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Son of Fred Phelps speaks out
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Nate Phelps at the 2009
American Atheists National
Convention in Atlanta.
(Photo courtesy of Atheist
Nexus.)
You've been living under a rock for the last ten years if you haven't seen Fred Phelps and flock on the evening news. The "Reverend" Phelps is the nutty founder and pater familias of Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church. They're the folks who picket soldiers' funerals while waving signs that say "God Hates Fags" and similarly festive rebukes.
What you might not know is that Phelps' two eldest sons are estranged from him and do not at all approve of his message or tactics. One of those sons is Nate Phelps, who fled the family as soon as he turned 18, and has been struggling ever since to come to terms with growing up under a crazy person who used religion as a cover for the mental and physical abuse he heaped (and apparently continues to heap) on his extended family.
Nate Phelps spoke at the recent American Atheists National Convention, which was held right here in Atlanta during (ironically and coincidentally) Easter weekend. While the event featured such polished luminaries of the atheist movement as Richard Dawkins, Phelps' plainspoken, heartfelt speech was by far the most emotionally moving moment of the convention. Honestly, there wasn't a dry eye in the house when he finished speaking.
Luckily, Phelps has made the text of his speech--as well as his thoughts on his experience before and after the convention--at the Atheist Nexus website. (Atheist Nexus is a social networking site often described as "Facebook for Nonbelievers.")
Phelps is reported working on a book about his experiences, which I heartily look forward to reading.
"The Uncomfortable Grayness of Life" Nate Phelps' moving speech from the 2009 AA National Convention
Atheist Nexus
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