The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints vs the Westboro Baptist Church

[Katzpur]

The following are synonyms for the word "Benign": kindly, kind, warmhearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable, amiable, good-humored, genial, congenial, cordial, approachable, tender, tenderhearted, softhearted, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, well disposed, obliging, accommodating, generous, big-hearted, unselfish, benevolent, gracious, liberal, indulgent.

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The following are synonyms for the word "Benign": kindly, kind, warmhearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable, amiable, good-humored, genial, congenial, cordial, approachable, tender, tenderhearted, softhearted, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, well disposed, obliging, accommodating, generous, big-hearted, unselfish, benevolent, gracious, liberal, indulgent.

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

I'd say the latter. I heard from a history class, well small bit, about the practice and beliefs of West Baro. Some forums didn't even consider them christian because of it. It has strong political issues like most if not all christian churches I've gone to never put down LGBT just disagreed with it. I was just reading that people protest and yell putting flags up and doing the opposite of caring etc. Many issues mixed with politics and how they interpret scripture.

There aren't any WB Churches here, so I'm not sure the details.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Westboro and benign are diametrally opposed terms.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The following are synonyms for the word "Benign": kindly, kind, warmhearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable, amiable, good-humored, genial, congenial, cordial, approachable, tender, tenderhearted, softhearted, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, well disposed, obliging, accommodating, generous, big-hearted, unselfish, benevolent, gracious, liberal, indulgent.

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

When I said "more benign," the sense I intended was something like "less malignant."

And for everyone's context, here's what I said:

Actually, I'd say that WBC is one of the more benign Christian groups; certainly not as harmful - even per capita - as the LDS Church. They're definitely loud, but they leave any wreaking of actual vengeance to their God. They don't commit physical violence themselves and they don't lobby to influence government policy.

On an issue like LGBTQ rights, here's how I see the scale of possible positions, ranked from best to worst:

1. Enthusiastic support and allyship.
2. Not outright support, but a welcoming attitude.
3. Ambivalence.
4. Against it personally for members, but not vocal about it for non-members.
5. Against it vocally for all without taking action against it.
6. Taking action against it through indirect means (e.g. changes in laws and policies).
7. Taking action by direct means (e.g. literal gay-bashing or lynching).

On that scale, the WBC is a 5. An outspoken 5, but still a 5. With actions like its stance on Prop 8, the LDS Church is a solid 6.

 

[Woberts]

They're equally garbage.

 

[RabbiO]

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

Who said what and where?

 

[Ellen Brown]

Westboro? I never considered them Christian.

The Mormon Church is difficult for me. I had some very good things happen with them. They are also the reason that I'm an Abrahamic Religionist ...

 

[pearl]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=westboro+baptist+church+protest+at+veterans+funerals&form=PRUSEN&pc=EUPP_&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=aa5a7fc79b3548629d410577b882ea72&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=westboro+baptist+chur&sc=8-21&qs=n&sk=&cvid=aa5a7fc79b3548629d410577b882ea72



"It's not about that person, it's about that whole societal phenomenon," Westboro spokesman Steve Drain of Topeka, Kan., said Thursday night in a telephone interview. "It’s never been OK to be gay and it’s never going to be OK to be gay, no matter how much the spirit of the times calls for the popularity of that sin."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/06/16/westboro-church-protest-orlando-shooting-victims-funerals/86013966/





https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/05/westboro-baptist-church-counter-protest_n_3707180.html



https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/03/politics/military-funerals-protests/index.html



http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/westboro-baptist-church-protest-beau-bidens-funeral

 

[BSM1]

You have to ask? Have you ever met Shirley Phelps?

 

[columbus]

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

I think WBC is less malignant, if not particularly benign.

Fred Phelps and his posse didn't have the financial wherewithal to get California to vote in favor of adding "civil inequality for gay people" to the California State Constitution. Mormons did.

Comparing WBC to LDS is rather like comparing the CEO of NAACP to the POTUS. One talks, the other gets things done.
Tom

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

WBC is just a small fundie Baptist cult mostly consisting of Fred Phelps' family. There's maybe a couple dozen members, at best. They have no power to do anything, unlike the LDS.

 

[columbus]

While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

You know what I like about you?

It's that, besides being a good person yourself, you will help the LDS get over their homophobia. Like other people helped them get over their misogynistic polygamy and racism.
You are among the most important Mormons I know. You go girl.
Tom

 

[David1967]

I've had nothing but positive, respectful interaction with LDS missionaries as well as the local LDS church here in my hometown, and I am not a Mormon. The Westboro Baptist bunch, on the other hand, are just crazy.

 

[Ellen Brown]

All anyone needs to know about being gay is that if you think it is wrong then don't do it. Judging people is for God.

 

[Dawnofhope]

The following are synonyms for the word "Benign": kindly, kind, warmhearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable, amiable, good-humored, genial, congenial, cordial, approachable, tender, tenderhearted, softhearted, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, well disposed, obliging, accommodating, generous, big-hearted, unselfish, benevolent, gracious, liberal, indulgent.

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

I wouldn't let negative comments from others affect you in the slightest.

My experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day saints is they are strong supporters of the interfaith movement. I've come across plenty who seem decent and reasonable people.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I've had nothing but positive, respectful interaction with LDS missionaries as well as the local LDS church here in my hometown, and I am not a Mormon. The Westboro Baptist bunch, on the other hand, are just crazy.

Well, sure. The Mormons don't picket funerals and the like themselves; they've just quietly lobbied governments behind the scenes.

... but when it comes right down to it, which is worse?

• Denying a gay man the right to see his partner while he's dying in hospital
• Picketing his funeral once he's dead

And that's even without going back to when the LDS Church was pushing to keep homosexuality a crime punishable by prison.

As awful as the WBC is, they've never imprisoned a single LGBTQ person.

 

[LuisDantas]

I see where those who criticize the LDS stance towards LGBT come from. That sure gives me pause.

Still, I don't know that I could excuse Westbore quite so much, quite so quickly. It is a good thing that they lack influence, but I don't know quite how much sorrow their teachings cause, nor how to compare them with the mistakes of LDS practice.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I see where those who criticize the LDS stance towards LGBT come from. That sure gives me pause.

Still, I don't know that I could excuse Westbore quite so much, quite so quickly. It is a good thing that they lack influence, but I don't know quite how much sorrow their teachings cause, nor how to compare them with the mistakes of LDS practice.

Personally, I'm not excusing the WBC of anything. I condemn them, and condemn "mainstream" anti-LGBTQ churches even more.

 

[Katzpur]

Well, despite the LDS Church's flaws, some of which truly break my heart, I can name dozens of "benign" (i.e. kind, warmhearted, amiable, approachable, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, generous, and/or unselfish") things we've done over the years, the suffering we've alleviated in third-world countries, the no-strings-attached-help we've offered to people outside our faith and our overall efforts towards peaceful coexistence. I can't think of one single solitary thing the members of the Westboro Baptists have done to benefit society at large. They may not have a large enough presence to do much other than espouse hatred, but they wrote the book on that. Despite the unfortunate attitude many Latter-day Saints have towards the LGBT community, you'll never see us walking around with signs that say, "God hates ****" or "Thank God for AIDS" and we wouldn't even think of picketing a soldier's (or anyone else's) funeral. We have a long way to go, but we're at least moving in the right direction, if slowly. And we would never, ever, ever promote violence against those values we do not share.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The following are synonyms for the word "Benign": kindly, kind, warmhearted, good-natured, friendly, warm, affectionate, agreeable, amiable, good-humored, genial, congenial, cordial, approachable, tender, tenderhearted, softhearted, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate, caring, considerate, thoughtful, helpful, well disposed, obliging, accommodating, generous, big-hearted, unselfish, benevolent, gracious, liberal, indulgent.

In another thread, I was told that the Westboro Baptist Church was "more benign" than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I would be the first person to acknowledge that my Church is far from perfect, this comment simply blew my mind.

So, I would like to know how the rest of the RF community feels. Please provide reasons for the way you voted.

Westboro Baptist is far more evil in their intent, but they are a small weak group. They have little effect on others. The LDS church is far more powerful and as a result can and does have a greater negative effect. In that sense since Westboro can be compared to a buzzing gnat trying to take a bite out of a person they are more benign than the LDS which can be compared to a crow attacking a person for invading its territory.