{"id":215,"date":"2018-07-18T23:46:03","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T03:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/critical-distance\/?p=215"},"modified":"2019-10-14T17:16:07","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T21:16:07","slug":"wbc-reacts-to-our-analysis-of-the-churchs-gradual-rebranding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/critical-distance\/2018\/07\/wbc-reacts-to-our-analysis-of-the-churchs-gradual-rebranding\/","title":{"rendered":"WBC reacts to our analysis of the church’s gradual rebranding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, Religion News Service published our analysis of Westboro Baptist Church’s recent shifts in its messaging<\/a>, especially its controversial picketing signs.<\/p>\n

Basic premise: Since founder Fred Phelps, Sr., died, the church has softened its image and moved in several new directions with its signs. WBC seems to be responsive to public concerns, which may point to a day when the public itself notices that the church might<\/em> be open to meaningful conversations.<\/p>\n

On Twitter, WBC’s reaction to our article was swift!<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jael as a bride<\/p><\/div>\n

From Jael Holroyd on Twitter<\/a>:<\/p>\n

This article by @<\/s>hgray<\/a> is not terrible: [link to article]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From Jael again, simply quotes and gives a thumbs up to a crucial caveat in the article:<\/p>\n

\u201cMake no mistake, Westboro Baptists\u2019 anti-gay message is as blunt and offensive as ever, and the new signs seem designed not to move toward the mainstream, but to more fully reflect the church\u2019s Calvinist theology, which appears unchanged.\u201d [and two emojis:]\"\"\"\"<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tim (@WBCApocalypse) retweeted Jael with the comment:<\/p>\n

“… as it ever should, and by God’s mercy will, ever be.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From the official WBC twitter account, WBCSaysRepent<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are always only interested in preaching the truth of the Scripture.\u201d \u2014Westboro Baptist Church.<\/p>\n

I think he gets it! Excellent article via @<\/s>RNS<\/a> and @<\/s>hgray: [link to article]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From Matthias Holroyd on Twitter:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!\u201d (1 Corinthians 9:15)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From Steve Drain on another Twitter account<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Funny speculation by <\/span>@<\/s><\/a>RNS<\/a><\/span>: \u201cWe can wonder if the gradual reworking of Westboro\u2019s messaging might point to a day when outsiders think of the church not as irredeemable sociopaths. […]\u201d <\/span>We wonder when the media will stop painting this little church as such!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[Steve included a two minute video clip that ended in a curiously careful way, referring to authentic news with proper sources, in contrast to media bias. I’m tempted to take that as an ambiguous compliment.]<\/em><\/p>\n

[“Funny speculation” is also a careful phrase. It doesn’t question my framing or facts, just teases perhaps about the likelihood of outsiders ever viewing in a better light. See the continuation of the quote, at the end of the original article.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From @WBCRejoice on Twitter<\/a>:<\/p>\n

This [article] is good, especially for a Christ rejecter; but nix the psychobabble already, friend @<\/s>hgray<\/a>. [Link to article]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition, a number of other Westboro Baptists retweeted, liked, or (more rarely) commented on the items above.<\/p>\n

In short, we hope the article meets journalistic, critical-distance<\/strong>\u00a0standards, advances public understanding, and does not unnecessarily annoy WBC, perhaps even improving our rapport with them.<\/p>\n