Reading the thread on Fred Phelps got me thinking about something. As offensive as the Phelps family is, their basic argument seems not that different from the "America is going to hell in a handbasket because of our sin" argument that I have heard from the mouths of fundamentalists elsewhere including this board.
Prominent fundamentalist Christians blamed Katrina among other natural catastrophies on the sinful nature of the areas affected or the country in general. We are constantly being told of the impending "DOOM" should we have the gall to leave homosexual people alone to have their own families. Even fundamentalist Moslems point at the "troubles" of the west blaming it on our decadence and Godlessness.
Is the only difference between saying these things and protesting with your homemade "GOD HATES FAGS" a mere issue of motivation? Is the Phelps family just more willing to get off their ass?
Alternativly, is there something we can identify that is different in the doctrine to condemn America based on our sinfullness used by the Phelps, "mainstream" Christian fundamentalism, and Islam?
Also on topic are any other religious doctrine that fits the same profile as the decadence = God's wrath described above. In particular, any doctrine that is similar between groups of fundamentalists that has the effect of driving one group to different, potentially extreme, action even though the sentiment seems to be the same.
Specifics that are off topic for this thread should be:
1. The Phelps' status as Christians. I am looking specifically for what distinguishes them from other fundamentalists who hold similar positions yet don't take the same action that the Phelps family does. I don't care that the Phelps are not Christians because of some other X, Y, Z thing that they do.
2. The doctrinal motivation for why fundamentalist Islam may hold these views is on topic but any other discussion or condemnation of Islam will be off topic. This will not be another boogie-man-Moslem thread.
Faith and Belief please.
Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)
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