A Study On The Westboro Baptist Church And The Scope Of The First Amendment

Table of Contents

An opening statement

The Westboro Baptist Church was founded in 1955 by Fred Phelps. The church gained notoriety for its extreme views on homosexuality and picketing of funerals of military personnel killed in action. The church also protested at Jewish synagogues and the funerals of celebrities. The church’s beliefs and practices were condemned by many, including the United States government. In 2014, the church disbanded and its remaining members disbanded and joined other congregations.

First Amendment

Do you think it is right to limit the church?

Symbols

Emotional appeal

Ethos

In conclusion,

Introductory remarks

Most people associate the church with the Bible, the teachings and the people who greet each other in a spirit of love and acceptance. Some people are more controversial and have different opinions or feelings than the traditional church. This paper will cover Westboro Baptist Church. It will include the history, First Amendment of Constitution, considerations about the limitations of Westboro Baptist Church.

Westboro Baptist Church’s HistoryThe Westboro Baptist Church incorporated in late 1960s as a not-for-profit organization. The church’s members see it as Primitive Baptism Church. Fred Phelps along with his family make up the majority. The church is not officially affiliated with mainstream Baptist Churches (ADL). Members of the Westboro Baptist Church protest against Jewish institutions in the United States, including Israeli consulates, synagogues and Jewish community centers. The group distributes anti-Semitic flyers to inform people of the locations where protests are planned. In 2010, this group began sending anti-Semitic videos to Jewish groups and leaders. On DVDs, Obama was also referred to as the antichrist. The group targeted homosexuals as well as Catholics and Christian denominations which they deemed unorthodox. The group claims that they are convinced that American institutions, as well as the majority of Americans, are sinning. They will therefore target anyone and any organization.

The group traveled to Canada and Great Britain, as planned in 2009. The group pickedeted a funeral in Canada for a person who was killed on a Greyhound Bus. The Canadian authorities tried stopping the group from entering Canada, but they claimed to have been able evaded the ADL (patrol agents).

First AmendmentThe Constitution of the United States has been regarded as one of the key documents of US History. It is important that the Constitution protects the individual’s freedom and puts the government power in people’s hands. This paper will focus on the First Amendment, which contains several annotations. The First Amendment of US Constitution says that Congress is not allowed to pass laws which restrict freedom of speech and press or restrict people’s right to peacefully gather or to petition for a redress. This amendment gives Americans the right to practice their religion, a fundamental part of American freedom. While the First Amendment does not allow for the breaking of basic laws, it is important to note that the freedom to practice religion is viewed as a fundamental right.

Does it make sense to place limitations on a Church? The First Amendment of the Constitution does not allow for limitations to be placed on a Church. It’s unclear, however, whether Westboro Baptist Church actually is a Church or just a group of individuals who share the same views. It is true that the group is registered as a not-for-profit organization, but they do not behave in a way consistent with a religious institution. Hitchcock believes that the separationist provision of the First Amendment has a broad application, as some states have maintained relationships between state and church which were later deemed to be unacceptable. First Amendment’s clauses regarding religion are divided into two sections. The first confirms freedom of religion and the second the right to practice it. However, there is no mention of the amount of freedom. The First Amendment does not restrict religious freedom, except in extreme cases such as the Mormon polygamy practice that was prevalent in the 19th century. Some may think that these people are more like extremists than church members.

LogosIn discussing the Westboro Baptist Church, there are three different perspectives to view to include Logos (logic versus reason); Pathos (emotional appeals or appeals to the heart); and Ethos (ethical/credible/character) perspectives. This three-part approach can give a rational look at the Westboro Baptist Church.

Logik is different from reason because logic describes cause and effect. When comparing reason and LOGOS, the word reason does not exist as it is a concept that is beyond logic. The word reason, translated “The Word”, is associated with Christ as the Son God. The paradigm LOGOS is a source of reason. Throughout Scripture, Christ is described not in terms of hatred but rather as Love (“LOGIC Vs. REASON”) Westboro Baptist Church’s members, however, claim that God is holy because of his hatred. Picketing has been described as a type of preaching. The group’s focus is on doom rather than love or peace. Westboro Baptist Church’s members caused a nationwide uproar in 1998 by carrying signs proclaiming “No Fags are allowed in Heaven” or “God Hate Fags.” (A History of Anti-Gay Hatred) Although everyone has the right of belief, churches are seen by many as places where people can go and feel accepted.

PathosPathos is an emotional appeal. It’s a method that many people consider the most persuasive. Emotional arguments can be used to alter people’s perceptions based solely on feeling. Six traditional human emotions are happiness, pleasure, love, compassion, desire and fear. The use of words, music and images can encourage others to rationalize their actions.

In the modern world, the Church plays an important part. It’s a place people go to for what is called a’spiritual remedy’. Pathos is the way that the church can meet people’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs. There are still many churchgoers who struggle with meeting the needs of their everyday lives, and the need to be accepted and loved. It is impossible to feel wanted and loved when you are with someone who only believes certain people should receive love and welcome and that others will be doomed due to their lack of conformity.

EthosEthos includes ethics, character and credibility. It also has an appeal. This is how people present themselves in debates or arguments. It is important to note that the person doing the convincing is positioned differently from the audience. Credibility and authority are determined by an individual’s ethical behavior. Authority is a combination of power and knowledge. A person’s authority can also refer to the control they have over their knowledge, like a professor teaching a particular subject in an university or a policeman who can arrest people, issue tickets for speeding, etc. Knowledge is required to be a person of authority.

Credibility takes time, particularly when it comes to dealing with other people. Credibility is crucial because people love to be believed and trust. An individual who combines ethics, character, and credibility can be a contributing citizen to society. It is not uncommon to find individuals with this kind of behavior in the Church, since they can make others successful.

The Westboro Baptist Church is the topic of this article. This group, which included Church in its name, was incorporated into a non-profit organisation at the end of the 1960s. This group does not fit the definition of a traditional church because it is not a mainstream church. Members of this group, a non-profit, target homosexuals. They also attack Catholics. The group believes both the majority and institutions of the United States are sinful. They have the right to attack any group, organization or individual they choose.

The First Amendment ensures the freedom of religious belief, which is an important aspect of American liberty. Due to the First Amendment, there are no restrictions placed on a religious group provided they adhere to the federal and state laws. This is because the title “church” can be misleading, as people tend to think that a group of people are gathered to worship rather than to accept and love each other.

Logos’ examination is about logic versus rationality, as logic describes cause and effect. The word reason, translated as “The Word”, is associated with Christ The Son Of God. The paradigm of LOGOS is the source for reason. People tend to associate Christ the Son God with love rather than hatred. This is important because people want to love and accept themselves.

Pathos is a term that refers to emotional appeals. Pathos includes happiness, pleasure and love. Churches play an important role in the society and are seen as places where people can feel accepted, loved and welcomed.

Ethos includes ethics, character, and credibility. It is important that individuals possess these qualities to build trust. Understanding these traits is important for an individual who wants to contribute positively to society and live a peaceful, enjoyable life. The church expects its members to behave in this way.

Westboro Baptist Church has its own beliefs and opinions about individual freedoms. Everyone has the freedom to believe and act as they please. However, in a protest situation no one should judge another person based on their personal beliefs. The true church is open to everyone, and not only a select few.