Religion
Related: About this forumSon of a bigot
http://www.salon.com/2012/09/25/son_of_a_bigot/MONDAY, SEP 24, 2012 05:00 PM PDT
Son of a bigot
His dad founded the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. Nate Phelps is dedicated to reversing that legacy of hate
BY DICK GORDON
Nate Phelps, son of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps
The interview appears as part of Salon's partnership with "The Story." An audio version of this conversation can be heard at the link.
As the pastor of the much-reviled Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps has become synonymous with hatred. The pastor and his family make it a point to carry signs at the funerals saying, Thank God for Dead Soldiers. They show up to media-friendly events with signs that read, God Hates Fags.
Nate Phelps is the sixth of Freds 13 children, and he has the scars to show for it. He describes his father as verbally and physically abusive. When he was 18, Nate ran away from home and from the fundamentalist Calvinist religion in which he was raised.
Now in his 50s, Nate finds himself publicly squaring off with his father and siblings to reverse their legacy of intolerance. He lives in Calgary, where he has become a public speaker who champions LGBT rights and raises awareness about the connection between extreme religion and child abuse. He is currently writing a book about his life and is the subject of an upcoming documentary.
What was your childhood like?
more at link
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)Umm, yes. I know I do want to call it abuse. Good for Nate for escaping the abuse but there is no question in my mind that it was abuse. I grew up in a similar house with a man who currently thinks Fred Phelps is swell. I've been gone from there for 31 years and it still affects my daily life although the effect is smaller with every passing day.
I wish Nate well.
pinto
(106,886 posts)OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)Sorry for your upbringing and glad for your escape. It only takes one generation to change this and those that do are heroes.
I wish you well.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)Oregonian
(209 posts)Living in a household where gravity is denied, and you're in constant anxiety over your every thought and deed. I don't think my family life was nearly as bad as yours, but I was told to pray for forgiveness at the end of every day for every bad thing I did, or bad thought I had. When I asked my dad "what if I can't remember it all?", he said "pray to God to help you remember." I went nuts for years trying to avoid nasty thoughts, or stop and beg for a reprieve from hell if I couldn't remember a sin.
Religion is child abuse. Leave your kids alone.
pinto
(106,886 posts)The whole interview is worth a read.