Louis Theroux Meets The Most Hated Family In America
Although not religious myself, I have nothing against anyone who is, whatever the denomination, and read and contribute to findreligion.net quite regularly. But when it gets to the sorts of levels I saw displayed on TV this week, then I think it’s time something was done. Read on dear viewer, read on…
Louis Theroux is a legend, a geeky awkward looking British guy who either by luck or by carefully skilled and judged journalistic techniques, gets under the skin of various people to find out what makes them tick. This week, a programme was shown where he surely had his toughest assignment yet. He had to meet, live with, get on and try to understand people who have been billed as “The Most Hated Family In America“, and that’s by themselves!
The Phelps family are part of a larger community, which currently numbers 71 people, all belonging to the Westboro Baptist church. Based in Topeka, Kansas, headed by preacher Fred Phelps (Referred to as Gramps throughout the programme) and mostly comprising of his family members, the church has caused controversy and consternation in the US by picketing and protesting at American soldiers funerals. In a country as patriotic as the USA, this is virtually a crime, and certainly against most rational people’s notions of what is right.
The family, and the church as a whole are religious zealots, and very right wing, thinking that if you are not exactly like them in every respect, heterosexual, deeply Christian, and God fearing, that you are an abomination. What started 15 years ago as protests against gay people congregating, quickly turned into a rally against Aids, which they said was punishment for homosexuality. From there, they began picketing Gay Pride parades and marches and also then the funerals of people who died of the disease. And now, in a very deep escalation of their belief system, they picket and protest at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, justifying it by saying that it’s God’s will that these people have died, because they were fighting for a country (USA) that have embraced and empowered homosexuality.
Throughout the hour long documentary, Louis, in his usual subtle and slight way, ingratiates himself to the group just enough to be let into the inner sanctum, but without letting his subject get away with saying and doing as they please without him calling it to question and getting his own opinion across. We learn enough to on the one hand detest these people and what they are doing in the name of God, but also to see the softer family side to them and the sense of community they have instilled in each other.
For those who missed the episode on BBC1 last Sunday, or all those from outside the UK who haven’t had a chance to see it, here is the full programme in six parts courtesy of YouTube…
I really enjoyed watching the show, although I found some parts disturbing, as most viewers indeed would. Everyone is entitled to believe what they want and to some degree demonstrate those views in private and in public, but when those actions inflict on bereaved family members who are burying their son or daughter killed fighting for their country, it’s just plain wrong. And the worst casualties of this church and their twisted beliefs is of course the children who are involved without being old enough to know what they are being asked to do. As terrible as it is to throw a cup at a child, the kids should not be on the street holding a placard saying “God hates Fag America” in the first place.
Louis Theroux, The Most Hated Family In America, Louis Theroux Meets The Most Hated Family In America, BBC, UK, British, USA, American, Documentary, Church, Christianity, God, Religion, YouTube, Phelps Family, Kansas, Gay, Soldiers, Iraq
April 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Those people are a bunch of insensitive loony toons.
April 5th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Wow. I wish I could go in and take all those poor children and put them in homes where they can be taken care of and receive help for the brainwashing.
April 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Yikes. That’s just scary. I agree with Summer…those kids will be scarred for life.
bobbi c.
April 5th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Thank you for posting this. Us non-UK people are so deprived sometimes! In any case, I think its sad that they have this kind of a thought process and it’s borderline cult if you ask me. Even if you personally don’t like homosexuality, in my thinking, the only person who has a right to judge you for it is the Divine.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Leslie - Agreed!
Summer & Bobbi - The kids are the worrying aspect of this, if an adult chooses to live this kind of life then fine, but don’t inflict it on your children.
Allison - It is definitely veering towards a cult, with an incestual side aswell, with everyone a family member. It’s not their right to decide the fate of anyone, only God has that power, if anyone.
April 6th, 2007 at 5:37 am
[...] Stereotypically yours, April 6th, 2007 by Summer Minor For the last few days everyone online has been talking about the Louis Theroux Meets The Most Hated Family In America videos popping up on Youtube. There are many things about this family that are sending waves of disgust through many American homes. [...]
April 6th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Dave, I was just astounded by not only their views but the way they choose to present them selves.
I’m with Summer too, it’s the young ones that I feel sorry for. Not living their lives so they can have a better one in Heaven? That’s a risky gamble in my mind.
April 6th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I would really like to watch that show but I don’t know if I can stomach seeing that family for even a few minutes. They are truly evil people. I feel terrible for their children who are being taught such disgusting beliefs.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Ian, it’s almost child abuse in my eyes. If there is indeed a heaven, then I can’t see any of the main players in this church getting there.
Lori, you should watch it, it’s uncomfortable at times but makes all of us normal, decent people sure that we are actually living an honourable life and not inflicting our will on younger people.
April 8th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
April 24th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
just goes to show you wot the yanks r like a, anyone who takes religion that seriously has some serious problems, “a few sandwiches short of a pinic” is a well known phrase!poor kids/younger members, religion does nothing but divide!
April 26th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more Bully. Religion, at least when taken to the extremes this family showed, divides people and harms society a great deal.
May 27th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
They think they are better than God! And I really think they are all gay and scared for there own feelings…
June 13th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
[...] of first. Well, people sort of have done, with it being a cross between Big Brother, Parkinson, and Louis Theroux. The fact it’s 3 programmes rolled in to 1 is it’s good point, but also it’s [...]
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 am
I myself do not pratice a religion, although I did attend a church school and groups as a child, so do have some knowledge of the bible. I honestly believe however that religion, if followed as the creators intended, is a truly wonderful thing. It installs morals and a young age and continues to encourage us to be good people. This however is completly ruined by extremists who mis-interupt the text and twist it to suit themselves. This religious group for example have lost touch with the true meaning of what it is to be a Christian and instead find ways to damn everyother human on earth so that they feel ’special’ and are the only ones that will be saved when God’s wrath is unvailed. Put simple, they are selfish and do not serve God, they serve their ‘leader; and his radical beliefs, all in the hope that they will be saved. Otherwise they would be spreading the word of God to save others, when they have freely admitted this is not their intention and they infact they relish in the fact the whole world (bar themselves) are going to hell for their sins. They clearly need help. What ever happened to love thy neighbour…they don’t know how to love
May 20th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Ghallo