...This documentary focuses on the Westboro Baptist Church which is located in Topeka, Kansas. The Westboro Baptist Church sends out people to picket funerals of American soldiers to spread news of how God doesn’t like homosexuals and if you believe homosexuality is okay that you are going to hell. It specifically interviews a family that is hated by a lot of society all across America. This family was very stuck on the belief that God hates homosexuals and went to a church that pretty much believed the same thing. The mom and dad would put their kids in danger by making them picket on the street. There was one instance where someone even threw a bottle at one of the kids. It also seemed like some of the kids didn’t know what the signs meant,...
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...Michelle Thomas Faith & Culture THEO 2600-01 Professor Darren Gordon 9 April 2014 FAITH & CULTURE REFLECTION PAPER Westboro Baptist Church The title of the Westboro Baptist Church is misleading. At one point, this congregation was a new church plant for the East Side Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, but shortly after opening across town, the leader, Fred Phelps cut ties with the original church. As of this writing, the term “Baptist” is just part of the name of the church and there are no Baptist churches that have any affiliation with Westboro; there is no denomination affiliation to be found. There are two basic guidelines that the church follows, the first one is that God hates everyone not associated with the WBC and anyone that they name is going to hell. They vehemently disapprove of anyone who is or supports anyone who is homosexual. In fact, it is their belief that soldier deaths and all natural disaster deaths are a punishment from God for supporting or even appearing to support homosexual behavior in any way. In their eyes if you do not condemn an individual or group for even being non-committal in their opinion on homosexuality that individual or group will go to hell. Hate of anything associated with the lifestyle of homosexuals seems to be what their foundation is made of. This malfunctioning group spreads their message of hate through websites and picketing. The many places they choose to picket vary from Armed Forces funerals, Churches...
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...I agree with the Supreme Court’s majority decision in Synder v Phelps, which upheld the Westboro Baptist church’s right to free speech during their picketing of military funerals. The Court’s decision was settled in the determination of whether the speech in question was of public or private concern, which is protected under the First Amendment. The court reversed its decision and applied the First Amendment protection of speech on matters of public concern, even when the speech was offensive or hurtful. “Westboro had been actively engaged in speaking on the subjects addressed in its picketing long before it became aware of Matthew Snyder, and there can be no serious claim that the picketing did not represent Westboro’s honestly held beliefs on public issues” (CITE). The Court also emphasized that Westboro’s picketing did not disrupt the funeral and was conducted peacefully, warranting protection under the First Amendment. “Westboro had been actively engaged in speaking on the subjects addressed in its picketing long before it became aware of Matthew Snyder, and there can be no serious claim that the picketing did not represent Westboro’s honestly held beliefs on...
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...Non-western Performance – Summative assignment – 1,500 words – 28th May Write a reflective essay on the basis of your experience in this module, moving from the theoretical and historical part to the performative segment. What did you learn? How did the knowledge you gained of African, Chinese and Indian performance traditions help and inform your summative ensemble performance? What kind of problems did you encounter in your intercultural ensemble work? How did you solve them? Were you happy with the results? [This essay does not need to provide evidence of research and academic rigour. However, I would expect it to be written in lucid and clear English!] Throughout this module, there has been strong emphasis on three different non-western styles of theatre. The three styles of theatre researched were; Chinese theatre, African theatre and Indian theatre. Through each style that was studied, many different qualities emerged. To begin with, we looked at African theatre by studying the plays; Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo and Rise & shine of comrade Fiasco by Andrew Whaley. From these plays I discovered how African theatre looks at telling stories within their plays, Also how a strong sense of colonialism and post colonialism dominates many of their plays, with regards to how the western world has influenced and changed Africa. There is also a lot of emphasis on movements, with tribal dances and movements, along with a lot of dream sequences within theatre from this country....
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...people who hide behind technology trying to be somebody they’re not. We have all encountered these kinds of people on facebook, twitter, instagram and any online site. These sites allow people to throw insults and harsh comments while sitting in the comfort of their own home. Most people don’t know that their actions have repercussions: some of theses which include, The Westboro Baptist Church, pro-life advocates and Peta that are all examples of moral crusaders. The Westboro Baptist Church is a prime example of a moral crusader. This so called “ministry” are known for their slogans and anti-homosexual theology. They use the internet to advocate their belief. Anyone who goes on their website will see that it says, “God hates fag-enablers. Therefor God hates America and this domed world.” As you can see from their website that their theology is corrupt and unjust. Their justifications are immoral and give a bad name to anyone who believes in God. Westboro believe that God punishes the U.S. for it tolerance or homosexuality particularly within the military. A solider was killed in the line of duty in 2006. The Westboro picketed the funeral with signs saying, “Thank God for 9/11, God hates the USA.” Not only do they shame funeral of the military they picket at least six locations everyday. Abortions, one of the most controversial topics in America today. Pro- life advocates feel very strongly about abortions. They say that it is morally wrong to kill an unborn child. They shame anyone...
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...My chosen topic for this assessment is the Westboro Baptist Church. My objective is to learn about the church and get an insight of a former member. My chosen online resources included Reddit and Youtube, as my two social media platform; Wikipedia and the group’s website as the two informational site I used to research on this topic. The Wikipedia page on Westboro Baptist Church (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church) gave me a good basis for my topic. I chose this informational site as it contained current information, historical background about the group, with links referencing current news articles and media coverages on the church. It also assisted me in identifying the group’s official informational site, www.godhatefags.com. The Wikipedia page gave me solid factual and unbiased understanding of Westboro Baptist Church, whilst the group’s website is a biased source of information, and a first-hand account from the church itself, which I found the most interesting. Their message on their website was conveyed via online articles, videos, open letters; this allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the church by reviewing the various media platforms on this website. Both informational website allowed me to assimilate the knowledge I learned from Wikipedia, combining with the new information I extracted on the groups website it gave me confidence to form my own personal view and raised my level of curiosity. Through my chosen online social media platforms...
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...or targeting the digital properties of various hate groups, Anonymous can sometimes be a force for good. 8. In December 2006, Anonymous took down the website of white supremacist radio show host Hal Turner. The attack ended up with Turner paying some very expensive bandwidth bills and dropping a lawsuit a year later. 7. Beginning in January 2008, Anonymous kicked off "Project Chanology," its attack on the Church of Scientology, a cult-like religion which allegedly imprisons its dissident members. They launched denial of service attacks against the organization's websites, gamed the link-sharing site Digg to more prominently display anti-Scientology pages, and even physically protested — showing up in person — many church events. 6. Anonymous released user information from a major hacking forum in February 2011, and security firm Mandiant was able to use this data to link the Chinese military to cyber-attacks against the U.S. this year. 5. The Westboro Baptist Church is notoriously hateful and intolerant. Anonymous successfully took down the Westboro Baptist Church's website in February 2011 in protest. 4. Operation DarkNet was the group's campaign against child pornography in October 2011. Because pornographers were incredibly effective at using technology to hide themselves, Anonymous used technology to put them out of business. 3. On August...
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...Following a particular ideology can close the mind to new ideas; however it depends on which ideology it is and how much you let it affect you. In regards to certain political or religious views (example of the Westboro Baptist Church), I feel that it definitely closes new doors and spreads hatred, especially when it is taken into such an extreme context. The KKK held the ideology of white supremacy; this ideology refuses to allow any other race to be equivalent to the white race and spreads hatred from its people to everyone of color. Some nationalistic ideologies also close doors to new ideas and lead to hatred, I feel that any ideology that shares a thinking of "we are better than them" whoever "they" may be, leads to hatred. Most individualistic ideologies can lead to hatred if taken to an extreme, however it depends on how much the person is willing to let that ideology influence them. However, like Celina said, there are also ideologies that allow for more open views and lead to a sense of belonging. A belief in multiculturalism leads to more open ideas being shared through different people all throughout the world, and a sense of equality among those people. The most recent example I’ve seen of an ideology bringing people together is the protests that are currently happening in Nigeria. This is a form of collectivism as the Nigerian people have joined together to cause a change and cause greater equality amongst all people in Nigeria by protesting against their government...
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...In the assigned reading related to your Discussion Board Forum, Duvall & Hays discussed the importance of the historical-cultural context (Chapter 5). Throughout the chapter, they identify the key aspects you should consider related to the historical-cultural context when you study Scripture. Pulling specifically from the Duvall & Hays text and synthesizing into your own words, write a 250–300-word response to the 3 prompts below. In addition, in the second part of first question you are asked, "Do you care to share any examples from your own experience?" based upon what we have learned in the reading. Answer the three prompts in 3 separate paragraphs. 1. What can happen when people approach the Bible without any concern for the historical-cultural context? Do you care to share any examples from your own experience? 2. Can you think of an example of the historical-cultural context shedding significant light on the meaning of a biblical text? 3. For people living in an “instant application” society such as ours, what can persuade them to put forth effort to study the historical-cultural context? “Historical-cultural context relates to just about anything outside the text that will help you understand the text itself.” (Duval & Hayes, pg. 51) Historical-cultural context is imperatively important when reading God’s word. When people approach the Bible without concern for the historical-cultural context it can lead to gross misunderstanding of the divine text. If...
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...He doesn’t like to ask for help, so it makes it hard for him to get out. But in The Raven Boys his friends Blue, Ronan, Gansey, and Noah help him get out. Even though his father has been arrested and he’s moved into the local church, his negative past still haunts him. He has hereditary anger issues from his father, that cause him to lash out at the people he loves. In The Dream Thieves, when the anger from Blue not telling him why she won’t kiss him and from Gansey helping him when he doesn’t want help combines he gets mad. “Anger snarled up in him, instantly owning him. It was a binary emotion in the Parrishes. No such thing as slightly mad. Only nothing, and then this: all encompassing fury” (Stievater 65). Adam yells at Blue and kicks a box, but it doesn’t do anything to calm his rage. After the fact Adam calls his anger “a dingy, surprise gift from his father” (Stievater...
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...Article Rebuttal Alan Fitzgerald BCOM/275 January 24, 2013 Jo Bogan Article Rebuttal “The Night America Bombed Westboro Baptist Church With An IED (Improvised Explosive Device) In A Cowardly Move To Stop WBC's Anti-Gay Gospel Preaching - Thereby Bringing Down The Unmitigated And Irreversible Wrath Of God Upon This Evil Nation, Manifesting Itself In The Daily Bloody IED-Deaths Of American Soldiers In Iraq And Other Places.” Shirley Phelps-Roper Thank God for the bombing of the WBC! On August 20, 1995, Shirley Phelps-Roper, attendee of the WBC, heard an explosion outside of her home in Topeka, Kansas sometime after 11:00 pm. After going to see where the noise came from, she called the police department to report the explosion. The police department told her that they had already had news of the blast and that it wasn’t from her house, yet a mile away from where she lives. She had to call them back several times before an officer finally responded to investigate the situation and gather evidence of the crime. IED debris The family was eager to gather their own evidence and do their own investigation, since that is how they were used to being treated in the past. They found orange plastic debris from the bombing in other yards as far away as the length of a football field. News stations reported that the blast was not aimed at WBC since there were other blasts that same evening around the town. Interviews and questions Throughout the next few days, Shirley...
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...The KKK, the Nazis, Westboro Church and ISIS were all awful hate groups who used religion and racial or sexual prejudice to defend their actions. “Prominent religions worldwide preach many similar ideals, some of which include exhibiting kindness to others and living a peaceful life. Although these religions have vastly different teachings, they generally urge followers to be good and fair to one another. However, religious extremist groups claiming to adhere to certain religious ideals often distort the teachings of their faith in order to justify violent acts (Marisa Marstek).” The KKK is a racist group for segregation and black rights. The Nazis were during Hitler’s Germany, they tried to eliminate all Jewish people in the world by sending...
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...Say what you will about the acting or technical merits of Sherwood Pictures’ recent hits “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof” – I liked them. Sure, they occasionally veered into heavy-handed didacticism, but there’s a lot to be said for a good story told in a reasonably strong way. (And, for the record, anything Sherwood Baptist puts out is head-and-shoulders above most of the other “Christian” films on the market today). When I heard the Georgia-based church group was releasing another feature film – “Courageous” – I was curious to see how it measured up. The verdict: while certainly not perfect, “Courageous” is a remarkably well-done Christian film with broadly appealing themes. “Courageous” follows the lives of five men – four of them policemen, one a day laborer. Most of them have children and are struggling with their respective parental obligations. When tragedy strikes one man’s family, he is forced to reevaluate the priorities in his life. I hesitate to say any more for fear of disclosing spoilers – suffice it to say that the story quickly becomes complex and multifaceted as the five characters’ lives intertwine. The great strength of Sherwood Pictures’ films has always been their ability to make the Christian life look appealing. In an era where virtually every media portrayal of Christianity is negative, it’s extremely refreshing to see sincere Christians living happy, fulfilled lives. Characters struggle with real issues – some horrifically painful – but their...
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...Group Assurance of Learning Exercise 4 October 5, 2014 Business 400_B06 Group Members: Juan Valdez Lopez Tram Trinh Brandon Weadon David Welborn Micah Whitley Heather Younger Ex. 7C (1 business) Southwest Airlines chart Southwest Airlines is a company using the divisional structure by units based on their role; there are four shortcomings for this type of structure that affect Southwest Airlines. * Lack of Teamwork: Southwest Airlines areas may have difficulties working with other functional areas. There is often a perception that they are competing with other functional areas for resources and a lack of understanding of what other areas do for the company. * Difficult Management Control: As Southwest Airlines grows larger; the functional areas can become difficult to manage due to their size. * Ignorance of Organizational Objectives: Functional areas may become distracted by their own goals and focus on them, rather than on overall company objectives. * Hurdle in Complete Development: As Southwest Airlines using divisional structure; this system is a hurdle in the way of the complete development of the employees. Each employee specializes only in a small part of the whole job. Microsoft Shortcomings * Selfish Attitude: Microsoft has many divisions. Every division tries to display a better performance, sometimes even at the cost of other divisions; this shows their selfish attitude. Consequently, it hits the interest of the concern...
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...fulfilled in life until you recognize your vision and fulfill it." II. Establish credibility: III. Thesis statement: My audience will come to a greater understanding of the life and ministry of Jerry Falwell and will ultimately grow in respect and admiration of this great man of God. IV. Preview statement: A. We should admire Jerry Falwell . Body Transition Statement: First we’ll look at Jerry's willingness to follow the vision. I. We should admire Jerry Falwell for his vision. A. According to Dr. Falwells' autobiography he states, "It always costs you something to do a work for the Lord. If it does not cost you anything it is not worth doing." (Falwell, Jerry Falwell: An Autobiography, 206) B. Upon starting his little church on Thomas Road Dr. Falwell was determined to reach Lynchburg, Va with the gospel. He stated, " Lord, there are hundreds of people near this little building who do not know Yo. Help me find them. Help me reach them. Help me get them inside this place."(Falwell, Jerry Falwell: An Autobiography, 207) C. As the congregation grew, and when bible reading and prayer had been banned in public schools, Dr....
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