbian Avengers web page, and DC Lesbian Avengers Press Release, where they threaten to recruit little boys and girls. Also, see AFA Action Alert.
@@raceandcrime
Are you a member of the Westboro Baptist cult?
I hope the rest of their children end up like her. They interviewed one of the little boys and you could tell he didn't know what the fuck he was talking about. They don't understand why they're doing it.
Jason Rodriguez Are you talking about the one who said people in the military are the type who rape little boys?
I pissed off a friend who knows I'm a atheist. He started in again about god and asked me to read the bible as proof of god. I told her she can no more prove god with a bible than I can prove the existence of Spiderman with a comic book.
Worst argument I've ever heard. The bible is the most historically factual book of its kind. Spider man is mere fiction. You dunce.
+Michael Mejia Oh my lord... You're the one who blindly believes in a religion based on a book without any real evidence.... You dunce
I compare religion to ghosts. The closest thing to proof of God is the Bible. The closest thing to evidence of ghosts are stories. Learn your facts before opening your pie hole please. Ignorant idiot
you are brainwashed too.... If you think the fairy tale of noa's arc is true, there's no sense with your case...
So many officise stuff
@@michaelmejia352 there are no facts in the bible
Westboro Baptist Church=Master trolls.
They can't compete with the mayans and zubat
@@tedmosby4877 Ok come on how bad could a pokemon be?
I remember seeing her in a documentary or on Howard Stern, I can't remember which but I could tell by her facial expressions in response to the insanity that was her parents that she wasn't into it.
As someone who made the journey out of the IFB cult, I can totally relate to her experience. There is a certain comfortableness about being in a cult, and it takes courage to leave. God bless her!
what's the IFB cult
The Independent Fundamental Baptists. They don't wave signs or get in the news very often but they are very controlling, and they eject and use people in the same ways.
I went to a Baptist middle school. Hammond Baptist from Indiana. Looking back I am appalled by what they taught us. And even as a little kid I could not wrap my mind around the concept of god or religion. I think I was born an atheist. If others get fulfillment from religion that is great, but you can't go around telling everyone else how to live.
What I am amazed by is that they have not had their tax status rejected. They are clearly a hate group. Take the word god out of the message and they are as reprehensible as the kkk.
I hope that you have found happiness and peace since leaving the cult.
I am sorry to hear that. Thank you for the kind words, I have found happiness and peace, and I hope that you have too. I'm Christian, and it is so grotesque and hateful to see people project God and the Scriptures onto their hate. Most Christians, myself included, are the total opposite of that, and we look forward to seeing these cult survivors leave.
+ Joshua Baldwin glad you hAad tghe strength to get out, hope evrything is going well for you
Here is what I don't get about the Westboro Baptist Church. Their reasoning for the actions they take, i.e. picketing funerals, speaking out against homosexuality and preaching the bible, is their way to warn people and encourage them to repent. And yet they go about this in a completely ineffectual way that serves to inspire hatred toward their organization and ultimately Christianity as a whole. I honestly think these people are doing more to hurt their cause then help it and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I mean from what I’ve seen they are obviously extremely intelligent people yet they persist in goading people from virtually every other walk of life at every turn.
There is an infinite number of ways no one is able to understand this...it's not even a church, it's just a cult. They're doings are simply wrong on too many levels to describe and you definitely mentioned one of myriad, but what I'm trying to get at is that they're just completely crazy to even possibly attempt to figure out.
The common accusation is that they do what they do with no other material intent than to have others stand against them so they can then, in turn, sue based in their right to free speech (hiding behind religion). So, in short, they are scamming the system while sweeping up money gained from frivolous law suits.
James D. Chamberlain III
Cult ? Church ? same thing. When Churches go wild they become cults as to there are no bad churches.
James D. Chamberlain III
In Short:
A Cult would the obverse of A Church. But is still a church. Just like one side of a Coin is the Obverse of a coin is still a coin.
Expanded:
What is the difference? When someone commits a crime they become a criminal, especially for shocking crimes like rape!
Now if you mean there are gray areas please tell me because rape does not sound like one. Furthermore Religions often worship Gods so do cults, Some Religions Deify peoples like the Popes, Jesus, Budda, Saints, etc so many other as an Honnor So Do Cults. A Cult is just Church that breaks the law OR commits acts so shocking to the conscience that the majority of people no longer support it. Many Church used to be fine with Slavery and Burning Witches.
James D. Chamberlain III
Religion is questionable! The Catholic Church has and turns a blind eye to abuse of children, and they were part of the Transatlantic Slave trade if they really believed in compassion they the Church would never have stood for it and could have put a end to it, the Catholic Church had that much power and influence to even sway who could be a monarch or king.
It's true when they say the person you are on the inside reflects how you are on the outside. If you see her in one of the WBC's music videos, she looked like a mess, but now she's beautiful and there is a positive energy that is coming from her now which is evident by just looking at her.
What lovely young lady and ay she has a lovely life. It is nice to see her having a life of her own, obviously it will be without her family, so I hope she meets someone who love her and who she can love.
I have always felt such sadness and compassion for the innocent children born into this bizarre family, and horrific cult. To be indoctrinated with such fear, hate, and isolation, berated at every turn, is a complex form of child abuse! Fred Phelps controlled his decendants with the iron fist of rage he had within; I am convinced he was either gay, OR a victim of sexual abuse himself (never having processed his own feelings.) Perhaps now that he has met his maker, the foundation of the "church" will begin to crack, and we will see more Laurens
she's so amazing! I'm so proud of her and how she was able to get out of that beyond negative hateful environment!
How r u?
you are so brave! As a loving human being I know u miss your siblings and even ur parents. u wouldn't be human if you didn't. time will heal,God has your back. Good luck to u. by the way, your body is beautiful as are u overall. best wishes, my dear😊
I think this lady is very strong for leaving that horrible church, and it's amazing that she has got a new life. Her dad should be deeply ashamed of himself for destroying his family. Of course he won't be because he is fucking nuts!
Good for you Lauren! I grew up in a really strict Korean traditional pastor's family, and I only thought there was only one way to believe in God, but sure enough, after I left my home and joined the AF, I found God in a different way 😊 Good for you for staying strong and not losing faith 😊
How r u?
"when you're in it, you're best buddies, when you're out of it, they will kill you". Megan and Grace have left the group and lots of people don't believe their sincerity. But when your whole family is lost to a cult and you grow up in it, that family is all you have, you need them even if you don't agree with them. And this is a very manipulative cult. I can see how hard it must be to break out from their grip. And how embarassing those pickets must be for most of those kids.
lol, so many atheists in the comments who keep trying to make it seem as though the Westboro baptist church is the fruit of "true" Christianity
Please explain to me what "true" christianity is. 200 years ago, everybody was like the WBC. The only reason why religious people are "nice" are because they hijacked the ideologies of secular philosophy. Before that, there was no such thing as reason, or thinking for yourself.
lonewolf604 "Please explain to me what "true" christianity is. 200 years ago, everybody was like the WBC."
I need more details then that to engage
***** Click read more
***** So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore? And you didn't need to type that out. I was raised a christian, I know exactly what it "is". And all you did was give me a narrative.
And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument.
lonewolf604 "So all that stuff about human sacfrices, slavery, god approved warfare, you're just going to ignore?"
you mean the ones that God forbid the Israelites to do? those human sacrifices? you mean the ones which the Israelites were attacking the Canaanites for performing?
slavery for the Israelites was something completely different from slavery in the 1800s
have you ever heard of a just war?
And if God is omnipotent, he already knew that they were going to disobey him (Adam and Eve), so that throws away the whole "free will" argument."
how? how does God knowing what's going to happen determine it happening? say I knew a guy over in China was going to do something, does my knowledge of it happening determine the fact that it will happen?
She went from WBC to Crossfit? She's going cult to cult!
***** Wow thats ignorant
***** LOL. Hope she doesn't lose faith and start searching again. It would be terrible to see her in the clutches of Zumba!
Sounds like the jehovahs witnesses!!!!!!
Yea I am a physically in mentally out Jehovah's Witness and yes Westboro Baptist Church is a louder more abrasive version of the same ideology. Same ideas JW hate gay people all military and tell people if they don't believe like them they will die (they don't believe in hell). They just don't go around telling people this to there face or carry signs saying it and singing songs about it.
I could never abandon my daughter.... Fucking pathetic... Giving Christian's a bad rap. "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the pure in heart. FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD"
Poor Lauren. :(
Thanks for sharing. I know how you feel. Yes, they all are crazy. Keep your head up.
I am so proud of Lauren! :)
I'm gonna say it, I think she may be a pawn sent out from the wbc to breed future generations of ignorant haters among normal society. Maybe I'm being judgemental and god forgive me if I am but she didn't show much emotion she gave that smile that reminded me of that lady and her daughters I seen on a program once. Also she said they were even more hateful to their own members but she never answered him when he asked how so she switched the subject. Maybe I'm an idiot lol you have the right to call me that and you are probably right js
I love her. Just finished her book. It was compelling and very sad. I could not put the book down.
what's her book called?
+Julia Perron banished. read it. Excellent book.
She has my entire support too.
I think the fact she was indoctrinated into their crap since childhood, but was then conscious and capable enough to get out of it by herself is tremendously admirable and says a lot about her.
I wish her well. :)
+Pere Parellada Gràcia amen to that.
A-freaking-men.
She is living proof of the insanity that it WBC, she's seen it for herself.
Finished reading Banished. It is the most intense book I've ever read and experienced and I'm glad you escaped the cult. God loves you Lauren, and I hope that your family someday knows that too. Praying it goes well. :)
I feel bad for these children. It seems this group has a ONE-NESS that you either accept and lose your own thoughts....or you're OUT and told you're doomed.
You lose either way.
I'm surprised these poor children aren't insane.
I love what she is saying, it's dead on with how I feel about this church.
I have been doing massive research on WBC, and I am a Christian in Indiana, I am a lesbian, No my church doesn't accept that. But they also treat me like a human being, and I love my church for not judging me for what I am, and who I am. I'm sorry that you even had to go to this church, and I'm super proud that you and others like Megan and Grace Phelps are out. I'm sorry you don't get to see your siblings and such. I'm sorry, god bless.
She is so intelligent and mature.
Good work, Lauren. You are clearly smart, and are doing a good thing in speaking out about this cult. Hope your book is going well, too. Thee must be very few people left in the WBC now. They will rely on having more and more children to keep the cult going, but if most leave as young adults, the cult is finished.
I love how she didn't just come a little bit out, she went the whole way XD
lauren is so beautiful im glad she found her way
Where do these lunatics get all their crazy ideas??? Oh yeah, the Bible.
I have read most of it but I'm afraid they're not making up anything about what the Bible says. I know the Bible has good messages as well. But it has some pretty nasty and hateful things too. The WBC quotes real bible verses.
They would probably just get their ideas from something else then, tbh.
It just sucks that people can interpret the Bible in so many ways. It just isn't clear enough
If Jesus existed I have no doubt he was a wise and good man. The problem is he didn't write any of it himself. The actual book was written by highly imperfect highly prejudiced individuals over 2000 years ago. And I don't trust anyone to have a "correct" interpretation of what it all means.
Indeed, man has not improved much in terms of primal fears and illusions in our mind. There are many ways to find the truth. As long as you are an open minded person and kind then there really isn't an issue.
I just "discovered" Lauren on a TV special I watched last night. God bless her!!!
God does not hate anyone. I think he hates certain actions certain sins, but I am certain he does not hate his children. Phelps has no biblical justifications for his onerous statements. The worst part is people see him and think that's how Christians are. Westboro is not even a tiny fraction of members of the Christian faith, and yet they get this loud voice. Christians are the first responders to disasters like Katrina. Let's hear about things like that in the press.
So proud of Lauren for finding the true Christ. She is an amazing woman. No matter what she did or didn't do to get out, she had to forgive herself, her family, her friends, and know that everything she was taught was a literal lie. She found God and is now truly saved. wow. props.
true Christ? she is now known as sexy Lauren and posts provocative photos of herself on it..that is Christ-like?
steven marandola she left to pursue a life of fornication?
@Lauren Drain You are gorgeous. I'm also very impressed with how strong of a person you are. Not many people can say they have the where-withall to understand the environment they grew up in was so wrong and horrible. It's great that you were able to do this and I'm sure God has big plans for you and the message behind that.
She went from one cult to another.
Beautiful girl, I so happy for her. I hope all the others do the same thing. Leave that fucked up cult.
she looks like mariah carey xD
i thought that! for the actress playing her in the movie
64imma . You have described the state of the governments of the 'free' world!! Astute, and spot on!!
she would look so much better without that lip piercing
+Ester Samuels I'm sure a small piece of metal isn't going to throw off her whole face
Slay for Batman BUT IT DOES!!!!!!!!!!!
+Slay for Batman Not like it matters but I wouldn't date a girl if they had any piercing on her nose, lip or face. Even the minor ones are unattractive
+Ester Samuels Thank you for your contribution
+Ester Samuels Hopefully her lip piercing is not the only thing you retained from the video
I hate that they live in my city. They are and have always been just awful to everyone here and all over. We normal people of Topeka wish they would go away
Fifteen is old enough to realise that those signs are incredibly offensive
richard munday maybe not if your parents teach you from a young age certain standards
Pauline Duthoit Absolutely, correct. Many elderly influences telling them that this "offensiveness" is the world's rebellion against holiness.
Now I wonder if Steve Drain is going to reach out to Lauren, since he and his family have been kicked out too.
She is really pretty and seems to have a kind soul.
It is great to see folks walking away from westboro. That group is ANYTHING but Godly.
People like them give God a bad name.
I'm so glad she left. She is such a wonderful woman, she has so much courage and strength. Going through something like that, can scar someone for life. I have an insane amount of respect for her, and wish her the best in life !
Why do we allow this to continue? I know why. Because religion gets a free ride in this country, no matter what horrific crimes it commits.
we let it continue because it's a part of your first amendment rights.
The First Amendment does not say "It's OK to royally fuck people's lives up because we have freedom of religion".
"Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the Earth; I have come not to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter in law against her mother in law. A man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10: 34-36)
Christ's approval is greater than the approval of any person, and if you must lose your family for Him, then it is always worth it.
So, family is meaningless?
I can't believe her own father won't talk to her. That's messed up that's your daughter she needs a father in her life. This church is a horrible example of the Christian faith. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
Her parents are now kicked out of the church.
i love this girl!
Go Lauren! You are amazing!
it takes a lot f courage to leave a cult she is a good girl.
Poor Lauren I am praying for her.
Wait, did ANYONE in the entire world see that?
Lauren, I am so happy that you found God the right and true way. Keep your faith.
Well done Lauren. Pretty girl. Her eyes are so beautiful when she smiles:)
11 people want to join the WBC.
I'm sorry but for me, the WBC is just the extreme of a much bigger problem, I think man is flawed and even though some things that happen through faith can be beautiful, based on history (history always repeats itself) man/men running a religion or church will always lead to pain, hurt and discrimination ! I can already feel the religious trolls lining up to argue with me and quoting the bible, or expressing their views which is their right as me saying this is my right but this its my opinion so I can't be wrong in expressing my opinion as it is mine and mine alone ! Argue these two points though:
1. The Bible, just like the Book of Mormon, or the doctrine of Scientology was written by man, not a deity/God/Holy spirit, written by man, and man lies !!! If you believe the Bible was inspired/written/created by the Holy spirit or God, then you have to accept so were the other two cause the only difference is the time since they were written
2. Nobody and I mean nobody knows 100% if there is a God or not or what religion is correct, that is the whole point of faith, 'strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof'. So based on this, all religions/Gods have the same possibility of being true (either they are or they are not), the same possibility as that there is that a flying monkey farted and created earth, the same possibility as anything you can imagine so what makes YOU THINK YOU are correct and all the others are wrong. What makes you think because of your belief, you can impose your values and morals from your religion on other people when what they believe is just as unproven as yours !!!
I'd rather live my life based on things I can prove and just act kind towards my fellow man, 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you', there is a reason that this is the back bone to all major religions (not just Christianity !!!!), cause it makes sense, what comes after is mostly ridiculous. Thanks if you actually read this.
David Baxter Great post!!!
I am so proud of you lauren! good work!
your gorgeous.
I wanna read Lauren's book
You say that 'real Christians' 'ignore' the 'bits and pieces' that deal with malice, incest, etc. On what basis do you make this claim?
I am not aware of anywhere in the Bible where anyone is instructed to ignore what it contains. Are you suggesting that because Christians do not practice ritual sacrifice, that they are ignoring what is in the Bible? I need some background on your basis for your statement before I can give you a more definitive answer.
everything she is saying about real christians or in the WBC's case (crazy's) not being any better because we all have sinned and all sins are equal in the eyes of god we should not judge but encourage one another to grow. not focus on homosexuality which is no worse a sin than the thousands we all commit every day
This is for the westboro baptist church and is information for everybody. First of all how can you claim to love God and be a christian. but have hatred in your heart. 1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen."
1 John:4:20
Also how can you say you love God if you are not obeying his commands which includes loving your neighbor as you love thyself. also this is god's greatest commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mark:12:31
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John:5:3
Now the devil is always out to decive people who are fresh and new trying to seek God and his righteousness. And the devil will try to decieve people into these cults so that they will also decieve other people to these cults. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John:8:44
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John:10:10
Now if anybody wants to ge saved all you have to do is believe in your hear and confess with your moutb that Jesus is the son of the most high God and that he died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day. you must admit that you are a sinner and from your heart. you must repent of your sins.
I wish all kids and teens in the WBC would come to their senses like Lauren so this hate group can stop once and for all! There aren't even 100 members... the less the better!
13:40 - what an excellent question!
I can relate!!
If anyone wants to see another "religious" group like the WBC, look into the Church of Wells. It's scary how much this is exactly the same with these two "churches"
See my NOH8 photo & accompanying post ;)
There is also another show call "The most hated Family in America" that was done by the BBC. It is a great documentary and really puts this crazy so called "church" in the lime light.
Welll... Ms. Drain didn't so much "leave" the church as she was cast out of the church by the family. Today, she's become an exemplary member of society... but I worry that, had she not been forced out by her own folks, she'd still be in. Her book, "Banished," is an intelligently-written memoir which helps to explain the church dogma a little better than most materials out there.
That description certainly isn't the god of the bible.
He was a god that regularly meddled in the affairs of his people and sat to judge and exact punishment "sooner" rather than "later". He wasn't the sort of god that sat with his arms folded and waited for things to play out.
Christ's MO conflicts greatly with the god of the bible.
Sadly, WBC accurately portray the attitude of Old Testament. They are a glaring reminder of the nasty side of Christianity that theists try to white wash.
You're trying to not understand. If you try to no understand, well you won't understand. It's a matter of "God" creating souls - if you were the only person on this planet and could make other people, would you make people who would blindly follow what you say, or would you create people with their own interesting personality? In the end, he's leaving the choice up to you - you get to decide if you want to live a good, honest life.
@WiiClassic2usb,
I believe so . I don`t want Lauren Drain to not have a support system to turn to, for turning around, speaking truth to bigotry, just to even get thrown out of her own home. How sad is that, to get thrown out of your own home for turning around and making a right but costly decision to speak against what's wrong and shrinking the Body of Christ , not building the Body of Christ ?
I will praise people who turn around and do right .
- Dwight
@DJTrainman261 - Soooo yeaah... allow me to have a good hearty LULZ at your prior statement. "We still have the original bible text, and experts to translate it from old languages." Again, problem would have been avoided with the Instant Memory Transfer Cube. Words on pages or screens will always fall short of -experiences- (case in point, my not knowing your 'sheep' quip was sarcasm), Seriously though, think of the IMTC as being like those memory discs in The Matrix or Strange Days.
P8: "...as Tony points out, the 'original' Greek text was not written until around the mid fourth century & was a revised edition of writings compiled decades earlier in Aramaic & Hebrew. Those earlier dox no longer exist & the Bibles we have today are 5 linguistic removes from the 1st bibles written. What was written in the 'original originals' is quite unknown. It is important to remember the words 'authorized' & 'original', as applied to the Bible don't mean 'genuine', 'authentic' or 'true'."
P7: "He also wanted the phrase 'Appointed to be read in the churches' to appear on the title page. The King James Bible is considered by many today to be the 'original' Bible and therefore 'genuine' and all later revisions simply counterfeits forged by 'higher critics'. Others think the King James Bible is 'authentic' and 'authorized' and presents the original words of the authors as translated into English from the 'original' Greek texts."
P6: "The first English language manuscripts of the Bible remained in Bacon's possession for nearly a year. During that time ... "he hammered the various styles of the translators into the unity, rhythm, and music of Shakespearean prose, wrote the prefaces and created the whole scheme of the Authorized Version. At the completion of the editing, King James ordered a 'dedication to the King' to be drawn up and included in the opening pages."
P5: "In 1607, 47 men (some records say 54) took two years and nine months to re-write the Bible and make it ready for press. It was, by the order of King James, issued with a set of personal 'rules' the translators were to follow. Upon its completion in 1609, it was handed over to the King James for his final approval. However, "It was self evident that James was not competent to check their work and edit it, so he passed the manuscripts onto the greatest genius of all time... Sir Francis Bacon"
P3: "The Rabbinic fraternity once held the destroyed manuscripts w/ great reverence for they were comprehensive original records reporting the life of Rabbi Jesus. Later, Pope Alexander VI ordered all copies of the Talmud destroyed, w/ the Spanish Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada (1420-98) responsible for the elimination of 6000 volumes at Salamanca alone. Solomon Romano (1554) also burnt many thousands of Hebrew scrolls and, in 1559, every Hebrew book in the city of Prague was confiscated."
P2: "Firstly we cannot be sure that we have the full version as it was originally intended. In 1415 the Church of Rome took an extraordinary step to destroy all knowledge of two second century Jewish books that it said contained the true name of Jesus Christ. The Antipope Benedict XIII firstly singled out for condemnation a secret Latin treatise called "Mar Yesu" and then issued instructions to destroy all copies of the book of Elxai."
Here, I'll quote some of it for you since you likely won't actively go looking for it. -P1: "If we examine the oldest known Bible to date, the "Sinai Bible" housed in the British Museum (I believe that, during his many years of research, Tony had a private viewing of this priceless book), we find a staggering 14,800 differences from today's Bible and yet it still remains the word of God? As Tony points out, the history of our 'genuine' Bibles is a convoluted one."
"would you rather force people to be your friend, or be friends w/ those who -want- to be your friend?" - So rather than do any of the things I proposed, God would rather play mind games and let all that suffering, genocide and hate go on for the sake of his 'test' - "he doesn't want to zap them with the "Peace and Love" ray and make it easy, where's the fun in that? He wants to see if you'll come to -him- even w/o evidence and all these people doing bad stuff in his name whom refuses to stop."
"Writing is something that can be kept for ages" - Unless the books get eaten by insects, or get wet and moldy, or get burned in some raid, or the people writing them get slaughtered, or bits get left out because some king decided. God can supposedly create -indestructible- objects, no? So why -not- create a device that A: cannot be destroyed. B: Instantly transfers an -experience- and C: has an effect similar to a wi-fi hotspot. Once 'connected' people just -understand- and that's it. E.O.S.
"You can question the bible all you want, but how would the memory cube help? We still use writing - we're doing it right now. Writing is something that can be kept for ages, that's why a supposed god would use that." --- Ohhh, but just then, I failed to understand or sense your 'sarcasm' - now, if there'd been some way for me to -experience- rather than just -read- I would not have had that room for error, now would I? Text can evoke thought, sure. But it can't hold a candle to -experience-
Right, and if you really -want- to understand English fed through Babblefish and turned into Japanese then fed through Google Translate and turned into Spanish then fed into Excite and turned into English again, then you will. You just have to "believe" hard enough! It's okay, buddy. I getcha. Playing on an old Atari 2600 is -totally- much better than playing in The Matrix, right? That's pretty much the argument we're having here. "If you have a good soul" - sure sure, where's my unicorn?
you're speaking to me like i'm a 5 year-old. i've already seen where she's changed. i've seen documentaries and interviews over her and read summaries and reviews of her book. you're just not understanding me. i even already acknowledged how she changed in my last comment. it isn't hard for me to see it at all. it's just hard for you to understand that no matter what, it won't be so easy to forgive and forget that she had no problem telling people they were as good as dead not so long ago.
@Jose Angel,
I see where it's hard for you to see this happening right now.
It`s really hard for you to see a new reformed Lauren Drain, after she has been under WBC's Doctrine for so long. But, know that the right thing to do is not always the easiest thing in the world to do. Let's make America the land of opportunity, even for a Lauren Drain who got kicked out of WBC and her own home for questioning WBC .. and now going virtually solo.
- Dwight
Yes, It will take time.
don't tell me i do this "continuously", when all i'm doing is speaking the truth once. you need to remember just how two-sided this is. yes, it's great that she's out of her dark clouds. she has her own place, has a great selling book, and she's still gorgeous. fine. HOWEVER, she still has the same exact past that she will always be remembered for no matter how great she's doing now. her "past tense" made the front page for a long time, and that's not something anyone can just forget easily.
Ok, @Jose Angel.
I maybe wrong but the point is that you continuously are treating her like a hypocrite, when she stopped being a hypocrite.
Her life with Westboro Baptist Cult is past tense.
She is starting anew. Here's my point, Do you want to continue to remember Lauren Drain for the hypocrite that she was forced to act like, or are you gonna celebrate Lauren Drain having freedom away from all of that? And I mean the freedom that I always thought that this country is all about .
- Dwight
in case you didn't notice, i wasn't judging. at all. i was stating the actual truth without expressing any opinion. i said, in elongation, that no matter who's fault it is, the church or hers, she will be seen by most of the public eye as an unintentional hypocrite due to the circumstances she was in until she decided to leave. her past gives her the record she has now. i actually detest the westboro baptish church's beliefs, being an openly gay male. so you can actually stop your judging.
You should learn to understand sarcasm when you see it. That thing about the sheep was sarcastic.
And, you still haven't explained what is wrong with it, other than that it can be purposefully misunderstood. If you want to understand it correctly, you will. So basically, this is "God's" way of seeing who is faithful, who has a good soul, etc. If you could force anyone to be friends with you, would you do it, or rather be friends with those who voluntarily will befriend you?
YOU are commenting back trying to push what exactly? None of your comment are clear-cut vis a vis other's comments. YOU care. Others care. We are all here because we care about a lot of things. You want to be heard;to express your opinion.Communication and self-expression is not about convincing anyone of anything. It can include that,but it is not that. Would you like to have the last word? Post me again,and I simply won't respond. Adieu.
What I can't understand is why does everyone sit and argue about religion? Who cares what one believes or doesn't? It's everyone's right to believe or not believe what they/we want. No one is right or wrong. The only time we should speak up is if someone is trying to force their opinions on others or try to do harm to others. One side will never convince the other which is "right". There is no harm believing in a God but harmful to be racist etc. Let live.