Oh, yeah, I think they are very vocal and misrepresenting the Christian population. Definitely. They are not what they claim to be. They preach hate.

They're insane. Morally and mentally.

It's part of the larger problem that happened when the Anabaptists (the spiritual ancestors of the modern Baptists) abandoned reason, thinking that just because Original Sin happened that all powers of man were corrupt, including the ability to reason. Thus they (ironically) reasoned that only the Bible was true, not reason. The issue that any "Bible Alone" faith runs into at that point is 'the Bible according to who's interpretation'? Since Protestants seem to have so many opposing views their answer is clear: 'My own.' That's where Westboro Baptist Church gains it's strength, in 'the Bible Alone' theology.

Actually, from interviews, they're all Calvinists.

Which means a lot of weird stuff. I've met a lot of mean Calvinists, but even they are too far gone to be considered that.

I think they need to learn the difference between eisegesis and exegesis. Obviously what they're doing is not okay in the Bible.

As a non-denominational idiosyncratic person, my views on the Bible are found by Systematic Theology, reason, science, exegetical understandings including looking at historical interpretations and how they change over time (to find out the original intention of the text), history, and unrelenting tenacity to deny the flesh and the world.

I only seek to live as Jesus.

As a non-sequitur, I never really got introduced to any of the various 'systematic theologies' that many protestants use. It'd be interesting to sit down with someone who did, especially if they were informed on the history of Christianity, and tease out the principles that underlie it.

"Systematic Theology" is really just the concept of gathering up all the verses regarding a topic, examining context, word usage, and historical usage as an attempt to discern the original intention and function behind a passage.

The introduction textbook I have on my shelf has 12 pt font and is roughly 1,300 pages.

I personally don't use a passage until I examine the Greek/Hebrew (I don't know Aramaic nor have an bilinear Aramaic passages). And if there's a historical context involved, or a cultural context I don't know, I research that too.

The whole process is lengthy and requires a lot of research.

You sound like you put a lot of work into it. Have you ever included what the early Christians thought? I mean, the first few centuries Anno Domini? We (the Catholic Church) call them the Church Fathers.

I tend to read old stuff. My reading list is about sixty books right now, but none of them date back before the early medieval period. I'm pausing looking for more reading material until I finish this one. I found a good place to get basically any old Christian writing so I'm still digging around.

And it takes a long time. Sometimes it's like using advanced calculus to prove simple addition (which I found out, this year in my Discrete Mathematics course, is something that actually happens). But then we can assume it's pretty concrete.

Ultimately, the Scriptures in their original context is my authority.

I think it would be great to talk to you about that, and see if we can reconcile our disagreeing views. Coming from the Catholic Church, which also espouses reason to faith, and from a personal background in historical study of the Christian faith, and since we both have a non-denominational background, I think it could be rather fruitful. I would be putting forward that the Scriptures, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and the Sacred Tradition of self same Church are all three authoritative and necessary, and that the Sacred Scriptures as a sole source of authority doesn't make sense. Would you want to talk about this over PM, or somewhere else?

Skype would be easiest, but frankly, it's a matter of time for me. It's halfway through the semester for me so I have a bunch of projects and such to do. Like I have some computer engineering homework due tomorrow, two speeches to write for next week, two classes to self-teach for, computer programming homework, and a sanity to maintain. I might be a bit slow to reply.

Oh, and I feel it's important to note that the Systematic Theology book has resources and references to all kinds of books. Some from the Evangelical Systematic Theologies... Representative Catholic Systematic Theologies... and 'other works' per chapter so I could read more, if I were looking for more eisegetical material.

Yeah. We definitely ought to be discussing this. I would like a level-headed discussion about this sort of thing. I'd be a great challenge and an opportunity for iron to sharpen iron.

While these guys are definately a bunch of hate-filled bigots representing some of the worst humanity has to offer, sometimes you just can't help but laugh sadly at them. I mean, they're more like a cartoon caricature of what a religious extremist looks like than an actual organisation. Their founder was batshit insane; their protests are are almost comical in their extreme nature, and; for a group that became famous for picketing funerals, they actually had the balls to ask people to "respect" the funeral of their founder. Their website is even called "godhatesfags.com", for crying out loud. Honestly, if their ever was a group that made the world collectively go "What the actual f*ck", this was it.

*there* was a group
Sorry

I'd agree those people are guano insane. I'd also say they're blind. A few years ago there was a fire at my aunt's house that killed three of my cousins and a family friend. They threatened to picket our funerals and we're all God-fearing Christians. Like, nobody wants them. It's annoying, us Christians don't want them. Although our opinion is rarely ever actually heard, we apparently like to write metal songs about them. (1)(2)(3)(4) (Those are all that I could think of off the top of my head.)

They need to learn Christ-like humility and learn to understand what Grace is. No matter what they say, what they're doing is not love. God loves people, regardless of sexuality. >_> Why can't they see that? They are literally Biblical-style pharisees. Jesus rebuked people like them.

Alas, I feel there is nothing we can do about. They're not going to listen.

(Not to mention that their "protests" make literally zero sense? What are they even trying to achieve? Nobody wants to listen to them. Any god they want to represent is nowhere near the Biblical God and no doubt nobody wants to worship the same god they do.)